A Street Car Named Desire: Inside Chris Phan's GT3-Inspired Nissan GT-R Build
Nissan's GT-R has dominated the performance car segment for decades, combining luxury with raw power. The R35, though departing from the Skyline namesake, continued this legacy as a formidable grand tourer with sophisticated performance management systems.
White R35 GT-R racecar
Chris Phan's journey with his 2010 GT-R began with a vision to create something unique. Inspired by GT3 racing, he transformed his R35 into a street-legal track weapon that maintains daily drivability.
The exterior modifications follow GT3 racing specifications, featuring:
- GT3-spec front bumper with carbon fiber canards
- Dry carbon GT3 splitter
- Vented GT3 fenders (2-inch wider per side)
- Liberty Walk v2 hood
- GT3-spec side skirts
- NISMO GT-R GT3 rear bumper
- AMS carbon trunk lid
- Do Luck GT wing with custom mounts
Modified Nissan GTR R35 side view
Under the hood, the VR38DETT engine features:
- Cobb 3-inch intake
- AMS front-mount intercooler
- AEM FTR fuel pump
- AMS Performance fuel rails
- Injector Dynamics 1050X injectors
- AMS downpipes
- Tomei Expreme Ti 4-inch exhaust system
R35 GTR engine compartment
The chassis setup includes:
- Advan GT Beyond 20-inch wheels (10-inch front, 12-inch rear)
- Toyo R888R tires
- Brembo brakes with Endless MX72 pads
- Shep Trans Stage 1.5 transmission
- Air Lift Performance Suspension
Silver spoked R35 wheel
Currently producing 600 wheel horsepower, Phan plans to increase output to 800-1,000 horsepower. The build demonstrates that with determination and hard work, creating a unique, high-performance vehicle is achievable.
R35 GTR racing on track
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