- Sunday Drive's upcoming JDM auction features some mouth-watering Japanese metal under the hammer.
- The headliner is an immaculate Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 M-Spec Nür valued at more than $1M.
- Several of the cars start with a $1 reserve - but not the million dollar GT-R though...
Performance and collector vehicle sales specialist Sunday Drive will host a live auction featuring approximately 30 Japanese domestic market (JDM) vehicles on Sunday, 26 July 2026, at its Highbrook showroom.
The company says the auction catalogue includes a range of vehicles spanning over 50 years of Japanese automotive history, with bidding options available for both local and international participants.
The headline lot for the event is a 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 M-Spec Nür, which is valued between $950,000 and $1.2 million. This specific vehicle is one of 285 M-Spec Nür models manufactured and is finished in Millennium Jade, one of approximately 150 produced in that colour. The car currently shows 13,648 kilometres on the odometer.
Other notable vehicles scheduled for the auction include a 1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 V-Spec II, a 1993 Toyota Supra RZ Twin Turbo, and a restored 1972 Nissan Skyline C10 “Hakosuka”.
The selection also features various Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions, Subaru WRX variants, and a low-kilometre Mazda RX-7 FD3S.
While high-value collector cars are a focus, the auction also includes entry-level options such as a 1998 Nissan Skyline GT Coupe and a 1992 Honda Civic, both of which will be offered starting at a $1 reserve.
Sunday Drive Director Taylor Campbell said that the breadth of the inventory is "what makes this auction so exciting."
"You can come along to see a million-dollar R34, but there are also cars that give everyday enthusiasts a genuine chance to get involved. We’ve got everything from accessible classics and unusual builds through to some of the most collectible Japanese performance cars in the country. It’s a proper celebration of JDM culture, not just a room full of cars being sold".
Campbell also noted a transition in the market such vehicles, saying “These were once the cars people modified, raced, drove every day or had on their bedroom walls. Now the best examples are being recognised as genuine collector cars.
"The people who grew up with Gran Turismo, rallying and the early tuner scene are now buying the cars they always wanted. That’s driving demand for originality, rarity, history and special factory specifications."
The event is scheduled to take place at 22 Stonedon Drive, Highbrook, Auckland. Activities begin at 12:00 p.m. with live music and a guest appearance by NZ Warriors player Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, followed by the official unveiling of the R34 M-Spec Nür. The live auction is set to commence at 2:00p.m and prospective buyers can register to bid in person, or participate remotely through online, phone, or absentee bidding.
"We want people to come down, see the cars, enjoy the atmosphere and be part of it - whether they are bidding, watching or simply passionate about Japanese cars," said Campbell.
