Built By Legends Shows a Subtle-Looking, 650-HP R34 GT-R at SEMA

Publishing a series of CAD drawings that depict a cool-looking restomod or “re-imagination” is relatively easy. Funding the project, building it, and selling it is far more difficult. Japanese company Built By Legends wants to prove that it can walk the walk by displaying its second R34-generation GT-R build at SEMA 2024.

The styling changes are relatively minor, especially considering how many wild GT-R builds we’ve seen over the years. It’s a similar story inside, where Built By Legends made several updates without straying too far from the factory look. Here’s a cheat sheet: The brand added black and blue Ultrasuede upholstery, a D-shaped steering wheel, a layer of sound-deadening material, and aluminum pedal caps, among other parts.

Pop the hood and you’ll start seeing the bigger changes. 650 horsepower comes from a twin-turbocharged straight-six engine built by Japanese tuner Mine’s, and it’s linked to a Getrag six-speed manual transmission. Mine’s also provided the ECU and the carbon fiber air intake system, while the injectors come from the R35-generation GT-R. Buyers have the option of ordering a less powerful engine.

While the engine is apart, the body travels to Garage Yoshida for the next round of modifications. If the name sounds familiar, it’s likely because this is the same Japanese shop that restored Larry Chen’s car — these guys do serious work. After putting the chassis through a 108-point 3D alignment test, Garage Yoshida installs re-engineered strut towers and makes the reinforcements required to accommodate the increase in horsepower. Nissan rated the GT-R at 280 horsepower when it was new. No one believed that; everyone agreed the engine was more powerful, but it certainly wasn’t churning out 650 horsepower.

Upgraded brakes, including AP Racing-sourced six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, help keep the power in check. Built By Legends also overhauls the entire suspension system with Aragosta parts.

The end result is gorgeous. It’s not over-the-top, and it’s authentic yet modern in all of the right ways.

While it sounds like the Bayside Blue GT-R displayed at SEMA is already spoken for, Built By Legends has opened its order book for commissions. Enthusiasts can request a full restoration using as many factory parts as possible, a one-of-a-kind build that includes extensive modifications, or anything in between — the only limit is your bank account’s ability to keep up with your imagination. Pricing starts at $450,000 excluding the cost of the donor car, which is rarely cheap, and each build takes about a year to finish.