Okay, so maybe we’re jumping the gun a bit by calling the really-not-that-old-at-all Nissan GT-R a classic, but you’ll be a petrolhead that needs his petrolhead examined if you think that the GT-R supercar-smasher won’t be regarded as one of the all-time automotive greats, in the not too distant future.
Look back through Nissan history and you’ll see that it’s widely agreed that anything with GT-R badge on it should be treated with reverence and, if you’re racing it, extreme caution. From the late 80s R32 Skyline GT-R – the first serious power GT-R with the now legendary 2.6-litre, twin-turbo, straight-6 ‘RB’ series engine – right through to the R33 GT-R and R34 GT-R, all running the same RB26 engine, and all now Japanese performance legends. The old Skyline GT-Rs were the techno wizards of their time with that thumping turbo powerplant and a clever torque splitting four-wheel drive system.
Nissan dropped the ‘Skyline’ badge for their current GT-R, the R35, and thanks to a five-year GT-R production gap and the usual GT-R engineers’ thirst for all things Porsche-beating, the new R35 GT-R bought an all-new V6 twin-turbo engine, quick-shift automatic gearbox and high tech launch control. Blistering 60mph assaults in just over 3 seconds were now possible. In 2007, the new R35 GT-R threw down the gauntlet to the old school supercars. It then picked that gauntlet back up again and slapped them around the face with it!
Now look at this Imperials Black Edition GT-R, resplendent in Ultimate Silver metallic paint over blacked-out 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels. It’s the more exclusive Black Edition with special exterior and interior colourways and trims, but it’s still 100 per cent performance GT-R under those tasty extra bits and bobs. All for under £38k, with extremely low miles, premium Bose sound, heated full leather and Alcantara seats, Xenon power headlights, and more.
The R35 GT-R has been tested against supercar royalty time and time again, and more often than not comes out smugly on top, and that’s against cars that cost much more. The GT-R has always been the underdog in terms of price and Flash Harry build materials, but it always brings it’s a game in terms of grip-technology and turbocharged might. That’s why they call ’em Godzilla.
If you’re looking for a weapons-grade, near-200mph car with more bite than a pissed off pitbull and more poke than a Porsche, then this special edition, 480bhp Imperials GT-R is well worth your attention. Ultra-modern classics don’t come much more menacing than this.
Car and images supplied by Imperials. To see their full range of sports, prestige and 4×4 vehicles, please click here.
By Dan Anslow
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