Wilch's R33 GTST

[Justin Fox]

Wilch's R33 GTST
Photography and words by Wil Palijo











Justin Fox: A few months ago I stumbled upon Wil's site and it was this post in particular that inspired me to contact him to see if he would be interested in sharing his story as a feature on JDMST's Featured Rides section.

I think nearly all of us have been on a similar journey, or at least we've gone through shared emotions and made comparable discoveries so I'm quite sure many of you will enjoy and relate to Wil's Skyline Story.

Wilch: By no means do I consider myself to be a hardcore car nut, or someone that has the ability to heavily modify or restore a vehicle, as I don’t have the means to buy everything that I want to, but I like cars, always have, and I love to drive.

Some time ago I was faced with the need to purchase a new car (my second car). Fortunately for me, the time to purchase a new car came two months before my 25th birthday. Seeing as I was in need of a car and would soon be eligible for insurance on a vehicle with a turbo, I decided to find something that met the following criteria: Rear wheel drive, turbo and power to shove you into the seat under acceleration.

Back then Skyline’s weren’t that popular and they still had a premium price. Late model R33 GTST’s were going for $30k, and seeing an import on a daily basis was unheard of. Because of this I decided that I’d only look at locally available vehicles, and there was only one in my price range, the Nissan 200sx.

I almost bought a red 1997 S14a with BBS rims and lowered springs but the day I was going to see it I got a phone call from the owner advising me that the car had been sold! Over the next few weeks I inspected and test drove some very sad examples of s14’s, scratched-to-buggery interior plastics, yet advertised as “immaculate interior”, fading and peeling paint, advertised as “one owner always garaged”, and oil stained engines advertised as “always serviced”.

One weekend I decided to buy the Trading Post and it was there that I found my car. A dealership in Parramatta had listed a 1997 R33 GTST Skyline with low km’s in white. After lunch on the Saturday I went down and test-drove the car. It ticked all the right boxes, threw me into the back of the seat under acceleration (with the potential for more), rear wheel drive, and turbo… and it was immaculate.

The only modifications it came with was a 3.5” Apex’i cat-back exhaust system with “Super Megaphone” written on the muffler tip, Tein adjustable coilovers and an air filter. I fell in love with the drive, and how clean the car was inside and out. It was much cleaner than any of the s14’s I had been looking at. The sound of the RB was nice too.

I put a deposit down, went home and began to Google “Nissan R33 Skyline GTST series 2″ for more information. Nowadays I’d probably be Googling first, joining forums, asking questions, finding one all before putting a deposit down. But back then it was a different story.

The day I took delivery of my car was the day I joined Skylines Australia (SAU). A forum dedicated to cars just like the one I just bought, synonymous with the name of the car and my country of origin. I was welcomed with open arms. I had never felt so accepted before.

Back in those days if I happened to cross another Skyline on the streets, the driver of the other Skyline would flash their headlights and frantically wave their hand out the window. This happened on more than one occasion, and I felt good every time it happened.

Within a few days of owning my car and joining in on the forum banter I decided it was time to attend one of the meet-ups. It just so happened that this was also a dyno-day that was going to be held at Unique Autosports (UAS) in Castle Hill.

The dyno day was to be sponsored by a few companies, one being Zoom magazine. The editor at the time was the guy covering the event. Alone I arrived with hoards of scary looking Skyliner’s staring at my stock car. Their judgmental eyes making me want to run and hide. I was all alone in a sea of unfamiliar faces.

After my car had gone up on the dyno a guy came over to speak to me. He asked me about the car, my plans and my dreams. I didn’t know who he was until he started to take notes, when I looked at him strangely and asked, “why are you taking notes?” he said he was the editor of Zoom magazine.

I stayed the entire day, one of the first to arrive and one of the last to leave. I saw many nice cars, and quite a few beastly examples. I met a couple of people too. I stayed for the presentation. I wasn’t expecting to receive anything but I just wanted to see who had won. Little did I know, the editor of Zoom had organized a special prize and nominated me for it!

I won the encouragement award, which included a stack of High Performance Imports and Japanese DVD’s which were presented to me by John (the owner of UAS).

I spent that night, and the next day watching the DVD’s and I was in awe of the Japanese. The things they could achieve with cars like mine. The modifying bug struck, and it struck hard, so hard that even to this day my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me.

A few years after this event I hoped to run into that editor of Zoom again. To thank him and update him on the progress of my car. Sadly though I never did run into him again. So many years have passed since that day. Back then I had no idea I would be where I am today. I can still remember how I felt when I went up to collect my prize, and I can remember thinking to myself, “I’m going to keep this car and turn it into something special.”

Over the years I started to research engine and turbo modifications eventually settling on a combination that net me 274kw at the rear wheels. I've given the suspension a complete refresh and she drives nice and tight like a new car. I’ve kept the body pretty much standard although at one point I did have an East Bear carbon fibre bonnet (the bonnet now proudly graces the walls of my garage), the boot-lid still remains and needs to be painted (I’d like it to be white). It seems my tastes have changed, nowadays I much prefer my cars to have clean lines rather than outrageous body-kits. Wheel fitment is something that I’m keen on though, and keen on rectifying with this car but that will come in time.

My eagerness to be a part of SAU grew over the years. For a brief period I would attempt to be at every event, and at one stage the track bug bit. One event that I nearly didn’t go to turned out to be something that would lead to a significant part of my life. SAU member “Silver-gtst” called me the night before an SAU show n’ shine. I didn’t want to go as it was far away but he convinced me, and we met up for the long drive to up the coast.

It was at the SAU show n’ shine that I met my girlfriend of 4 years. Within a few months of being together we started shopping for her own Skyline. We eventually found one, in white with white wheels. An R32 GTST, the perfect match for my car!

Our lives revolved around our cars and the events being held by SAU. From meets to track days, we’d be there with at least one car, if not both but the time came when we had to sell my girlfriend’s car. The day it drove away with it’s new owner my heart broke and I can still vividly see it turning the corner and disappearing.

In the years since, a lot has changed. It’s impossible to go a day without seeing a Skyline on the road, track days that I attend are few and far between and I no longer attend meets but I’ve made memories with this thing. To me it’s more than just a car. I can still sit in it and remember the night I picked her up, looking over the unfamiliar dashboard, noticing the boost gauge, all the lights, pushing the clutch in and slotting her into first, and the feeling of anticipation as I pulled out of the lot about to undertake my very first drive.

Sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if I had never ended up with a Skyline. I’ve met awesome people through owning this car, forged friendships, and developed a lifelong relationship. Who would’ve thought that that could happen?

[Wink]

Always loved your car Wilbur, especially when the screamer let fly.

Starcorp Impul powa!

[RdS]

really nice pics.

[plAythiNG]

love the first photo, anda good read also!

[dannyc]

It looks lovely.
Always loved S2s. I find S1s insufferable though.

[nasigoreng]

Love the story mate ! I have an R33 myself and loved your example for a couple of years now.

[OoSKYLINEoO]

Mate, that is an awesome story

[SLIIDR]

Very nice. Its car's like this that make me beleive you can still find or own a nice R33 GTS-T.

[Babalouie]

Nice 33 mate

[Aleks.B]

Very clean example. Great car.

[lukecivic]

photos are amazing! very clean r33, deffinately one that id drive.

[Kaotic]

CLEANNNNN!!!

yes the boot painted white would make it thar bit cleaner

[satanic]

Starcorps REPRESENT!!!

I still remember the early days of SAU Will, you n I pretty much got our cars at the same time! So many many random cruises all the time

[wilch]

Thanks guys for reading , and thanks to Justin for finding my words and giving me the opportunity to share with a wider audience.

@Wink, those days with the atmo'd external tial gate were fun. But man, I remember my first track day. I didn't bring earplugs. Talk about pain, I think my ears are still ringing!

That's all gone now though. She's quiet again.

@nasigoreng, thanks man. I didn't think that many people liked the look of my car. I'd always come back from meets or cruises and immediately hit up the photo thread hoping to see some shots of my car. Never really happened, ah well.... hehe. I guess it did blend even more back then.

@SLIIDR, it was a lucky find. It was also the first Skyline I'd ever driven, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a series 2!

When I saw the car and went around to the front-end expecting to see something fat looking, I got a shock. It looked sleek, and I was surprised.

@lukecivic, thanks man. I've been admiring your purple 32 GTR from afar. You don't want to know what went through my head when I saw your for sale thread! Thing is, I don't think I could part with mine.

@Kaotic, too true. So many people have told me to paint it. At work they use to threaten to use Liquid Paper on both the bonnet and boot.

I might try and get it vinyl wrapped first. Atleast that way I've got the option of putting it back, and putting the bonnet on again. Or maybe I should just paint it and sell the bonnet? Hmmm...

@satanic, lol starcorps. Man, I was so happy when I bought them. But back then I knew nothing about wheels. All I knew was that I saw these on Shonen's black R34 and I had to have them cause they "fit right", and looked the part. LOL.

Those were the days man. When we first met, you know what my very first thought was? "Who's this dude in the singlet at night time?!?" hahaha. Your car's turned into quite the beast since then.

I haven't been on SAU in a very long time. Are we the only two running staggered starcorps yet?


@RdS, plAythiNG, OoSKYLINEoO, Babalouie, Aleks.B, thanks guys.

[Tonba]

Nice car mate! Well done!

[satanic]

Originally Posted by wilch

@satanic, lol starcorps. Man, I was so happy when I bought them. But back then I knew nothing about wheels. All I knew was that I saw these on Shonen's black R34 and I had to have them cause they "fit right", and looked the part. LOL.

Those were the days man. When we first met, you know what my very first thought was? "Who's this dude in the singlet at night time?!?" hahaha. Your car's turned into quite the beast since then.

I haven't been on SAU in a very long time. Are we the only two running staggered starcorps yet?

LOL singlet...

I haven't been on SAU for a long time either, the forum has changed and the place is not like it once was. Still catch up with a few of the old crew though.

Starcorps FTW!

[evil_weevil]

Absolutely beautiful car. One of the best r33's around.
I approve

heheh

[Justin Fox]

Originally Posted by satanic

Starcorps FTW!

So Wil, are new wheels on the horizon?

[RdS]

Originally Posted by Justin Fox

So Wil, are new wheels on the horizon?

since those starcorps look so nice on the car, id just got with some 5spoke Equips! period perfect 90's wheel...

[satanic]

Originally Posted by RdS

since those starcorps look so nice on the car, id just got with some 5spoke Equips! period perfect 90's wheel...

I'd love to get my hands on a set of Equips... but the style that I want is not in production anymore

[wilch]

Originally Posted by satanic

LOL singlet...

I haven't been on SAU for a long time either, the forum has changed and the place is not like it once was. Still catch up with a few of the old crew though.

Starcorps FTW!

hehe, yes, SINGLET! I was wearing a jumper that night too I think. lol.

oh well, the old crew were cool. Everyone was so friendly.

Originally Posted by evil_weevil

Absolutely beautiful car. One of the best r33's around.
I approve

heheh

Thanks dude

Originally Posted by Justin Fox

So Wil, are new wheels on the horizon?

For sure man. I'm just trying to find a set that have the fitment I want 2nd hand. I might cave and order new. But that leaves very little money for making them fit!

Originally Posted by RdS

since those starcorps look so nice on the car, id just got with some 5spoke Equips! period perfect 90's wheel...

Originally Posted by satanic

I'd love to get my hands on a set of Equips... but the style that I want is not in production anymore

I was looking for some equips before, but recently have been looking at something without dish, and nicely concave.

[Gorilla]

wow thats nice, and the pics are great too!

[Frogger]

Love the 2nd and 3rd photos... it's like a beast lurking in it's natural habitat! Very admirable that you've kept the car through all those years.

[satanic]

Remember that photo Will?

[wilch]

Originally Posted by Gorilla

wow thats nice, and the pics are great too!

Originally Posted by Frogger

Love the 2nd and 3rd photos... it's like a beast lurking in it's natural habitat! Very admirable that you've kept the car through all those years.

Thanks guys

That's the feel I was going for with those photos. I was hoping that they would help tell the story.

Originally Posted by satanic

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/4528/dsc0078800.jpg

Remember that photo Will?

Yes, yes I do. I think I have a shot of the car from the rear in that same position.

And check out the Buffy sticker on the windscreen! I copped so much flack for that everywhere.

Now that was either the cruise I didn't end up going on, but showed up to take photos, or it was the start of the big cruise where we ended up at a beach somewhere after meeting up at Thornleigh. I can't remember.