The Beast from the East – Sun Line Racing’s R34 GT‑R Demo Car

This isn’t a garage queen. It’s better described as Frankenstein’s monster—in all the right ways. Raw, fast, and obsessively engineered, this R34 GT‑R was built by one of Japan’s most respected tuning shops, Sun Line Racing to demonstrate their capabilities.

Sun Line Racing (SLR), based in Okayama, is a name well-known in the world of time attack and street-tuned legends. For this project, they brought their full arsenal of tuning knowledge to the street, creating a no-compromise machine that was still road legal—yet capable of sub-1-minute lap times around Tsukuba Circuit.

This car served as SLR’s official demo vehicle and was featured in many publications and videos around the world. It remains one of the most complete and celebrated modified R34 GT-Rs ever built - a legend in its own right.

Highlights:

• 720PS HKS 2.8L stroker engine, HKS V-CAM Pro & a huge Trust T88-34D turbo
• Holinger 6-speed sequential gearbox (approx. $27,000 alone!)
• Endless Monoblock brakes: Massive 6-pot front (370mm) & 4-pot rear (332mm)
• Full SLR carbon fibre exterior: bonnet, fenders, boot, GT wing & craft square mirrors
• SLR coil overs + full adjustable suspension arm set
• Interior: Bride Gias carbon seats, Nismo meters, SLR carbon trim
• Tsukuba Circuit time: Sub 1-minute (in this full street trim)
• Mileage: 14,000 km (Nismo cluster), 71,000 km total
• Engine & transmission rebuild: Completed ~3,500 km ago
• Titled in Montana, USA (registration details pending)

Performance

Sun Line Racing began with a brand-new N1 block and head, building it into a forged 2.8L powerhouse using HKS internals, Tomei hardware, and a Trust T88H-34D turbo. Variable intake timing via HKS V-CAM Pro allows the engine to stay responsive in the low-mid end while unleashing brutal top-end power.

The fuelling system includes Sard 800cc injectors, dual Bosch 044 pumps, a SLR collector tank, and lightweight Teflon lines. Engine management is handled by HKS F-CON V Pro, with a Blitz boost controller and Field ETS torque split controller giving the driver full control.

Drivetrain

A Holinger 6-speed sequential transmission manages the power—known as one of the finest sequential options available for a Skyline. It’s paired with an Exedy triple-plate clutch, ATS front carbon LSD, and OS Giken rear diff, offering aggressive power delivery with surprising road manners.

Braking is handled by massive Endless Monoblock calipers (370 mm front, 332 mm rear), with NA-R pads and braided lines. The suspension is fully SLR-designed, featuring custom coil overs and a full suite of adjustable arms, rods, and braces to keep the car composed and sharp at speed.

Attention to Detail

SLR’s attention to detail is evident throughout the car.. The bonnet, front fenders, trunk, and wing are all carbon fibre, made in-house by SLR. A C-West front bumper with carbon canards, Craft Square mirrors, and aero catches complete the exterior package.

Despite its aggressive look, the car retains a full interior. Bride Gias carbon reclining seats, Nismo meters, an SLR carbon door panel set, and a limited-edition Vertex × Yokohama Advan steering wheel which complete the cockpit. The roll cage has been installed conveniently, therefore not impacting entry or exit in any way.

History

We saw this in Harlow Jap Auto's showroom back in 2022 (they are the UK & European leading JDM specialists), and they imported this into the UK during 2018 for themselves.  It is fair to say we didn't hold back and decided we needed to add it to our collection - We couldn't refuse such a JDM legend! It was this car which was on the posters and in the tuner magazines from back in the day, so it held a special place in our hearts.

The images here are from the photo shoot just prior to the SLR being shipped to the USA and therefore it is wearing its UK number plates. Now state side, it is registered and titled in Montana, USA. 

We haven't added all that many KMs onto it during our ownership and have only enjoyed it on the odd occasion. That isn't because of the car itself, but rather having the time, because it is an absolutely awesome car.

Below are some links & videos:

February 18th 2007: R34 GT-R Sun Line Racing display

January 31st 2022: Speedhunters article 

November 02nd 2023 @ Harlow Jap Autos: Walk around and driving footage 

Any Known Faults ?

The photography provides an accurate representation of the car’s condition. It does have imperfections—most notably around the rear spoiler mounts and some markings around the wheel arches. When turning the steering to full lock, the wheels do catch the bodywork, so that should be taken into consideration when driving.

In truth, the history file is fairly thin, with little to no records or invoices present regarding the SLR build or of the base R34 GT-R used. However, this is not unusual for JDM demo cars. As this was Sun Line Racing’s own demo vehicle, there would have been no reason for them to invoice themselves for servicing or modifications, hence the lack of documentation.

At the time of purchase, we were informed by HJA that the engine and gearbox had both been overhauled less than 3,500 km ago. In order to give buyers peace of mind, the SLR visited Spartans Tuning LLC in Missoula, MT for some new oil, spark plugs and an inspection. The inspection highlights some very minor things requiring remedying:  

•          A sticky brake pedal sensor (causes the brake lights to stay on) but seems to have fixed itself. Likely caused by lack of use.  
•          *Airbag warning light is on
•          Front right marker light is out - likely just a burnt bulb and an easy fix
•          Window wiper needs replacement – easy fix
•          Spark plugs were replaced as the old set needed replacement
•          During the underside inspection, Spartans noted a small oil leak and that the brake lines are routed close to the wheels — not necessarily an issue, but worth mentioning.

*As the car has been highly tuned, it was requested that Spartans Tuning didn’t connect their diagnostics computer.  It has also been mapped to use 99/100 octane fuel, so depending where the SLR goes, the buyer may wish to re-map it to run on an octane more readily available.

Good points from Spartans:

•           New oil & oil filter
•           New spark plugs
•           Runnability prior to service was good
•           Horn functions
•           Battery is good
•           Air filter is good
•           Brake fluid is good
•           Coolant is good, and confirmed good to 5°
•           Power steering fluid is good
•           Drive belt / tensioner are good
•           Tyres are good
•           Brakes are good

One point worth noting: when running a CARVX report (the Japanese equivalent of a Carfax), the car is flagged as an auction grade R, with reported collision damage on the day of the Japanese auction. This is actually quite common with heavily modified cars. If you review the auction sheet diagram, you’ll see ‘XX’ markings on the panels that have been replaced—in this case, most of the body panels have been swapped out for carbon fibre.

As a result, the R grading and 'accident damage' is applied simply to protect the auction house, even though no actual damage has occurred.

Conclusion

This Sun Line Racing R34 GT-R is a rare opportunity to own a true piece of JDM tuning history. Being the demo car, it has been built to an immensely high standard, with no corners cut or expense spared. Whether you’re a collector, a time-attack enthusiast, or an adrenaline junkie, this car is the real deal.