With just over a week before the masses flood the convention halls of Las Vegas for the SEMA show, we catch up with our own NWMotiv.com team member Chris Dunbar and his 2009 Nissan Skyline Rocket Bunny R35 GTR before it hits the road.

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by Josh Mackey by Josh Mackey

Five years ago I had the pleasure of meeting Chris for the first time. It was a very cold 20-degree morning in Seattle and we were shooting his Subaru WRX for the cover of Import Tuner magazine. This WRX would go on to win shows up and down the West Coast before he eventually parted it out in 2013 and bought a 2009 Nissan Skyline R35 GTR.

I distinctly recall a conversation shortly after Chris brought his Skyline home in which he said, “I’m done with SEMA builds, I just want to drive my car.” I scoffed at the idea and told him he wouldn’t be able to resist, considering who we know and how much we’ve grown in the industry — there was no way he could stay away. Fast forward two years and here we are, just mere days away from a carrier showing up to take his version of Godzilla to Las Vegas.

For the past two years, the SEMA show has been a display for all things “over-fender.” From Rocket Bunny to Liberty Walk, to hand-crafted metal wide body fenders, there is no doubt that the trend is to go wide. As a member of TWC (Tuningwerks Competition), Chris was presented a unique situation: to be the first R35 in the States with the new Rocket Bunny kit. That was the turning point in which Chris describes as a point of no return. Banking off the success of his previous build and the partners, friends and colleagues he’s met in that time, there was no doubt that this Skyline would be everything he wanted it to be.

The obvious thing you’ll notice when you first see this car is the Trakyoto Rocket Bunny widebody kit. While Chris tends to go over the top with his builds, there is a certain level of subtleness when keeping it the factory black. The aggressive lines of the body kit flow quite well against the deep contrast of the paint. Several wide body builds don’t look right when complete:, sometimes too aggressive and not really a good fit for the car. In this case, it works rather well. Custom HRE S101 brushed copper wheels sized to 20×11 in the front and 20×12.5 in the rear help fill out the extremely wide fenders.

You’re probably thinking that this car is a nightmare to drive with how wide and low it is, but with an Airrex Digital Air/Coilover suspension setup, getting around was very easy for the ‘zilla. Aiding the suspension is a catalog of Whiteline components, from sway bars and end links to bushings and an anti-lift kit. You put all of that together with some super sticky Nitto NT01 tires and you have a track-ready monster.

With all these looks, it makes you wonder how much power this car actually puts down. Chris estimates the car to be in the low- to mid-600hp range and fully admits that the car in its current stage really only has “bolt-on” parts. Don’t confuse that with your basic intake and exhaust; there are plenty of additional go-fast parts on this car to make a lot of people jealous. Upgraded piping from HKS, AMS, Top Secret and ETS, an upgraded fuel system by Injector Dynamics and Walbro, a ported and polished intake manifold, and a Cobb Accessport gives Chris the power he craves, for now.

The interior in comparison to the rest of the car is very subtle, but is still very attractive and race-ready. Bride Vorga II carbon seats matched with iconic Takata Drift II green harnesses is a tried and true combination; however, the bright blue Cusco 4pt chromoly cage with the X-Brace and harness bar really sets it off. Complimentary alcantara headliner and a DCT Motorsports carbon steering wheel round off the interior.

We’re excited to see where the build goes from here, as we know from firsthand experience that Chris is never done with a build, especially after its debut. Take a good look at these photos because this is likely the last time you’ll see it without any stickers on it.

Chris would like to thank his sponsors for making this build possible: Airrex Suspension, Trakyoto, Graphix By Tex, ASNU Injectors, Samco Hoses, Linney Tuning, StreetRodz Unlimited, Dodson Motorsports, Tuner Galleria, KaizenSpeed, CSF Radiators, Cusco, Dressupbolts, ETS, Optima Batteries, Racerom Ecutek, Seibon Carbon, Takata Racing USA, Whiteline, HRE Wheels, Armor Performance Coating, Nitto Tire and Jim Pan, President and Sponsor of TWC.

Engine: Tuned by Ecutek – Ben Linney

Tuned by Ecutek – Ben Linney ASNU Injectors

ASNU Injectors Walbro 225 Dbl Pump

Walbro 225 Dbl Pump GotBoost 3” Intakes

GotBoost 3” Intakes Custom Ported and Polished Intake Manifold

Custom Ported and Polished Intake Manifold TopSecret Titanium Intercooler Piping

TopSecret Titanium Intercooler Piping ETS Race Intercooler

ETS Race Intercooler ETS Full-Race Piping

ETS Full-Race Piping AMS Catless Downpipes

AMS Catless Downpipes AMS Alpha Coolant Expansion Tank

AMS Alpha Coolant Expansion Tank HKS Midpipe

HKS Midpipe HKS Legamax Exhaust

HKS Legamax Exhaust DressupBolts Custom burned Titanium fasteners

DressupBolts Custom burned Titanium fasteners Armor Performance Coated Intake Manifold, wing supports and Piping-“Wrinkle Black”

Armor Performance Coated Intake Manifold, wing supports and Piping-“Wrinkle Black” SamcoSport 12pc Hose Kit

Exterior: Trakyoto Rocket Bunny Widebody Kit

Trakyoto Rocket Bunny Widebody Kit Custom Welded inner fender panels (all sheetmetal templates)

Custom Welded inner fender panels (all sheetmetal templates) Seibon GTII Carbon Fiber hood

Seibon GTII Carbon Fiber hood Custom Hydro-Dipped Carbon Rocket Bunny Canards

Custom Hydro-Dipped Carbon Rocket Bunny Canards Custom Matte Black Headlight Housings

Custom Matte Black Headlight Housings Muteki SR48 Mackin Lugnuts

Suspension/Wheels: Airrex Digital Air/Coilover Suspension

Airrex Digital Air/Coilover Suspension Viair Compressor w/3Gal Tank

Viair Compressor w/3Gal Tank HRE S101 Brushed Copper 20×11 -20 20×12.5 -60

HRE S101 Brushed Copper 20×11 -20 20×12.5 -60 Nitto NT01 285/35/20 X 315/30/20

Nitto NT01 285/35/20 X 315/30/20 Whiteline 33mm Front Sway Bar

Whiteline 33mm Front Sway Bar Whiteline 22mm Rear Sway Bar

Whiteline 22mm Rear Sway Bar Whiteline Adjustable Endlinks

Whiteline Adjustable Endlinks Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit

Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit Whiteline Upper Control Arm bushings Interior: Bride Vorga II Carbon Series

Bride Vorga II Carbon Series Takata Drift II Harnesses

Takata Drift II Harnesses Cusco 4pt Chromoly Cage w/Harness Bar

Cusco 4pt Chromoly Cage w/Harness Bar Cusco Optional X-Brace

Cusco Optional X-Brace Custom Alcantara Headliner

Custom Alcantara Headliner DCT Motorsports Carbon Steering Wheel

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