A historical piece of Japanese motorsport found the new owner. The 1987 Nissan Skyline "Type HR31" GTS-R NISMO Group A, known as the first Skyline to carry the iconic Calsonic livery, was recently sold at Bonhams Cars' The Scottsdale Auction. The car, with chassis number HR31-128388, is the last remaining NISMO Calsonic GTS-R, so a big gem for collectors and car enthusiasts.
Prepared by Kazuyoshi Hoshino's Impul /NISMO team, the GTS-R competed in the prestigious 1988 and 1989 Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC). It was led by famous drivers such as Moto Kitano, Takao Wada, and Hoshino himself.
The car won races, including a win at Nishi-Sendai Hi-Land Raceway and many pole positions in 1989. Besides being successful on the track, it also introduced the iconic already blue-and-white Calsonic livery, which became a symbol of Nissan's success in motorsport and was immortalized by R32 GT-R
After being kept in a private collection for 30 years, the car in a thorough restoration completed in 2024. Among the highlights of the restoration is the complete rebuilding of the RB20DET-R engine by a NISMO engineer, the modification of the magnesium intake manifold , and its accurate recreation of the Calsonic livery.
Other parts of the car, such as the gearbox, brake hydraulics, and air jacks, were also restored to ensure it was ready for the track again.
The car was sold at an impressive price of $201,600 USD at auction, making it a historic and valuable piece of Japanese motorsport memorabilia.
