Mine's has been one of the leading aftermarket specialists in Japan, with a special emphasis on modifying the Nissan GT-R. Since the R32 GT-R appeared in 1989, Mine's has been continually been working its tuning magic on Nissan's high-performance sports coupe, and the firm's R34 Skyline GT-R N1 Base is arguably the firm's most impressive GT-R creation to date.

At the heart of this machine is the RB26DETT inline-6 that was completely rebuilt. In order to get the GT2350 turbine to withstand incredibly high boost pressures, Mine's installed its Complete Engine Stage II kit. These and other changes brought the Mine's GT-R's power output up to a whopping 592 BHP and 433.9 lb-ft of torque.

What was most impressive about this power plant was that Mine's made it extremely driver-friendly, "having the power at your disposal right when you need it." The handling duties were assigned to the company's ESTA Suspension Professional Edition II, which consisted of a set of 12 kg/mm springs up front and 10 kg/mm springs at rear.

While some contended that the system was tuned too soft, Mine's maintained that this was the ideal setup to maximize traction to fully utilize the power. And while aerodynamic...