HKS Takes It Back To The ’90s

Welcome to 1996.

I’m sure it’s hard for tuners to come up with fresh and interesting builds to showcase at events like Tokyo Auto Salon, but as HKS has proven this year, it doesn’t mean a demo car needs to be brand new.

To launch its new range of engine components and turbochargers for the RB26DETT, HKS took its old BCNR33 Nissan Skyline R33 GT-R, as originally built to contest 0-300 km/h speed trials run by Option magazine at Yatabe, and gave it a complete refresh.

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This is what they came up with. Oozing coolness, being simply a good old fashioned GT-R build spiced up with modern components and know-how, the R33 was easily one of the top cars at TAS 2019.

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HKS event went right back and used their old colors and graphics.

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While a tuner car built in Japan around 25 years ago would have been a little rough around the edges, that’s definitely not the case here. Not that HKS has ever done things half-heartedly, but here there’s definitely a more polished feel to every area of the car.

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Take the interior for example. Resprayed in gloss metallic gray, it features a set of new deeply-bolstered Bride carbon bucket seats, a carbon fiber dash, and all modern electronics. The vintage JDM roll cage is a nice old school touch, though.

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You have to love the simple way they finished off the parcel shelf area with a flat sheet of dry carbon that also provides easy access to the rear struts.

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The RB26 under the hood runs HKS’s new Step III 2.8L stroker kit mated to a rebuilt top end. There’s also a new GTIII-5R turbo in the mix, introducing a more modern power and torque curve to the delivery.

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Now that’s how we like exhausts – simple, pie-cut and to the point.

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HKS has thrown on a Hypertune inlet manifold and some Ignition Project coils, the same I use on Project GT-R, to get the most out of the refreshed setup.

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The retro lure of the car certainly won the crowds over, most people being really surprised when they got a glimpse of the engine package.

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A set of white Advan Racing GTs are fitted in true modern-day GT-R sizes (and by that I mean R32/33/34 only, of course) – 18×11-inch and shod in Yokohama’s hottest performance tire, the Advan A052, in 295/35R18 sizing at all four corners.

HKS, we love it. More of this please!

Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: speedhunters_dino
dino@speedhunters.com

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1

This has always been one of my favourite R33 builds of all of time. Thanks Dino!

Author2
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Amazing isn't it!

3

Who remembers that time when HKS did an Opel?

Author4
Dino Dalle Carbonare

The Vectra?

5

I had no clue, more info?

6

It was a Supertouring spec car they purchased to run in the JTCC with HKS sponsorship, they developed nothing on the car.

7

What a pity, I was expecting one of those Vectra Turbo 4x4 modded by HKS with 600HP

8

Disturbing lack of mention of the project name. It was the T-002. A well built machine for Yatabe too. Wanna see them rip this around Shirosato now that Yatabe is torn down

Author9
Dino Dalle Carbonare

It won't be used for anything

10

What is it with Japanese tuners and bolt-in cages? I feel like most of the Japanese built cars with cages on here use bolt-ins. Interesting choice when everything else about the built seems to be unlimited budget.

Does Japanese motorsport culture just not take safety as serious as the west? Serious question.

11

One word: kamikaze!

12

Unless its an actual race car, a weld in cage isn't super necessary. But im guessing its so that they can have options such as reverting it back to stock interior or something along those lines

13

I’d say it’s pretty necessary if you’re going 300kph, as is this cars goal.

I looked back at the last Japanese tuner shop build on SH, which was the Blitz R34 GTR 348KPH Autobahn build. That also uses a bolt in cage, despite being built to go stupid fast.

Author14
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Pretty sure this is the cage from 20 years ago

15
Naveed Yousufzai

Drool..

16

HKS can do no wrong. They've been killing it over the past couple of years with their TRB cars and their awesome videos.

Author17
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Videos are all done by Luke Huxham

18

totally in love.

19

AWESOME! gotta love the 90's look! they need to bring out the JZA70 and JZA80 next year!

Author20
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Agreed!

21

10/10 graphics!

Author22
Dino Dalle Carbonare

So true! I told the as well, forget designing new ones, use these older ones everywhere this year

23

I was 12 back then... But the car is still beautiful even 23 years later. Call it an acquired taste. I still love R33 more compared to its brothers of R32 and R34...

24

Just Wow! Inspiring build and so perfect with the 90's features but finely tuned details for current tastes.
One of my top Skyline GTR builds. Agree we need more of this!

Author25
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Sounds like you guys are demanding a full feature on this beast !

26

More of this indeed! What an awesome car this is!

27

Great to see they refreshed the old T-002 beast from back in the day, and rather tastefully I must say! Great to see some 'old school' GT-Rs still getting a run at TAS. Sweet feature coverage as usual Dino, nice work! Cheers.

Author28
Dino Dalle Carbonare

They should be doing a lot more of this at HKS! Starting with all those Zero Rs sitting outside haha

29

Awesome stuff Dino. Brings back memories !

Author30
Dino Dalle Carbonare

Thanks!

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