The Hakosuka Unicorn: A Dutch Skyline 2000GT

Left-hand-drive Nissan Skylines from the factory are rare. Like, “finding-a-Walkman-in-a-2025-Apple-Store” rare. But a genuine Dutch-delivered 1971 Nissan Skyline GC10 2000GT sedan, with four doors. That’s rarer than a unicorn moonwalking across the Veluwe.

According to its new custodian, Carlo de Grundt this is one of only three left-hand-drive Hakosuka sedans left in the Netherlands. “Hako” means box in Japanese, and “Suka” is shorthand for Sukairain. Yes, Skyline. Don’t feel bad if you had no idea Skylines were officially sold here. We didn’t either. Apparently, around 40 of the HGLC10-series 2000GTs and 2400GTs were sold new in the Netherlands, mostly the bigger-engined 2400s. But this one? According to the papers, an original 2000GT.

And it was a proper barn find. Tucked away indoors for two decades, waiting for someone to bring it back from the brink.

Carlo first stumbled across this crimson 2000GT online back in 2011. “I found photos and started digging. I knew it still existed somewhere in the Netherlands” he recalls. The trail went cold until 2014, when Jan Manenschijn, a Nissan dealer from Daarle, and owner of the largest Datsun collection in the country, posted a familiar photo on Facebook. There it was. The long-lost 2000GT. Jan, having just completed restoration on his own Belgian-market 2000GT, decided one was enough. That was Carlo’s cue so after a phonecall he made the trip to Daarle and bought it.

Mine’s inspired Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R

During a recent visit to the Pace Museum in Dortmund, I stumbled upon an extraordinary exhibit: the personal collection of Jean-Pierre Kraemer, better known as JP. If you’ve ever delved into the world of automotive tuning, you’ll recognize JP as one of Europe’s most charismatic car enthusiasts. But here’s the kicker—in one of his latest videos, JP casually revealed that his collection now boasts a staggering 105 cars. So more than enough cars to fill his personal museum.

It’s not just the quantity that’s jaw-dropping; it’s the quality and diversity. This isn’t your stereotypical supercar hoard with endless rows of Lamborghinis and Ferraris. No, JP’s collection is a reflection of his unique automotive vision. You’ll find everything from a Renault Twingo with a Yamaha R1 engine strapped in the back to a classic Lamborghini Diablo. It’s a gearhead’s dream come to life.

Every car in the collection has been treated to JP Performance signature modifications, blending performance with personal flair. One standout is his Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, which he personally imported from Japan. JP’s mission? To create his own interpretation of the legendary Mine’s R34, a car famous for tearing up Japan’s Tsukuba Circuit with a blistering lap time of 57.7 seconds. Keep in mind, that record was set in 2005, and even today, any sub-minute time on Tsukuba is a serious achievement.

Nissan Skyline R34 Carbon Z-Tune or is it?

In today’s market, there are few brave souls willing to slam a Nissan Skyline R34 GTR on air suspension. But did you know this is not a real GTR? Could you spot the difference? Because what we have here is a converted R34 GTT. The transformation is so seamless that I was completely fooled. No expense has been spared to create this Z-Tune lookalike.

Even the interior has undergone a complete makeover, often one of the first signs that you’re not staring at a genuine GTR. Unfortunately, I couldn’t pop the hood to peek underneath, so whether the conversion includes an RB26 engine remains a mystery. What I do know is that the car has since been exported, so perhaps we’ll catch a glimpse of it again at a foreign car show.

In the category trash one and keep one

As I strolled back to my car from the Risenation event in Mechelen, Belgium, I stumbled upon this combo. Instantly, my mind starts racing, pondering which car I’d most love to take home. Now, this decision wasn’t as straightforward for me as you might think. I have a soft spot for youngtimers, and this Toyota Supra JZA80 certainly falls into that category. But then again, a Nissan R35 GTR in what appears to be Millenium Jade might just be the smarter choice for a daily driver.

Speaking of the color of the R35 GTR, it got me thinking – could it possibly be a T-Spec? After all, they do come in this color. But I digress; we were discussing which one I’d choose. I reckon I’d have gone with the Nissan to take home. How about you? Which one would you pick?

Teach them young…

While shooting cars in public locations there is a big chance you get disturbed by curious people. The kids in this shot heard the Nissan Skyline R33 GTR from miles away, when we arrived at the location they were already waiting. Because they knew this was a popular shooting location. They were really interested in the car and already knew a lot about it, probably from video games they played.

In stead of sending them away I let them shoot the car with their cellphones. We need the next generations to keep enjoying our hobby. I will always make time during a shoot for people who are genuinely interested in the subject, so should you!

RocketBunny Boss S14 from Belgium

Turning your Nissan S14 into a Plymouth Barracuda/Dodge Challenger look a like takes some serious dedication. Because to be able to fit the kit you will need to cut up parts of the car. But that is exactly what Nick Henderikx did with his car. The kit you see here is built by Rocketbunny/Pandem and totally transforms the car.

I have seen several of these transformations up close and to make it all work takes some skill. But Nick nailed the look, everything flows really good. On this version I really like the fact that the rearbumper has been removed, giving it a more aggresive look.

Owned by Nick Henderikx