Nissan Skyline Gtr Pictures

Test drivers hit the road and never come back

Car dealers are being stung by thieves who pose as interested buyers but disappear with the vehicles after taking them on a test drive.

At least two car yards in Auckland have been hit recently by thieves who have driven off with vehicles valued at $20,000 and $25,000.

The drive-and-dash scam follows a reported rise in "eat-and-run" diner s who flee without paying from restaurants, and petrol stations are stepping up measures to recover losses from petrol thieves .

"These are professional thieves, and unless they catch these guys such thefts are just going to increase," said Ishfaq Mohamad, who had a 2003 Nissan Fairlady stolen from his Carz and Carz yard in Otahuhu two weeksago.

"I have heard of at least three to four other yards who have had cars stolen by people using the same tactics."

He has offered a $1000 reward for any information that leads to the vehicle's recovery.

Mr Mohamad said the thieves used a fake driver's licence as security and came as a pair to test drive a two-seater car "so there wouldn't be any space for us to go with them".

He described the two men as ethnic Indians, between 25 and 30.

"They are really cool and know exactly what they are doing ... like they have been doing it a thousand times."

Mr Mohamad said this was the first time he had had a vehicle stolen from his yard in the nine years he has been in business.

The same thieves are believed to have struck three months earlier at Autolink Cars in Grey Lynn.

Manager Kevin Wardle said his yard lost a black 1989 Nissan Skyline GTR to thieves who used the same method, and believed they were the same people who struck at Carz and Carz because the same fake licence was used.

The thief came in as he was about to close the yard late on a Sunday and asked to test drive a car which had already been taken into the showroom.

"It is usual practice for one of us to go along for the drive, but he took off as we turned around to lock the showroom," Mr Wardle said.

FOR SALE – 1989 R32 Nissan Skyline GTR – Front

Quantum coilovers. Yes, they are high end racing coil-overs and worth quite a few bucks. But Québec roads are simply to rough for them. So I purchased a set of used bone stock GT-R shocks with an adjustable bone stock GT-R strut tower bar, and had them installed (I still have the Quantum coilovers). At the same time, we replaced one of the HID bulbs that were dead.

The result is now a car that drives much smoother then before. Yes, the arm bushings so the car can be aligned properly.

The car can also keeps it's role in Québec Tuning magazine. The new owner is more then welcome to sponsor his new parts and to describe in the magazine the ups and downs of these new parts and accessories. It can also choose to keep the car bone stock and simply relate to our readers the ups and downs regarding owning a collectible like this car.

I did my best to describe everything I know about this car.

Moving Pictures

Nissan, Datsun 210/1200 1973-81

Skyline, the narcissistic city

Family Pictures/cuadros de familia

Pictures