The Essen Motor Show has always been a playground for automotive dreams, but this year one car stole the spotlight. There are cars that define an era, and then there’s the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, a machine so iconic it’s practically our halo car. But what happens when you take one of these legends and decide to tear it down to its bones, rebuild it better than new, and do it all in just fifty days? That’s the madness that unfolded inside the JP Performance workshop leading up to the Essen Motor Show.
The story begins with a car that’s seen more stamps in its passport than most people. It cruised through Tokyo, sat in an Australian shop, and then spent months in limbo before finally arriving in Europe. The plan was simple on paper: restore, repaint, and reassemble the R34 to perfection in time for the Essen Motor Show. In reality, it was a high-wire act with no safety net.
The first decision was color. Forget Bayside Blue, the team wanted something rarer, something that would make purists raise an eyebrow and then nod in approval. The choice? Ultimate Silver, a shade borrowed from the R35 GT-R. Applied over a black base with multiple layers, it creates a liquid-metal effect. When the freshly painted shell rolled out of the booth, it was clear this wasn’t just a restoration; it was a statement.
Underneath that shimmering skin, the work is just as obsessive. Known weak points like the strut towers have been cut out and replaced with reinforced units from Garage Yoshida, inspired by the meticulous craftsmanship of Build by Legends. The chassis has been strengthened, minor rust banished, and every component treated. Axles and subframes have been stripped, zinc-coated and powder-coated. And then there’s the suspension, a set of fully adjustable KW Suspension V3 Racing coilovers, ready to deliver track precision without sacrificing road manners.
The wheels? A set of 19-inch NISMO RAYS LMGT2 alloys, an unmistakable nod to GT‑R heritage and a perfect match for the car’s aggressive stance. Wrapped in 275/30 tires, they sit perfectly under the arches. Braking duties are handled by a set of R35 GT‑R brakes, giving this classic the stopping power of its modern successor.
Of course, the heart of the beast is the RB26DETT, but this one’s been reimagined. Individual throttle bodies with electronic control replace the old cable setup for razor-sharp response. ARP hardware and reinforced internals mean it can scream to 9000 RPM without breaking a sweat. Twin turbos have been selected for fast spool and brutal mid-range punch, aiming for a sweet spot of 700 to 800 horsepower. Adjustable cam gears allow fine-tuning of valve overlap, squeezing every last drop of performance from the legendary straight-six.
And yet, for all the engineering brilliance, the biggest challenge wasn’t mechanical, it was time. At one point, the engine and gearbox were still sitting in Australia, despite being finished months earlier. The builder, a respected name in RB performance circles, had promised everything was ready back in May. But as weeks turned into months, excuses piled up: missing parts, shipping delays, “just waiting on one last component.”
When JP finally pushed harder, the truth came out, many of those parts had never even been ordered. In a twist worthy of a Netflix drama, JP sourced the missing pieces himself from Japan, while the Australian shop scrambled to pack the motor and gearbox for FedEx. It was a rescue mission across continents, and it nearly derailed the entire project.
Visually, the R34 looks every bit the hero car. JP sourced every thinkable Nismo part available for the R34 GT-R to restore its iconic silhouette. I really like the fact that JP did not went the popular Z-Tune route, instead he opted for the “standard” Nismo Front Aero Bumper, Side Skirt Set, Rear Under Spoiler Set and Rear Spoiler including carbon Flap.
Because all parts are OEM they all have TÜV approval, which means it remains street legal, a rare feat for a car this dialed in.
The R34 GT-R is already a legend, but this project elevates it to something rarer, a perfect fusion of OEM heritage and modern engineering, executed under impossible deadlines.
When the covers came off at Essen, this Skyline wasn’t just another show car. It was proof that obsession, skill, and a little insanity can create something truly extraordinary.