Stock #6890
Exterior Overview
When taking a consultative approach to the Skyline buying process, most prospective purchasers don’t realize that the R33 Skyline offers a parallel ownership experience to the fabled R34 generation. This means you can get a spacious, stylish, and fun to drive sport coupe without stretching your budget. With models like this one-owner, 40th anniversary edition 1998 GTS25-t, it’s easy to see the appeal, and this OEM plus Nissan looks swell in Sonic Silver Metallic (KR4). It’s also cosmetically unmolested, with a modification list of just 17″ Infiniti alloys and an OEM spoiler. Plus, with only 137k verified and documented miles on the clock, this slick Skyline is barely broken in compared to most 90’s Nissans. These classic coupes make for delightful daily drivers, but for weekend and track use, it’s hard to argue with their performance. With all the above being standard for the Skyline nameplate, it’s easy to see why we would call it a Japanese Classic!
Interior Overview
Nissan nailed the interior design for the R33’s mid-cycle refresh, bolstering the already premium cabin with upgraded materials and a much-needed passenger SRS airbag upgrade. The driver can enjoy a racey MoMo steering wheel mounted atop a tilt-adjusting steering column. The patterned cloth upholstery was clearly cared for in a prior life, and outside of a small rip in the driver’s bolster, the rest of the materials have remained in great nick over the past couple of decades. The center stack is trimmed in a complementary textured black and houses OEM audio and a surprisingly modern digital automatic climate control unit. For those looking to putt this one around through all four seasons, you can adjust between ice-cold A/C and hot heat on the fly. Power windows, power locks, and power mirrors work at the flick of a switch and complement the rest of the functional equipment nicely. The dash cover shows no signs of cracking or fading, and the rest of the materials are no worse for wear from the rear bench to the headliner. Even the factory carpet mats were kept in great shape and are included with the sale to protect your upholstery underneath. That’s not to say the cabin is perfect, as the passenger mirror no longer electronically folds, there are a couple of missing pieces of trunk trim, and there are some nicks in the driver’s door card. That may be nitpicking, however, as we think the condition of this cabin really impresses.
Mechanical Overview
Under the hood, the RB25DET powerplant is a favorite of ours. It makes just the right amount of power and is easy to wrench on. Replacement parts are readily available and inexpensive, even to our domestic market here Stateside. Our trained technicians have gone ahead and tackled a thorough check-in service on this Skyline, including a fresh timing belt and water pump service! An oil and filter service gets you on track for scheduled maintenance, and new camshaft seals and valve cover gaskets ensure you won’t lose a drop of necessary lubricant. A new thermostat was installed to maintain proper operating temperatures, and we flushed the system and replaced the coolant with new stuff. We also replaced the engine air filter and fuel filter as a bit of a tune-up. With the maintenance performed, this one is a treat to drive and shoots up to highway speeds at the snap of a finger. A NISMO exhaust gives a little spice to your day-to-day commute as well. The 5-speed manual gearbox is easy to navigate and free of any unwanted grinds, slips, or pop-outs. Power is shot rearward, and the long wheelbase is easy to control throughout more demanding twists and turns. Upgraded Blitz coilover suspension is plenty comfortable over road imperfections, large and small, and we replaced the right rear HICAS arm and ball joint to keep the drivetrain in compliance. New front caster arms and front swaybar links were also installed, so we could freshly align this coupe. The brakes from new pads and rotors all the way around, and we’ve wrapped the alloys in fresh rubber to deliver plenty of grip for the road ahead.
*California Residents: In order to register a Grey Market vehicle in the state of California then it will have to be made CARB compliant first. CARB certifications will have to be performed within the state. Depending on the vehicle and any existing modifications will affect the pricing. Typically CARB compliance will range between 5-10K. Additional information can be found on the California Air Resources Board website.
