Nissan Skyline GTR Unlimited

By | December 19, 2011 | Uncategorized | No comments

So, last week we posted a rather tired looking Skyline that literally was falling a part, but looking back on it now we realise how depressing it was so see an example of this wonderful car so tired and neglected, so if we have upset any7 of you we can only offer our humbles apologies.

So, to make up for that example of bad taste, this week we will post an example of one of the fastest Skylines around, and from the era before Nissan took it upon themselves to drop the name; will they ever be forgiven?

Anyway, here it is. This is the Nissan Skyline GTR “Unlimited” ands it packs a powerful punch. The power is supplied by a 6.7 litre V12 unit which has quadruple turbochargers, four overhead camshafts and a total of 48 valves. The engine delivers around 1,000 bhp. The 0 to 62 mph acceleration time is just under 3 seconds and the top speed is around 220 mph, so this baby can fly.

It is not just good in a straight line either. The car has four wheel steering, four wheel drive, a six speed sequential gearbox, magnesium wheels and brakes to cope; they are 355 mm in the rear and 381 mm discs on the front. The braking system is carbon fibre.

This is one of the fastest road cars ever built. It also looks very pretty – what do you think?

Nissan Skyline GTR Unlimited

Nissan Skyline GTR Unlimited

Restoring a Nissan Skyline

By | November 29, 2011 | Uncategorized | No comments

Restoring an old Nissan Skyline is a great way to learn a lot about motor engineering, to create a wonderful motorcar, and if you get it right to make a lot of money too. Certainly it is not a game that will appeal to everybody, and it can be a risky business for if you get it wrong or run out of patience, enthusiasm or money part way through the project, then it won’t be only time you will have wasted; you are likely to have wasted a considerable amount of cash. The message is to be certain of your final goals, timescales and potential costs before you commit yourself.

If you really do have to close down the project before it is finished, and sometimes life changes in unexpected ways, then if you are lucky some of your work and expenditure may be exploited by selling on your partial restorations. In fact, sometimes it is possible to start off your project using the bones of someone else’s abandoned one. Search the web for partially restored Skylines and you should find plenty of examples, sometimes at bargain prices. Obviously you will need to apply a due amount of caution and find out why the project was abandoned, but it could be just what you are looking for.
Also it is worth looking at a number of Skyline restoration projects that have been completed successfully. Most restorers are more than happy to show off their work and what they have achieved.

Rusty Skyline

You have to start somewhere...

The biggest enemy of all in any car restoration project is rust. Generally you will find all the parts that you need, but replacing rusty wheel arches and body panels can be very tricky. In some future posts I will return to this issue and see how various Skyline restorers have found solutions to the various problems they have encountered.

Favourite Skylines

By | November 4, 2011 | General | No comments

Everybody who visits this website is likely to have a favourite Skyline, so what is yours? In a recent survey of Skyline favourites the most popular was the 1998 Nissan Skyline R34 which received 45% of the total votes cast.

Next was the 1970 Skyline GTR which polled 37% of the votes followed by the Nissan GTR which was launched in 2007 and which received 12% of the votes.

The 1989 Nissan Skyline R32 received 10%, the 1993 Nissan Skyline R33 and the 1972 Nissan (Kenmeri) Skyline C110 both received 9% of the votes.

The most unlived Skylines were the 1958 Prince Skyline ALSID-2, the 1961 Prince Skyline S50 and the 1967 Prince Skyline S57 which received no votes at all.

So what is so special about the 1998 R34 that stands it apart from the rest? Perhaps it is because it is the last Skyline bear the name Skyline. Before the model was launched Skyline R33 sales had plummeted. The R34 was produced as a sportier looking car and was also more fuel efficient, though it re-iterated the R32 shell. There were five models which ranged in power from the relatively tame 155 bhp GT through to the mighty 280 bhp 2.5 litre GT-T.

This car did much to revive the fortunes of the Nissan Skyline and still seems to be most Skyline fans’ favourite car. For all skyline lovers and you are interested in insurance buy your insurance online at http://www.endsleigh.co.uk.

The New Nissan GT-R

By | October 25, 2011 | Uncategorized | No comments

As we all know, the new Nissan GT-R is at heart a Nissan Skyline GTR brought up to date. When Nissan dropped the Skyline brand in 2007 and the new version became simply the Nissan GT-R, they did not drop the philosophy that drove its design and three years on from its launch Nissan has produced a brand new model with many substantial changes.

The new engine is both powerful and economical. It is still a twin-turbo 3.8 litre V6, but it develops a massive 530 bhp (up from 480 bhp) which takes the car all the way to 200mph and possibly a little beyond. The new suspension system provides a far more refined driver comfort whilst producing superb cornering performance. Some important changes to the aerodynamics have been made which has reduced the air resistance by around 4% and although 4% may not sound very much, it is very significant when you are doing nearly two ton. There is also a 10% improvement t on downforce. Brakes have also been updated and changes have been made to the seats with the intention of providing an improvement in the relationship between car and driver.

The new GT-R was released for sale in Japan in November 2010 and in the UK February 2011 and at launch was described by Nissan as a multi-performance supercar. Certainly it looks like a supercar and performs like one, but with a price tag of around £72,000 it just doesn’t cost quite as much as you would expect to pay for one. Take a look at this beauty in the video – I promise that you will love it. The new Nissan GT-R is the world’s fastest production car.

Top 5 insurance companies

By | August 6, 2011 | Uncategorized | No comments

There’s so much competition these days that it’s nigh on impossible to know where to find the cheapest car insurance; should you go through a comparison site to get a good deal or direct to an insurance company?

Many comparison sites do offer good deals but often, if you go direct to the insurance company themselves, you can get an even better deal on your car insurance, and who doesn’t want to save a few pennies, or, in some cases, a lot of pennies?

Here are five of the best insurance companies that can offer cheap car insurance deals and are worth checking out as well as finding quotes through comparison sites.

Endsleigh Insurance

Endsleigh have been around for a while and they are a trusted name in the insurance business. As well as offering cheap quotes generally, they also have great offers for students and young drivers, as well as short term car insurance.

Hastings Direct

Hastings are so committed to getting you a good deal they actually have two sites; Hastings Direct for everyday car insurance and Hastings Essential for those who need minimum cover and a minimum price.

Churchill Insurance

No doubt you have seen all the adverts with the famous churchill bulldog who always likes to say yes, yes, yes. You don’t often find Churchill insurance on comparison sites, so go direct and see how much you could save.

Direct Line

If you have quite a few no claims then Direct Line can be a great option for getting cheap car insurance. They don’t make deals with comparison sites so you will have to go direct to them, but that’s not a bad thing as they also offer multi-insurance deals.

Elephant.co.uk

Elephant is one of the cheapest car insurance companies around and are especially helpful for younger drivers with low band cars. They are entirely online, meaning you save money that would otherwise be spent on unnecessary administration costs.

Where to find Nissan Skylines online

By | July 6, 2011 | Nissan | No comments

Japanese car enthusiasts are still going crazy for Nissan Skyline’s since they became popular features of video games and movies. It is considered a compact car and was originally created by Prince Motor Company before the company merged with Nissan in 1966. The popular coupe and sedan style are still available and the station wagon bodystyle made it even more likeable when it was dropped in 1989, being replaced by the R32 platform.

These high performance machines have always come out on top when being reviewed, their looks, practicality, ride and handling always score extremely high. Their reliability, perfomance, safety and running costs also score well.

All this makes for a car that many still lust over and many collectors and enthusiasts have built up a world of web pages dedicated to the various Skyline models.

If you are interested in a Skyline as a first time buyer or as a collector or fan yourself, the Internet is the best place to start to equip yourself with all you need to know about these cars. Begin with forums if you want to ascertain that this car is for you and they will tell you from an owner’s perspective what they are like and why they are so popular.

There are plenty of forums awash with information and plenty of websites selling second hand Skylines. There are well known sites such as autotrader.co.uk and if you want to be more specific, visit somewhere like skylineowners.com for everything you need to know.

A simple search using a search engine will provide you with endless webpage’s to check out before you make your decision. Buying a car can be a daunting prospect but the Internet can if you use it well provide you with a complete guide to Skyline’s.

Car Insurance Basics

By | June 29, 2011 | Uncategorized | No comments

Insuring your car is obviously a very important thing to do and getting the right insurance for you is a large part of this. Buying insurance for your vehicle can be a very confusing process though and there are many things within it that can seem bewildering if you have never encountered this area of insurance before. Here is a quick guide to some of the basics of car insurance so you need not be too bewildered when you go to choose a policy. You can also visit Hastings Direct website for more detailed information and their current policies.

Motor insurance generally comes in three basic forms, the first of which is:

Third Party Insurance
This is the very cheapest form of insurance and is the minimum form of insurance required by law in this country. Third party insurance means that if you cause an accident on the road, the damage to the other car is covered by your insurance and the other driver will not have to pay for the damages. Third party insurance does not pay for damages on your vehicle and will not pay out if your car is stolen.

Third Party, Fire and Theft
This insurance costs slightly more but you get better cover as the same scenarios as Third Party insurance are covered, plus you will get a pay out if your car is damaged by fire or stolen.

Comprehensive Insurance
This is the most expensive form of insurance but the number of scenarios for which your car is covered dramatically increases. Comprehensive insurance covers your car should any accident be your fault as well as the other driver. You are also generally covered if you are involved in a hit and run where you are unable to claim damages on the other driver’s insurance. Many of these polices also cover in car contents such as CD players and also offer free windscreen replacement, roadside assistance and several other options that will increase the price of your policy.

The Very First Skyline ALSID-1

By | June 25, 2011 | History, Nissan, Skyline | No comments

Since the Skyline was invented in 1957 is has not always been produced by Nissan. The very first manufacturer of the Skyline was The Prince Motor Company. They soon formed with Nissan but instead of taking both names it has only taken Nissan’s. The Japanese company was renowned back in those times for making luxury cars. In modern days this is not the case.

When the car was manufactured designs tended to be a lot more basic compared to today’s standards, this may have something to do with the lack of technology back then. The cars had small engines which was a 1.5 litre and only produced 60hp this would have only produced a maximum speed of 87mph. Even though the maximum speed limit in the United Kingdom is 70mph cars on today’s market can reach far greater speeds.

The Skyline has evolved over the years and has changed in the exterior and what I under the bonnet. Even back In the 1950′s they still made more then one model. If you wanted to buy a Skyline in that era you could either buy the ALSID-1 or the BLRA-3. They differed in engine size and design. The later design age BLRA-3 was available in a convertible style which was very popular in those days. It has a sports engine so it made the car faster. If you were to find a BLRA-3 for sale it may be worth quite some money as only a few hundred were made. Skyline enthusiasts would be particularly interested.

Nissan Skyline Specifications

By | June 22, 2011 | Uncategorized | No comments

The Nissan Skyline is certainly a sought after car for those that are into their automobiles as it is classed as a legendary car in the Nissan line up and comes complete with a long history of performance and style that has attracted car fanatics around the globe.

The Skyline comes as a mid-sized car and is available in two styles, either the coupe or the sedan style.

The current Skyline model is equipped with all the impressive modern accessories you could wish for along with quality auto parts. Many of the models are mounted with a 3.7 litre V6 engine that comes complete with variable valve timing and lift mechanism.

The American version and the domestic version differ slightly in that the American version reveals the emblem to be Infiniti, whilst the domestic version is Nissan. The domestic version also features side marker lamps, which are not found on the American version at all.

The regular standard Nissan Skyline is said to be the model that has the most tuneable engine with amazing horsepower and strength as well as extra bolt on parts in order to boost the power output to a maximum.

The Nissan Skyline is certainly a car suitable to those that are very much into their high-end sports cars as it is the flagship of Nissan performance and advanced technologies as well as revealing style and statue.

Insuring such a vehicle however is a very different matter and can cost a lot, an online car insurance quote is probably the best approach and will give you an insight into all on offer. Getting an online car insurance quote will also allow you to browse an array of providers in order to allow you get the best possible deal.

The newest Skyline to hit the shelves

By | June 2, 2011 | General, History, Nissan, Skyline | No comments

Although it is not called a Skyline the GT-R is the next model in the range to hit the forecourt of many garages. The look of the car can be likened to the bat mobile rather then a car for road use. The striking design is what is the selling point for many buyers as it is a real head turner. This car is normally known for being a boy racer car but the steep price tag may put them off. The car is shiny and has large alloys. The promotional picture on Nissan’s website would make anyone want to buy it. They show the car in the best light inciting many people on test drives.

The specifications of the car are top of the range as you would expect from a performance car. The car comes In two models the GT-R premium and the GT-R Black. The later being the more expensive. The only difference between the two is only really antithetical features such as having bigger alloys and black and red leather trim. Both come with petrol engines. You will notice how technology has evolved over the years as a car made by the same manufacturer now can reach 310mph where as years ago it could only reach 85mph.

When buying a GT-R brand new you will be able to add certain features and virtually build your own car. You will be able to add features such as a parking system and tracking devices. It would always be advised in a car that is so expensive.

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