I’m not sure what you think, but I feel like Top Secret has been a little absent from the Japanese tuning scene for quite a few years now. Sure, they’ve still been building cars, looking after their loyal customers and maintaining a physical presence at events, but that’s not the Top Secret I remember.
For a long time, Kazuhiko ‘Smoky’ Nagata was a mad scientist, engineering wild Wangan-destroying creations from his Chiba-based workshop. I’d often find myself there, checking out builds like the V35 Skyline GT-R, VQ35-powered R32, and of course the Century V12-powered JZA80 Supra. The experimentation and mindless pursuit of power and speed continues, but I’ve missed the uniqueness of those Nagata specials.
Then I saw this C210 Skyline ‘GT-R’ at Nostalgic 2 Days.
There’s nothing crazy about it this build. It’s not over the top in any way, as you would expect a Top Secret creation to be. But there’s something special about it.
It’s really nice to see Top Secret playing around with an older car, and the C210 – perhaps the least popular Skyline chassis – especially.
But Nagata-san once again approached this build from a ‘what if?’ perspective. Specifically, what if in the late ’70s, Nissan had made a GT-R variant of the C210?
There was no way that the S20 2.0-liter straight-six that had powered the previous model GT-Rs would have sufficed in this era. Even if the decade-away RB26 was the obvious choice for Nagata and his team, to fit in with the vintage of the car it made more sense to go naturally aspirated. In this case it’s one running an RB30 bottom end for a bump in power and torque.
With just under 300hp on tap, it gives the ‘Skyline Japan’ – as this generation is often referred as – a definite fun factor, and thanks to the row of open velocity stacks the sound must be glorious.
The cabin has been kept simple, far more so than any Top Secret demo car we’ve seen in the past. There’s no obtrusive JDM bolt-in roll cage and an F16 jet fighter array of auxiliary dials, just a seat swap and a Top Secret Personal steering wheel pulled from their circa 2001 catalogue.
Hakosuka-inspired and body-color-matched fender flares drop over Star Road Glow Star wheels for that perfect restomod feel. This is the stuff we want to see out of Top Secret again. Is anyone else with me?
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com
So much yes. I remember TS for their D1 S15, 3SGTE Supra and the Time Attack R34 with the gold leaf all over it. I loved the VQ-powered R34 GT-t as well. Kind of glad they didn't go Gold or White for this car. The Gold might have looked pretty cool, but the silver really does bridge the connection to the KPGC10 GT-R.
Agree, the gold thing is a bit out of place these days. Keen to see what they will do with the Supra, although it seems they concentrate mostly on customer-funded builds these days.
Love it.....Had a 79 Skyline Japan GT when I was stationed in Okinawa in 89-91.....never did much to it, wheels and a new trunk lid after a 5 ton wheel hit it.....was a base car handed down Marine to Marine...…..LOL
HELL NO. I want to see Smoky go mad again!
LOL he's calmed down a bit it seems. I do see him out at Daikoku on rare occasions but no more lurid burnouts when he leaves...
It's a stunning machine. If the handling is a match for the looks it is a legendary build in my opinion.
I've never driven one of these old Skylines, I really do wonder how it would handle. Wonder how much it weighs too.
looking very good.
Who could forget that V12 Supra !
Indeed! That was wild as wild gets!
Like the R33, the C210 is pretty underrated
But they're so cool!
Yeah, best I've ever seen was a 4-door painted in Millennium Jade and running an N1 based Nur RB26
Nice
“and the C210 – perhaps the least popular Skyline chassis –“
That’s why it’s my favorite Skyline. I need one ASAP.
Yeah, I'd love to do a project with one of these. Still working on project Child 1, child 2 and child 3 first. No biggie, should take 20 more years or so...
Back when the Skyline was a Skyline and had it's own personality. Now days there just severely overweight and under powered cardboard cut outs.
You need to see my piece on the 400R http://www.speedhunters.com/2020/02/new-horizons-samplting-the-skyline-400r/
YES !!! One of my favorite cars I've seen on here in a few months. Old school skyline with an RB30 block & RB25 itb head, can't go wrong with that. Thanks for sharing Dino
The only wrong that Nagata could do is not doing enough crazy stuff to his car.
10/10 would own this
It would have been cooler for Smokey to go mad with a highly-strung S20, just to keep the car more period correct.
Yeah but then again a highly strung S20 (common to see these stroked to 2.4L these days, for about 200-220 PS) would be far from reliable and massively under powered. It would sound insane though
I wouldn't call C210s the lest popular, seeing how ridiculously expensive they are for some reason.
1st gen Skylines are probably the least popular. You never see those around. Ever
Which is the 1st gen Skyline? The Prince Skyline?
Shouldn't it be gold?
Thankfully it is not
I always wondered what happened to them. It is good to see they are still in business.
Yeah they are still around.
Remove the stupid stickers and take my money !!!
Has anyone ever tried building a C210 GTR Wagon ?
Now there's an idea!!
good lord, what a good looking machine. you said this was the least popular skyline generation? might just be my new favorite!
It's one of my favorite too, although as a 4-door ... or even the wagon
Like some sort of pre-BNR R33?
Maybe that's why Top Secret built it.
I really love Top Secret Demo Cars and builds. Especially when I went to my first TAS way back 2013. I would like to see Smoky's take on the new Supra.
That is the craziest engine color and material ive ever seen.Love the specs and all.