Nismo R34 Skyline GT-R Z-Tune: May '05
We could've easily filled this entire issue with the amazing Skylines that have graced our pages. Finding one car to represent the line wasn't easy, but the R34 Z-tune, created by NISMO, is arguably the best Skyline ever built. Nissan's motorsports division bought 20 R34 Skyline GT-R V-specs back from the public and converted them into Z-tune edition models. Each was seam welded, covered in dry-carbon panels, and stuffed with GT500 components. The 500bhp motor was a nice start and the fresh interior and silver paint capped it off. It was the catalog of refined NISMO parts in the middle, however, that made it the best Skyline we've seen yet.
Neuspeed's '96 NATCC
Championship-Winning Accord: March '97In 1996, the North American Touring Car Championship (NATCC) made quite an impact on us. SCC had series coverage in almost every issue. The suspension and engine technology was amazing. Reversed cylinder heads, dry sump oiling systems, relocated suspension points-these things were all new to the sport compact scene. Sadly, the series ended after just two years, but our tuning habits were permanently changed for the better. Initially it was only the look that took over. Rear wings, front air dams, big brake and wheel packages-these things didn't really hit before that time. Eventually, adjustable suspensions, racing seats, rollbars, and the notion that compact cars are inherently better at turning than accelerating would lead us to our current state. The championship-winning Neuspeed Accord, driven by Randy Pobst, was as influential as any of them. The fact that it had non-USDM bodywork may have sparked some ideas too, but that craze was still a few years away.
Jun Auto's Hyper Lemon S14: December '98
The import drag racing scene in the late '90s had some great battles between local and foreign tuners. On the local side, people were throwing wild combinations of parts together. An ignition box from one company, an ECU chip from another, a lot of motors went boom, but a lot of cars went fast. The Dec. '98 issue had a list of the first 10 front-wheel-drive cars to break into the 10s. They were all Hondas. The article went on to say, "Don't be surprised to see a 9-second front driver someday." The cover story featured the 700 hp JUN Auto Silvia. JUN had done extensive product development with the car, producing custom iron sleeves, stroker kit, valvetrain, and manifolds in-house. The package worked. We slapped SCC stickers on the car and trailer then toured with them as the team wowed crowds with high 8-second passes.
Bill Coffey's '71 Datsun 240z: January '00
While manufacturer motorsport divisions and professional racing teams will always have the tech we lust for, the soul of our hobby comes from people tinkering in their garage. Bill Coffey's Z-car isn't necessarily the best home-built project ever, but somehow it caught each editor's eye as we scavenged through the SCC archives. Bill bought the car new, then tweaked and tuned it for 30 years. At the time of the feature it had Mikuni carbs and 16x12 wheels. He was auto crossing it and taking it to hill climbs. Who knows what has happened to it in the last nine years, but we all hope he's out there revving the snot out of it on sunny weekends.
A'PEX's V-MAX 1,000 HP Skyline GT-R: June '99
OK, we lied. We had to get another Skyline in here. The A'PEX Velocity Maximum (V-MAX) R33 showed up at the Battle of the Imports a year after the JUN S14. With a claimed 1,000 crank horsepower, all-wheel drive, and slicks it had a major shock-and-awe affect. The car was loaded with data acquisition systems, including an electronic fifth wheel mounted to the floorboard to monitor actual ground speed. Between the car doing scary all-wheel-drive burnouts and Tarzan Yamada riding the roof in the return lane, the A'PEX team made quite an impression. At the same event Ed Bergenholtz tested the first set of front-wheel-drive wheelie bars and Stephan Papadakis ran 9s while shaking down his tube frame Civic.