Global Auto – Osaka GT-R Dealer

“We sell and buy GT-R…” That’s somewhat of an understatement as Global Auto are probably the biggest dealer of modified Skyline GT-Rs in Japan. We made the trip down to Sakai city in Osaka to take a closer look.

Overhead expressways, rice fields, roadside chain restaurants, pachinko parlors… Sakai is in the southern area of Osaka in that almost never ending sprawl that makes its way down to Kansai International airport, and even on to Wakayama. Just by driving around the area you can tell it’s a haven for car culture, plentiful car dealerships and gas stations dot the landscape which in itself is quite open and spacious. Well… compared to most other places in Osaka. Trial, Kakimoto Racing and FEED (Fujita Engineering) are some of the more well known tuning garages that call Sakai City home.

I had been conversing with Global Auto’s purchaser and export sales manager Tsukasa Matsumoto throughout the week and he kindly allowed 7Tune.com to visit the shop to do a photoshoot whenever it suited us. The dealership itself isn’t that big, but it’s full of tuned GT-Rs with some that are so modified you’d think registration were impossible… not so! Just as an example, we arrived around midday and after a quick chat with Matsumoto-san we made our way around the lot. I asked what was the most modified car and Matsumoto-san directed me to a white BNR32 tucked away down the back. It didn’t look too modified from the outside, but after looking under the hood and being told that all mechanical parts (engine, driveline, yet to be installed braking system etc) had been swapped over from a crashed racing car, I couldn’t believe it could be registered. “No problem…” was the reply when I asked how the car could be deemed roadworthy. “We just arrange the paperwork so that the vehicle falls in line with regulations, it’s easy.” And people wonder why the car tuning industry in Japan is so big…

There are a few cars that fall into the ‘it can’t be registered’ category, like the yellow AutoSelect BCNR33 and the insane 950ps Toyota Supra drag car (more on this later) complete with Hoosier rear slicks! It really was an eye opener seeing cars at this level of modification being offered for sale from a dealership. It didn’t stop there though, a sinister black JZS160 Toyota Aristo with paddle shift levers, more electronics in the cabin than a commercial airliner, Brembo Enzo brake calipers and 370mm disks… this is just one of a group of crazy Aristos Global Auto has had on their lot recently. That brings up another point, Global Auto don’t just deal with GT-Rs but have many other performance cars on hand to appeal to their customers. There was even a Kansai Service modified Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII being prepared for sale while we were there, as well as the odd FD RX-7 and S15 Nissan Silvia.

The GT-Rs were the reason why we came though, and we weren’t disappointed. A beautiful Top Secret modified Bayside blue BNR34 V-Spec took the center position in the lot looking pretty much the way Nissan intended it aside from a huge carbon GT wing and some nice contrasting gold BBS LM alloy wheels partially obscuring some 6-pot Endless calipers. It’s not every day you see a BNR34 GT-R with a roll cage but this one had it installed as well as a complement of Defi Link gauges and Recaro SPG bucket seat. A lone R31 Skyline GTS was parked at the front of the lot complete with an R34 RB26DETT engine and GT-R Brembo brake conversion. It looked incredible with bronze Advan Racing RS alloy wheels with two tone black/silver paintwork… very ‘Eighties’ but with a 21st century twist – a 1988 GT-R of sorts. Also sharing the front row were a Midnight Purple III BNR34 V-Spec and a BNR34 GT-R V-Spec II N1. Even with 18,000kms on the odometer the N1 looked like it just rolled off the production line. A very, very special R34 GT-R and I’m not surprised this car commands over 5,000,000 yen.

Just getting back to the Toyota Supra though, it was a bit of a standout in that it was completely set up as a drag car. The car had been bought from Ichiiro Engineering in far flung Ehime (we traveled there earlier this year for the MSC drift Round 8 ) and had only done 1,000kms in its current configuration. It comprises of a 3.1L 2JZGTE engine, massive Trust T88-38GK running 2.2kg/cm boost good for 950ps with corresponding complement of Bosch fuel pumps in the trunk area, OS Giken 4 plate clutch, Safety 21 7-point roll cage and GREX 6 piston brake package to slow the thing down. There wasn’t any information on quarter mile times but it’s fair to say this could be a sub-10 second car under the right conditions. Although the car is set up for drag racing at the moment with tuned suspension and 315/35R17 Hoosier Drag Radials on the rear, the car can be easily set up to be street driven if the prospective buyer was so inclined (more info here). Price on application if you’re interested!

Right from the start I could see the care Matsumoto-san had taken in selecting each of the vehicles present at Global Auto. I asked him if the cars were of the highest quality and he replied: “I wouldn’t say that. They’re cars worth buying. A lot of GT-Rs look great on the outside but are hiding some bad secrets underneath. At least with our cars you can have piece of mind because we inspect each one thoroughly.” I for one wouldn’t hesitate to buy one of these cars. In fact there was one beautiful wine red BNR32 GT-R there which would be a fantastic buy, with a 2.7L engine, N1 turbochargers and BNR34 Brembo brake upgrade it was priced right at 2,280,000 yen. Global Auto also export cars having sent stock to countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada previously, although he’s quick to point out that the legalities of importing modified cars in other countries varies greatly and to check with authorities before making enquiries. Matsumoto-san does speak English and would welcome serious enquiries about any of the cars on offer in Global Auto’s “Global Auto Stock List” here: http://www.global-auto.ne.jp/export/public_model_home.php?model=STOCKS

As light started to fade we decided to head back home but not before some crazy guy in a little Honda Street van stopped in front of us at an intersection and showed us what ‘Powered by Honda’ really meant! It was hilarious watching the Street light up its rear tires. A little further on we also found a Japanese version of a ‘crop circle’. It seems as though something was dropped from height on top of the rice field for some reason?　Or a real bonafide crop circle Japan style? Thanks to Laurence for pointing it out!

Global Auto can be contacted on +81 72-363-6666 or by email at info@global-auto.ne.jp or visit their website at http://www.global-auto.ne.jp/index.html

*Special thanks to Tsukasa Matsumoto and Taka Yamashita for all their help.

Words: Justin Karow

Photos: Justin Karow