To kick off the March 3rd R33 celebrations I have picked one car that I will forever remember for scaring me silly. It all started with one of those phone calls I often get from Miguel at Newera Imports. Sourcing cars for export means Miguel often gets his hands on some pretty cool rides, but this car was something else. Don't let the 400R graphics on the side fool, you this is not one of the 33 authentic 400Rs that were built, but something dare I say more special. Miguel let me have the car for a day so I could shoot and drive it around to get a feel for what a 700 + HP hi-powered GT-R feels like on the streets of Tokyo.

A small tuning shop called Hot Staff was behind the original project, built to showcase their skills in both engine tuning and aesthetic modifications. The 400R replica kit is actually far better quality than what Nismo created as the actual overfenders…

…are seemingly blended into the bodywork giving a cleaner and smoother look to the wheel arches. The gold 10Jx18" BBS LM are a great choice giving a nice contrast against the red body color.

Hot Staff made a 400R replica front bumper and front lip spoiler but added little changes like the D-Speed front clear turn indicators and small plastic inserts to alter the headlight design. A Top Secret FRP hood helps with engine cooling thanks to its various openings, shaving off considerable weight compared to the stock aluminum item. The side skirts are again a replica of the 400R and thanks to their small air scoops help direct air towards the rear brakes.

The stock rear bumper remains but is adorned with a pair of skirts for a more aggressive look. The rear spoiler has been fitted with a carbon fiber Nismo main wing and end caps.

Pop the hood and you are confronted with pure demo car awesomeness. The RB26 has been completely rebuilt with a Tomei fully counterbalanced crank and H-section conrods along with Apex ø87 mm pistons. To increase breathing the head was ported and polished and fitted with wild Trust camshafts, 272º on the intake, 280º on the exhaust side.

The massive Trust T88-34D takes care of supplying the 1.6 bar of boost that allows the engine to crank out 720 HP at 8,100 rpm with the massive 515 lb/ft of torque coming in at a slightly high 7,000 rpm. Sard 1000 cc/min injectors are needed to keep the engine's thirst for high-octane-gas quenched.

BNR34 stock seats were chosen as they easily clear the Cusco roll cage. The red Momo steering wheel was a little over the top for my taste but it matches the red exterior of the car. Defi gauges allow the driver to keep an eye on vital temperatures and pressures.

I really liked the stock feel of the interior, even the foam-wrapped roll-cage was easy to live with.

I drove the car around Tokyo for a day before heading to the Daikoku PA to meet up with Miguel and return this unique BCNR33. The tunnels on the wangan were the few places I really had a chance to feel what this 700+ HP monster could do, as in town the big turbine and somewhat peaky engine mapping made the car very unresponsive at anything below 5,500 rpm. Waking up that big T88 resulted in a savage delivery of power all the way to the close to 9,000 rpm redline. It was a good thing the car was fitted with AP Racing brakes front and rear as it was just so easy to get to triple digit figures.

Miguel ended up selling the Hot Staff 400R replica to another friend of mine who since then has fine tuned and fitted an even bigger turbocharger.

Unfortunately the car has been recently sold again and I'm not really sure where it has ended up now.

It might not be an authentic 400R but it sure got my heart pumping when stepping on the loud pedal. The scream of the external wastegate bouncing off the walls of the tunnels is one of those things that are hard to forget.

-Dino Dalle Carbonare