This Tommy Kaira M30 Is An N/A Skyline With GT-R Performance

Turbocharging is a huge part of the Nissan Skyline story. It started with the R30 2000GT-ES but really blew off (valve) with the R32 GT-R, its twin-turbo setup key to the Godzilla story domination of motorsport in the early ‘90s. Every GT-R since has been turbocharged, but natural aspiration continued in the Skyline chronicles, including in some of the most special versions like this particular tuner treat.

For the uninitiated, Tommy Kaira is a Japanese tuning firm that for a long time had a particular affinity for spicing up Nissans (and a brief crack at making a sports car of its own). It operated similarly to Ruf in Germany, taking cars from the production line and completely reworking and rebranding them with consent from the manufacturer.

Tommy Kaira M30, rear 3/4

One such creation was the Tommy Kaira M30, based on the R32 Skyline GTS-T – the model one rung below the GT-R. Originally, the R32 GTS-T would come with the RB20DET, a 2.0-litre straight-six equipped with a single turbo and good for 212bhp.

That’s not the engine you’d find in the M30, though. Tommy Kaira did away with it completely, instead boring out the naturally aspirated RB25DE found in the more sedate GTS-25 to create the ‘RB30DE’ – a 3.0-litre straight-six producing 276bhp. Or, exactly as much as the GT-R (officially) came with.

Tommy Kaira M30, engine, RB30DE

Rather than sending that through a clever ATESSA all-wheel-drive system though, the M30 was rear-driven, and power was delivered through a short-ratio five-speed gearbox.

The only Skyline branding you’ll find on the M30 is the embossed rear bumper. Every other badge was removed, with Tommy Kaira branding at the back. The tuner also fitted a new bodykit including wider wheel arches and a hump on the front bonnet, plus a new, extended rear wing. Interior changes were just as noticeable with a new steering wheel, gear stick, branded bucket seats and even a bespoke instrument cluster.

Tommy Kaira M30, interior

This particular example even comes with the original 16-inch alloys, adding to its rarity. It’s covered 38,618 miles wearing those and has been ‘recently’ imported to the UK. No word on how recent that is, but its last service was recorded in April 2023 by RK Coventry.

Some slight modifications have been made, including a new ECU and a front-facing camera, but it’s otherwise standard and is said to be in ‘excellent’ condition.

At the time of writing, the auction on Collecting Cars is sitting at £5,600. Expect that to rise substantially by the time the auction closes on 4 February, especially if we cave into bidding straight after publishing this.