Having been unsuccessful with previous projects, Victor Martino turns to the GT-R platform for his ultimate build project.
Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R R35 has been a true wonder of the automotive industry since its introduction in 2007. And while its mind-blowing performance at the time far surpassed high-end sports cars in many regards, and even competed with the upper echelon of hypercars of the era, the Nissan's performance still holds up to this day, having been fine-tuned over the years.
Photos: DSport
Raw Potential
But perhaps equally as impressive as the factory power numbers and track times is the platform's massive potential for upgrades. The 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged powertrain allows for plenty of tinkering to extract more grunt. The owner of this beauty, Navy Captain Victor Martino recognized this and wanted to try his own hand at building a super Godzilla.
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Leveling Up
Frustrated by the issues he'd been experiencing with his MKIV Supra, he finally pulled the trigger on investing in a GT-R. He flew to Baltimore to purchase the car. The previous owner had apparently become fatigued by the fact that he was wiping the floor with Porsches on the race track! Martino fell in love with the car immediately and happily, took it off the previous owner's hands.
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One Step Back...
We wish we could tell you it was smooth sailing from there. But unfortunately, Martino began having major transmission issues within the first few hundred miles of driving the GT-R. This setback set in motion a long-running project that would see improvements to the car's power, handling, and much more. The goal was set to reach 1,000 horsepower.
>>Join the conversation about this speed-hungry R35 right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
Power Upgrades
Martino's power goals came with a caveat: the car had to maintain government emissions standards, as well as reliability. Not an easy task, but one that the Captain was ready to undertake. Keeping the engine displacement unaltered, he trusted David Baker of Baker Performance to equip the VR38DETT V6 with top-quality internals. The AMS Alpha 9+ performance kit upgrades the output of the turbos, and all told, Martino's GT-R could reach up to 904 horsepower at the wheels on a gas/ethanol mixture.
>>Join the conversation about this speed-hungry R35 right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
Forever Project
In addition to the upgrades under the hood, Victor has also enhanced the car's handling to match the grunt. And the cherry on top of the ever-evolving GT-R project is the amazing looks, which has been earning him trophies, and the admiration of his peers. Martino has embraced the process: the struggles as well as the successes. He's aware that the project will never quite be finished. And as such, he has plans to continue working on the Nissan for as long as he owns it.
>>Join the conversation about this speed-hungry R35 right here in the 6SpeedOnline Forum!
