The Ultimate Drivers R32 GTR - Featured Owner #001: @reina.gtr

On a dewy fall morning deep in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, I headed out before sunrise to meet up with one of my favorite Skylines, Robin’s R32 GTR, known to many on Instagram as @reina.gtr. 

Robin had driven over 800 miles from New York to Western North Carolina to experience one of the greatest driving roads in the world. The Tail of the Dragon. A flowing stretch of 318 curves tucked into just 11 miles.

This was his fourth trip to the Dragon in his R32, but this time he was here for GTR vs Dragon, one of the largest GTR gatherings in North America. A four day driving event each fall that brings together over one hundred GTRs and Skylines from across the country.

Some cars are better in person

Robin and I had exchanged messages on Instagram over the years, keeping up with one another's builds and watching each other's projects evolve. But finally seeing his car in action gave me a completely new understanding and appreciation for the R32 he had built.

In the days leading up to our early morning meetup, I had the chance to follow Robin in my R33 GTR through the mountains. The way his R32 settled into the corners, turbo blowoff echoing into the trees, flames flickering on downshifts, and smell of E85 in the air, was for anyone who loves Skylines, sights and sounds that never grow old.

Falling in love with the R32

Robin’s love for GTRs began after seeing the R35 featured on Top Gear in 2009. Years later, while searching for a new project car, Robin began to learn more about the R32 and fell deep into the Skyline rabbit hole. He spent hours on YouTube admiring R32 GTR builds, watching them chase down GT3's on the Nürburgring, and learning about their legendary dominance in Japanese circuit racing.  

After a six month search, he finally found the perfect Skyline project car on Facebook Marketplace. A Crystal White, 1990 R32 GTR located in Florida. After driving down to buy the car, he immediately drove it twenty-six hours back home to New York.

Of all the memories he has made with the car, Robin says the initial drive home still stands out as one of his favorites. For him, having the chance to finally drive his dream car, being in a right hand drive for the first time, and driving a manual for the third time ever (with a triple disc clutch) was a bonding experience with his R32 that he will not forget. However, the driving didn't stop there. After more than four years of Skyline ownership, he has taken the car from 28,000 kilometers to over 71,000 kilometers, averaging about 10,000 kilometers a year.

“We’ll figure it out”

Skyline ownership rarely comes without its setbacks. After a previous Dragon trip, Robin realized his car was burning a large amount of oil. Instead of viewing the engine failure as defeat, he used it as an opportunity to continue improving his dream car and to invest in its reliability so that he could continue enjoying it for many years to come. His motto for every unexpected issue he's encountered in owning a 36 year old car is simple, "We'll figure it out."

This meant a full engine rebuild with Syngarage in New Jersey. Robin had brought his R32 to them in the past and said he knew right away that this was the right shop for his Skyline. Their attention to detail and care while going through his car, which even included washing it by hand before starting work on it, led to an ideal partnership for rebuilding his motor. Robin told me he often jokes with the Syngarage owner, Mike, that he will be bringing his R32 to him until he is 90.

No shortcuts

Since the engine was already coming apart, Robin said that he wanted to make sure he did it right the first time, a complete bottom end upgrade with an HKS 2.8L Step Zero Stoker Kit. During teardown, the turbos were also found to be on their way out. This led to a set of upgraded HKS GTIII 2530 turbos, which paired nicely with the built bottom end.

For Robin the goal was never chasing numbers, it was simply to build a reliable street car that would ideally not need to come apart again for a long time. His R32 dyno’d at 600hp on E85, and 505hp on 93 octane. Much more than he initially was aiming for, but the comprehensive set of upgrades along with Syngarage's craftsmanship meant his GTR was more than capable of handling it.

A pure driving experience

After wrapping up our early morning shoot, Robin asked if I wanted to go for a ride. It was an easy decision on my end. However, once we hit the road, I quickly forgot about the additional interview questions I had meant to ask. But that doesn’t really seem to matter when you are a passenger in a 600hp R32 GTR.

The R32 earned a reputation as a pure drivers car when it initially came out, and is still regarded as a car that delivers a connected and raw driving experience to this day. Robin's car takes this concept and enhances the best characteristics through it's well sorted upgrades. Most notably, the increased displacement from the upgraded RB28 gives the car a much livelier but still controllable feel on throttle during the mid corner, and a strong punch on the exit. The short wheelbase paired with upgraded stiffened suspension, leads to a more responsive front end that darted playfully from corner to corner, and the revolutionary Atessa all-wheel drive system holds it all together still sending grip to each tire as needed even after more than three decades since its production. Robin's car makes it easy to see why the R32 dominated Group A racing in the early 90's, and also how his love for GTR history is integrated into his own build & driving style.

A tribute to JDM tuning culture

Sometimes the best mods don't make you go any faster, but simply put a smile on your face. The more time I spent with Robin's car, the more I picked up on the connection between his love for JDM tuning shops and how this admiration has influenced his build. No matter which side of the car I looked at, there were tasteful details paying respect to these legendary companies.

Despite the investment in his rebuilt RB28, Robin says his favorite part of the car is the interior, and the cockpit is where his taste really shines. From the extremely limited HKS x Bride Zeta IV seats, Top Secret steering wheel / shift knob, Defi gauges, and countless other accessories, his car reminded me of a JDM treasure hunt, of which he spent months and sometimes years sourcing these parts to add his own style to the car. Robin said the GTR demo cars built by the renowned tuning company, Top Secret, have always been a huge inspiration for him. His plate “Nagata” pays homage to the founder, Smokey Nagata, and his larger than life legacy. Robin calls these subtle references, "easter eggs," a little surprise for those who know what to look for. 

My personal favorite is his Instagram handle @reina.gtr, which is a nod to Reina Akikawa's white R32 GTR from the racing anime, "Wangan Midnight", inspired by the real life Midnight Club. If you know you know. 

The beauty in imperfection

In Japan there is an artform called "Kintsugi" which consists of carefully repairing broken pottery using glue mixed with gold powder in order to detail the fractured lines in gold. The art is viewed as a reflection for our own lives encouraging us not to hide our flaws, but instead to recognize that there is beauty even in the parts that are imperfect. Robin's R32 GTR carries this same philosophy. He told me that although he has had some suggest to him that he should repaint his front bumper, that his response is always same when asked, "I earned those rock chips!"

Like many of the original Midnight Club cars @reina.gtr’s namesake takes inspiration from, his R32 tells a story through its battle scars from miles of touge driving and road trips with friends. For Robin these experiences are valued more than perfection. Simply put, every chip serves as proof of a GTR well enjoyed.

Never finished.

Robin says his R32 is nowhere near its final iteration, but that this is all a part of the fun.  His next goal is to continue to improve his GTR's ability as a street car, with suspension and drivetrain overhauls coming next. More road trips, experiences, and first track day with the Syngarage crew are what he is most excited about for his car. Even possibly using the R32 as a daily driver if he adds air conditioning in the future.

This R32 he says is a car he will keep for life, and that he will continue to enjoy driving and modifying it for as long as he can. Robin said that besides the road trips some of his favorite memories with his car are the interactions with those who come up to him to tell him this is their dream car. Being able to share the car with others, and also with his dad, the only person he has let drive his car, are part of what he says make owning his R32 GTR so special.

Mod list:

Engine: HKS 2.8L stroker Step Zero; HKS GTIII-2530 Turbos; Apexi Intakes; HKS Turbo piping / intercooler; Tomei Exhaust manifolds; Tomei Turbo Elbows; R35 coil packs; HKS cam gears; HKS oil pump; LeaskSpec oil pan extension; LeaskSpec ABS catch can; Nitto head drain,

Fuel: ID 1300s; Radium Fuel System (rail, regulator, lines); Walbro 450LP

Exhaust: HKS Super Turbo Exhaust, Reimax equal length downpipe

ECU: Haltech 2500 

Extras: Frenchy Performance power steering pump / kit; HKS Oil cooler / relocation; Tein Street Coilovers

Interior Modifications: HKS x Bride 50th anniversary Zeta IV Seat; Top Secret steering wheel, shift knob, shift boot, e-brake boot; Garage Active e-brake; Defi gauges;

Exterior Modifications: Carbon kevlar rocket flap from @partscollective

Wheels: Enkei RPF1s 17x9 +22 (+8mm spacer all around)