This was the first Skyline GT-R, known by the internal Nissan designation PGC10 and was exclusive sold through the Nissan Prince Store, a legacy of the Prince company who’d become integrated into Nissan operations in 1966. It was originally available as a four-door sedan after its public debut at the October 1968 Tokyo Motor Show.

Nissan were serious about the aspirations of the car, as Nissan and Prince had been competing in domestic motorsports since the early 60’s and the GT-R specifications and performance displayed the level of confidence and ability coming out of Japan at the time.

The GT-R used the S20 series 1989cc twin cam 24-valve straight six engine with triple side-draught Weber 45DCOE-9 carbs. It also used a hand-made stainless six-branch exhaust manifold and electronic ignition. A similar engine powered the R380 race car and the competition version of the 240Z, the Fairlady Z432 models.

Nissan introduced the KPGC10 GT-R as a short wheelbase 2 door coupe in 1970, which would later cement the KPGC10’s reputation with 50 straight touring car victories.

RS Watanabe ‘R-Type’ magnesium 8-spoke wheels on Dunlop Racing Japan slick tyres.

This particular car had been left unused for a number of years in Kyoto Japan, until a full restoration by an Ex-Nismo engineer Mr Hideki Matsui of NP35 in Nagano. Nissan Motorsports (Nismo) requested that the car should be painted in the distinctive white and blue livery to be shown at the 2005 Nismo Festival, alongside other works-style KPGC10s. After a further event at the Fuji Speedway racetrack the following year, it was then went back to the workshop and subsequently imported into the UK by Alan Thomas, making it what is thought to be the only genuine GT-R KPGC10 outside of Japan.

It had been built as a track day car with correct period works car detailing, with some rare original Nissan sports and race option parts such as the Nissan competition F5C71-B ‘Option 4’ direct drive 5-speed transmission.

The attention to detail during the restoration can be seen by the pain staking attention to detail like the correct 1971 works season fibreglass ‘Overfenders’ and works type fibreglass headlamp covers.

The car features a Izumi steering wheel.

A popular name for the PGC and KPGC10 Skyline GT-R was “Hakosuka,” which is a combination of the Japanese word for box (“hako”) and the pronounced abbreviation of Skyline (“Suka” or “sukairain”).

Signature of the Ex-Isle of Man TT Honda team rider and Nissan works driver, Kunimitsu Takahashi’s autograph.

The car occasionally is brought out to play and Alan has delighted crowds with his car at several at various car events, including the 2012 Retro Rides gathering at Prescott Hillclimb.