Surrounded by the ubiquitous city lights, two silver R33 V-Spec Nissan Skylines dashed by the throng of unfaltering corporate suits eagerly awaiting the twilight of their methodical existence. In that one instant, their focus quickly shifted from their glowing PDAs to these two behemoths that summon sheer delight from the most ardent of tuners-and even from the most uninformed of car aficionados. The astonished expressions that littered their faces were worth more than the products they adored-cars, as they knew it, no longer existed.
Indeed, Charles Dickens' dichotomy of life in A Tale of Two Cities correlated with the duality of these Skylines, as both vehicles conjure up feelings of extreme admiration as well utter envy. However, a Skyline on these American streets is always more profound than any type of Victorian literature. As the moon rode high atop the glass crown of the Library Tower, the tallest building in downtown L.A., the silver Skylines rested under the glow of the concrete jungle. Their owners, Jack Changchien and James Yen, proudly looked on like parents watching their kids play soccer, as the backdrop of the nighttime metropolis filled with skyscrapers befitted the cars' moniker. There is no question that these once exclusive vehicles have helped transcend the small enclave that is the import-car culture into a more meaningful industry. Gone are the days of removed hubcaps, superfluous stickers, and non-functional wings. In comes the era of tuned super machines.
The import scene has been waiting for this vehicle to arrive for more than a decade, and it's only right to give it the utmost attention each time someone decides to buy and tune it. In fact, we are years removed from the graces of this car, as it has been held captive on Japanese shores. So, it's high time we gloat over something we have rightly deserved. Nearly identical, these two Skylines are no exception to our parade. Their owners have dedicated more than just money to make the cars perfect-they have also sacrificed their way of life to do it.
"I tried my best to scrounge up any money I had-under the sofa, piggy banks, whatever," explains Jack, owner of the Skyline sans body decals and part owner of Garage Speed Performance Lab, the leading import racing shop in Seattle. "I was on the verge of donating any of my bodily fluids that were of value." Actually, these desperate pleas to find more money were mainly Jack's fault, since he ruined his first Skyline in an accident that he describes with a concise after-school-special tone: "My buddies and I went out and...just don't drink and drive." But as every tuner can attest to, the passion to modify a car can sometimes exceed life itself.