Steve’s 1995 R33 GT-R

Writing and photos by Nick

The Skyline middle child

If you had access to a television in the early 90’s, it would have been hard to miss Jim Richards and Mark Skaife dominating Bathurst in their Nissan R32 GT-R. Its turbocharged inline six and all-wheel drive system gave it an important advantage around Mount Panorama, especially in the wet conditions of 1992. It was only a matter of time before the R32 gained its legendary “Godzilla” status among the public. Despised by many at the time, there’s no doubt that the R32 instigated a paradigm shift within the Australian motorsport and performance car industry. Its technological superiority was a rude wake up call that led to its eventual ban from Group A racing. The cultural impact of the R32 platform cannot be overstated - it literally rewrote the rule book.

One could argue that the R34 GT-R has just as much, if not more, cultural significance than the R32. Launched in 1999, the R34 modernised the GT-R platform for the new millennium. Without drastically changing the already-proven RB26 driveline, the most notable change was the redesigned exterior which provided better aero and more aggressive styling. That iconic boxy silhouette, big rear wing, and Skyline-trademark tail lights make the R34 GT-R one of the most recognisable, and culturally significant Japanese cars ever. Obviously, that wouldn’t be without the help of the Fast and Furious franchise with the R34 hero car piloted by the late Paul Walker.

Sandwiched between the two, the R33 in our opinion is the underappreciated middle child. Often criticised for its larger size, the R33 was designed to be stiffer, more aerodynamic, and with better weight distribution than the R32. Following those tweaks, it lapped the Nürburgring in under 8 minutes which was a monumental achievement for a production car at the time. That sub-8 minute lap was always a tough pill to swallow for the R33 haters – mainly because the R34 in standard trim failed to beat it.

This particular R33 GT-R has been owned by our good friend Steve Harmsen for 6 years and counting. He managed to secure this ‘95 chassis back in 2018 before the post-virus GTR tax came into full swing. And as we know too well, the spending wouldn’t stop there. Steve has tastefully made this car his own with some wisely chosen exterior aero, and a wheel and tyre package that most people could only ever dream of. The 19-inch TE37’s wrapped in 265 mm wide tyres, sit comfortably inside the massive front and rear arches of the R33. Its stance when admired from any angle lets you know that this car means business.

Up front, its hard to miss those gorgeous series 3 Xenon headlights which really modernise the front end of this car. These are by far the most attractive R33 headlight variations available, if you have the coin. As Tony Montana famously said in Scarface, “The eyes, Chico, they never lie.” Paired with the aggressive series 3 front lip, this front end is as good as it gets. To level off the body lines around the car, Steve has fitted side skirt extensions and a carbon fibre rear diffuser. When we asked Steve about his approach to styling the exterior, he explained, “The R33 can look very rounded and wide. I’ve tried to counteract that with the aggressive front lip, skirts, and rear diffuser”.

The attention to detail on this car doesn’t stop with the exterior. When entering the cockpit, you’re greeted with that iconic 320 km/h white dial Nismo speedometer. Paired with the extended tachometer that reads up to 11 000 RPM, it makes you wonder what the Nismo aftermarket department were putting in the coffee back then. And the best part by far is the warm feeling of nostalgia you get when you see the soft, neon-green backlight. This unicorn instrument cluster paired with the R34 GTR steering wheel, make the driver interface points of this car truly optimised for an authentic OEM+ experience.

Under the bonnet, Steve has decided to preserve the original twin-turbo DNA of the RB26 engine. This car features a freshly built N1 motor with “dash 7” twin turbos and more aggressive cams. The entire fuel system has also been upgraded to support the extra flow demands of ethanol fuel. Out back, the Tomei titanium exhaust ensures you hear this thing coming before you see it – as Steve explains it, “The Tomei produces such an amazing note, but it is REALLY loud”. Tying this package together, and keeping things safe, is a Haltech engine management system which is one of the best in the business.

In our opinion, this build is an incredible example of what the R33 platform is capable of. Without pushing things too far and staying true to the original GT-R formula, Steve has set this car up to be the perfect weekend weapon that can be driven and enjoyed. As Steve puts it, “I don’t often get the chance, but when I can properly open it up, it always brings a smile to my face. It is an absolute monster, and it blows me away to think that this sort of car is nearly 30 years old.”