We couldn't ignore your Skyline R34 if we tried! And, there really is only one place to start with, and that's the paint job…
Yes, it turns a lot of heads, that's for sure. But, when I bought this car, it was yellow. I added black stripes and GT-R alloys with semi-slick tyres that I imported from Japan. I wasn't content so I ordered a GT-R bodykit with Nismo spoilers and was on the verge of painting it blue, which is my favourite colour. But I had an idea to do something that hadn't been done to a Skyline before…
Airbrushing the heck out of it?
Yep! I was inspired by an artist at the Middle East Motor Tuning Show at the Sharjah expo centre. I liked his designs and decided to do something similar to my car. So, I took it to Extreme Autostyling, hoping it would be ready for the Fujairah Ramadan show where I had been participating for the past two years. I was told the car could be done in eight days but in the end it took two weeks.
It was my own fault because I was constantly getting new ideas that I wanted to incorporate!
Did it get done in time for the show?
Yes, thankfully, and I won second place for best sports car at the show.
That's great, but do you face any problems with registering it because of the paint?
Nope, I haven't had any issues since all the modifications are road legal so the RTA and police don't have a problem with it.
The RTA checked the colour and had no objection because in my registration card I had specified two colours — black and grey. You'll see very few cars with an appearance quite so vibrant on the roads of the UAE.
No doubt about that. So, where did you find this R34 anyway?
It belonged to a UAE national in Ajman. It was parked at his house and he wasn't using it. He told me he had imported it from Japan in 2006 and converted it from right- to left-hand drive. It wasn't registered and when I asked him if he'd be interested in selling, he agreed but wanted my 1993 Toyota Soarer in exchange. So, we swapped. But, I am planning on buying it back from him.
That orange Soarer was hot stuff, we remember it well. Your Skyline has been tweaked a little, right?
It has a GT-R racing intercooler, HKS intake system, HKS performance exhaust and a TEIN racing suspension. It has great power and superb handling. The turbocharged 2.5-litre straight six produces 280bhp and is mated to a six-speed manual.
I've added Recaro racing seats and have other plans such as getting a roll cage and turbo gauges.
Where do you enjoy driving your car the most and do you have any favourite places to show it off?
Evening cruises along Jumeirah Beach Road, Al Mamzar and around the Marina with my JDM groups is a lot of fun.
Also, there is a track in RAK where people compete in drifting tournaments. I haven't participated yet but my friends and I like to go there and put our cars on display.
However, I have a Nissan Silvia which I plan to use just for competitions like this. It's stilla project car for now but once it is ready, I will be entering tournaments with it.
Unfortunately, car customisation is often associated with street racing, and vehicles like my Skyline tend to attract the attention of the authorities. But even when the police stop me to check my car, they almost always ask me if it is for sale!
Is your Skyline your dream car?
It is but if I could have another, it would be a Skyline R34 GT-R Z-tune.
Bio
Name Mohsin Raza Malik
Job Aircraft appearance team leader
From Pakistan
Wheels 1999 Nissan Skyline R34
In the UAE Born here
