The most complete story behind the groundbreaking old school sportscar that never got its chance.
Every Tommy Kaira was homologated as a new car, with its own serial number and its own plaque in the engine compartment, thus the mechanical tuning, customizable from the catalog (Bilstein shocks, exhaust, radiator, intercooler, intake, pistons, connecting rods, stroker kits...) was accompanied by an aesthetic kit composed of several optional elements: six-spoke split rims, or one piece wheels in casted aluminum or forged magnesium, subtle or bold bumpers to improve downforce and aerodynamic penetration, showy wings and active spoilers, diffusers, conveyors... and also by modifications to the interior, including gear lever, dashboard, ignition key, etc.
The Pro-R, the iconic golden alloy wheel by Tommy kaira, came in different specs: semi-melt forged aluminium alloy, semi-melt forged magnesium alloy, and forged cut magnesium alloy. The first ones were built by Speed Star Racing, the latter one was made by Tan-Ei-Sya, a wheel foundry involved with F1 at the time.
Most Tommy kairas built until 1992 had an item in the engine bay painted in an unusual shade of green: for example, in the M30Z this was the plastic plenum cover.
The upgraded car could be purchased either in a Tommy Kaira branch or in an original maker dealership that was affiliated with Tomita. The preparation of the car took an average of three months, after which the vehicle was handed to the customer in the same facility where it was bought.
Bodykits and parts were also used in motorsport, like on the Endless Advan Skyline GT-R that took part in the 1999 and 2000 Super N1 Endurance Series.
A closer look to a friend’s Tommy Kaira R-L. The “L” stands for “light”, meaning that this trim was conceived for intense track activity.
The name on the ECU is of Akira Matsumoto. He, later, ran Tomita Dream Sales, M-Direction and is now part of GLM in the ZZ team.
The Tommy Kaira R-Z was the pinnacle of both company’s production and road-legal Skylines. This is the most powerful and the quickest road-legal Skyline R34 GT-R to have ever been sold by a manufacturer.
The engine is now capable of 530PS and 546Nm, thanks to the displacement increased to 2.7L via 87mm pistons and 75.7mm stroking, new crankshaft (forged and balanced in the UK), camshafts, cooling and exhaust system. The tune is completed with Bilstein springs and shock absorbers and 6pot at front and 4pot at rear AP Racing brakes. Tested by Aguri Suzuki, he claimed that the R-Z differed in only one side from the racing BNR34 N1: the braking was very powerful but still not one of a race car.
For instance, the Nismo Skyline Z-Tune came almost five year later, but had less power and less torque. Beside that, its top speed was rated at more than 330kph - keep this in mind.
Car owned by instagram user r34gtr_tommy_kaira_rz