Nissan Headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, was the site of a heartbreaking robbery where a beloved, all-orginal red 1991 Nissan GT-R was stolen. It was a bold and ambitious heist given that it happened right in the company's home base.
The theft of any car is a big deal, but making it more significant is that fact that it's one of the few true Australian-spec GT-Rs sold in Australia at the time. Just how rare is an AU-spec R32 GT-R? Read on.
OTHER STORIES YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:
This diecast model is the cheapest way to get a Toyota Fortuner
Brembo has acquired Ohlins Racing for P23 billion
Back in the 90s, only about 100 GT-R units were brought over for sale in the Australian market, making the car a highly sought after grail for racing lovers. One of those units went on to dominate the Bathurst 1000, an annual 1000 kilometer race in New South Wales. With ita intelligent all-wheel drive system, it upset the traditional Holden and Ford racing fans by winning the 1991 and 1992 races. Those wins further cemented the GT-R's legacy in Australian motorsport history, and earning the name Godzilla for its beastly performance.
Godzilla has been missing for at least five days, and there is still no word on who the thieves are, or what their motives could be.
This is the second noteworthy robbery of a GT-R in recent times. Back in January, an R34 Skyline was stolen from a Japanese car rental company. This specific GT-R was targeted because back in 2022 Lewis Hamilton rented (some would say wrecked) the car while in town for the Japanese Grand Prix. In the same month, customs agents found the car in a shipping container, ready to make its way out of Japan.
The adored Godzilla GT-R is worth an approximate, $250,000 AUD (P9.6 million) in pristine condition. This being a literal museum piece, it's almost impossible to put a price tag on the stolen car. Like the Hamilton-used GT-R, this car could find its way to the black market, or into the garage of shady collector. Although with how much Australians love this car, it could fetch a lot more in ransom money.
