The R33 GT-R Almost Sold in the U.S. C8 Corvette Owners Like This Fake Mod!

Nissan Almost Sold the R33 GT-R in the U.S.

Here’s a little-known fact: Nissan almost brought the iconic R33 GT-R stateside. This move was considered during the '90s when the brand sought to expand its U.S. market presence with more performance-oriented models. The R33, the successor to the R32, was a powerhouse that could have shaken up the American sports car scene. Unfortunately, due to strict U.S. regulations and concerns over the car’s potential success in a market dominated by muscle cars, Nissan ultimately decided against it. Talk about a missed opportunity! Imagine how the car culture landscape would’ve shifted if the GT-R had officially arrived in the U.S. earlier.

Personally, I think this could've been a game-changer for Nissan, and we might’ve seen a bigger, faster evolution of Japanese performance cars. U.S. car enthusiasts finally got the R35, but the earlier models like the R33 still carry that unattainable reputation.

While it didn’t happen, the idea of the R33 in the U.S. is one of those automotive "what-ifs" that makes you wonder how it might have influenced the car scene had it hit American shores back in the day. It probably would’ve gave muscle cars a really big scare.

C8 Corvette Owners Love Fake Velocity Stack Engine Covers

C8 Corvette owners have found a new way to flex their car’s supercar-like vibe with fake velocity stack engine covers. They’re basically independent throttle bodies (ITBs) Inspired by old-school supercars, these stacks look like they mean serious business under the hood—but it’s all about aesthetics. Real ITBs improved airflow and performance, but these modern imitations are strictly for show. Manufactured by Custom Cre8tions, and go for the price of $1,495, allowing owners to personalize them to match their Corvette’s exterior paint.

It’s kind of wild how much folks are willing to spend on a purely visual mod, but hey, car culture is all about personal taste, right? If you want to give your mid-engine C8 an extra dose of flash without touching performance, this is the kind of mod that’ll turn heads at car meets.. if that’s what you really want…

If you’ve got the cash and love making visual adjustments, these velocity stack covers are an interesting addition. But if performance is your priority, you might want to save that $1,500 for some real upgrades!

Cited Sources/Photos:

The Drive, corvetteblogger.com, musclecarsandtrucks.com