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.
The Skyline was gently dragged onto a car hauler and carted off to Kamikaze Speedshop, a Dutch workshop that basically functions as a temple for old Nissans. From a distance it almost looked road-worthy. Up close, it got more rust than a North Sea oil rig. But nothing a grinder, welding torch, and unhealthy amount of caffeine can’t fix. Surrounded by other vintage Japanese machinery, the Skyline was in safe hands.
Under the skin, the car’s original motor is missing. But don’t cry into your sake just yet. Instead, it now runs a L28 F54 block, stroked to 3.1L, complete with a diesel crankshaft, CNC-ported N42 head, individual throttle bodies, Spirit Garage 48mm headers, and a fully custom 2x60mm stainless exhaust.
Power is delivered through an RB20DET five-speed gearbox. Because if you’re going to resurrect a Skyline, you’d best do it with some proper JDM flair. Kameari Engine Works, the Saitama-based tuning gods, are behind many of the engine components. We’re talking a 5 liter oil pan, racing crank pulley, engine mounts to name a few. The wheels are Work Equip 01 in 14×6,5 et4 in the front and 14×7 et-2 in the back.
The exterior, however, is blissfully original except for the color change. No GT-R widebody kits, no flare-cut arches, no Fast & Furious cosplay. Just four doors, and a vibe so old-school it practically smells like cassette tapes and carburetors.
Owner; Carlo Sticky-san de Grundt
Spotted at the recent Factory Settings event from Revworks
