We first met Jonathan in 2021 while visiting Nissan Headquarters in Tennessee to preview the Z Proto. In addition to being a proud Nissan North America employee, he is an avid car enthusiast with a passion for Nissans and Datsuns, having owned a 240Z, 350Z and Hakosuka Skyline. Jonathan recently acquired this QM1 White R34 Skyline GT-R from our friend Sean at Toprank International Vehicle Importers, and came to Z Car Garage for upgrades and dyno tuning.
JONATHAN: My history with Nissan and Z cars started before I was even born. My dad had purchased a 240Z in Ojai, California in 1978 while in the Navy and daily drove it until 1998. There are pics of me as an infant of me in it and when I was old enough to go to daycare, he would take me in the Z. Growing up around it, helping him work on it and wanting to ride in it as much as possible shaped my love for not only cars, but the Datsun/Nissan brand and especially the Z. When I got old enough to start thinking about my first car, my dream was to get the newly launched 350Z to go along with my dad’s 240Z. I was drawn to the Le Mans sunset orange launch color and fell even more in love with that color when I got to see it in person at my local grocery store.
As it so happened though, on my 15th birthday, my dad surprised me by gifting me the 240Z! I was in shock but so excited to work on it with him, restoring it to this level I had built up in my head for years. The project took 3 years and by the time I was a senior in high school, we had finished it… Painting it my favorite Le Mans sunset orange and building it out just as I had imagined as a young kid. Read more about the Father and Son duo in Japanese Nostalgic Car and GrassrootsMotorsports.
Fast forward to 2023, after enjoying it for so many years, my wife and I were involved in a really bad accident in it. It was totaled and was a huge loss for myself and my family. I knew I needed to find another special Nissan. Below you will see how this situation shaped how I got into the Skyline’s, specifically my Hako and now the R34 GT-R. However, between the ownerships of the Hako and the R34, my wife found this beautiful 2003 Z33 350Z in my favorite color, Le Mans Sunset. I had always wanted this car since I was 13 and it was the spitting image of (a newer version) of my old 240Z. A great bookend to a Z journey that lasted over 34 years.
GT-R Dreams
JONATHAN: My love for the R34 Skyline started I believe with the rest of my generation, 2 Fast 2 Furious. That scene where Brian drives through Miami to get to the race at the beginning will forever be reason for my Skyline love. I also remember watching old Hot Versions on YouTube with the MINES R34 GT-R going against the Amuse MK4 Supra. The sound from the exhaust and the feedback from the drivers made it clear that not only was it the winner in that episode, it was the winner of the JDM legends of its time. It was only natural to want one growing up, but as prices increased, it became clear that it would just be a dream.
My journey really began on a vacation just after the Z accident, my wife and I were looking at the back of one of my JDM Legends t-shirts that had a Hakosuka Skyline on it. We looked at each other and said “Thats the car”. At that point, we had no idea where to even begin to look for a Hako but we both knew that was the direction we wanted to go. She knew I had always loved the Skylines, but the Hako (aside from the R34 GTR) always was a favorite.
After a few months, Jonathan reached out to friend (Randy Jaffe) with a collection of Nissan’s and Datsuns including a 1971 Nissan Skyline that Z Car Garage had worked on! They discussed for a while, and one afternoon the Hako was headed to TN. Jonathan was excited for the opportunity to be the next caretaker of this beloved Skyline. He enjoyed the car for several months, driving it to shows, and really getting to know the chassis.
JONATHAN: Just when I was getting comfortable though, I received a call from the sales director at Toprank International Vehicle Importers, who I had built a good relationship with. He asked if I would be interested in selling my Hako to a big Skyline collector in Texas (the Hako returned to Z Car Garage, full report coming soon!). After talking it over and coming up with a good deal, I made the decision to sell the Hako and purchase a bone stock, 1-owner R34 GT-R from Top Rank’s inventory in Japan.
Top Rank brokered the deal and made the process so easy. I knew though that I would have to wait until June of 2024 before it could be imported due to the 25-year law but it was so worth the wait and I cannot express how grateful I am to have been in a position for such an opportunity to be realized.
Upgrades and Dyno Tuning at Z Car Garage
ROB: In the fall of 2024, Jonathan acquired his dream car, an R34 Skyline GT-R, from Top Rank Importers. They were having some issues and shipped it to Z Car Garage for minor sorting and upgrades…
JONATHAN: One of the very first videos I saved on YouTube was a video of Rob driving the green 240Z with the RB25 swap. I knew then that Z Car Garage was the best and I always wanted to have a build done by them! After the R34 GT-R arrived stateside, I knew it had to go directly to ZCG. There was no other place I wanted to go and now having the car for a few days, driving it and really enjoying it, I made the absolute best decision.
(Below) Jonathan visited us in 2022 for the Tokyo Calling Rally. We had to snap a photo with the Go Green RB25DET-powered 240Z that inspired to build one of his own…and 1/24 scale the model I made 🙂
At the shop we installed a Haltech Elite 2500 with plug ‘n’ play adapter, dual wide-band controller, one-step colder NGK plugs, ID 1300 injectors, Wallbro Hellcat Fuel pump, Z Car Garage Bosch relay kit and KOYO Race radiator:
More upgrades included an HKS FMIC, Greddy BOV, PRP R35 coil packs, Wiring Specialities injector resistor bypass kit and a Haltech boost controller followed by dyno tuning. More photos of the parts installation in the gallery below:
New Nismo clutch/flywheel replacement:
ROB: We’re not positive, but we believe this car had some sort of strange, hot rod turbo that wasn’t allowing the factory system to control the boost level. So you know what we did? We performed a Garrett GT2560-5 Turbo upgrade with supporting mods and tuned it again. It was wonderful and it rocks. We feel very honored: even though Jonathan lives in TN he trusts ZCG to work on his new R34. We shipped the car back with Masney and everyone’s happy. Long Live The R!”
Engine bay with new intake plumbing:
On the dyno, baseline numbers were 336hp/281tq at the wheels. After tuning with the turbo and supporting upgrades the Skyline put down 438hp/333tq at the wheels. Enjoy the RB26DETT in action!
Enjoying the Ride
Jonathan has been enjoying his R34 at home in Tennessee. QM1 is a fantastic color for this GT-R:
JONATHAN: Since leaving ZCG, I have added a few small mods including the V-Spec front diffuser, NISMO shift know, pedals, double din head unit and a few engine bay dress up items. In the future I will look to add a V-spec rear carbon diffuser, maybe a Z-tune hood and perhaps maybe a little more power. Otherwise, drive and enjoy!
Thanks for your support Jonathan and congratulations on finding your dream car. Catch more of Jonathan’s car adventures on his Instagram. More pictures in the gallery below!
