Renowned automotive photographer Larry Chen posted stunning images of a rare R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nür on social media from a shoot that was worth $70,000. The money for the shoot was raised through an auction, which went toward a charitable purpose.
Chen collaborated with Turnpike Global, Pennzoil, and Bring a Trailer for a noble cause that would benefit the car community. However, it wasn’t a car that was being auctioned this time, but a full-day, eight-hour shoot by Chen, the fees for which would be used for the cause.
Pennzoil put this idea to Chen two years ago, with the auction set to be hosted by Bring a Trailer. Revealing the idea, Chen wrote:
“About two years ago, my friends at Pennzoil reached out with an idea. They asked if I would be willing to auction off eight hours of my time for a one-day charity photo shoot. The auction would run on Bring a Trailer just like one of their normal vehicle listings, except instead of selling a car, they would be selling me.
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“Other individuals and brands also donated experiences and items, and everyone involved could select their own charity as the beneficiary of the auction. I chose the 43 Institute.”
Giving Back to The Car Community
The 43 Institute was founded in memory of Ken Block, famous for his Hoonigan videos that began a new era in the world of action sports and motorsports. This was Chen’s way of giving back to the community that made him what he is today. He added:
“It’s no secret that Ken Block helped shape my career. He used his platform to promote the car culture we all love, and gave so many of us a stage to showcase our work. He pushed us to refine our craft and to think bigger.”
“Now that he is gone, the 43 Institute continues Ken’s mission by fostering young and up-and-coming talent – especially those who do not come from wealthy backgrounds or have natural connections. That matters to me. Supporting the cause felt like the right thing to do. It was also my small way of giving back to Ken and keeping his legacy alive, not to mention a way to thank his family and friends.”
Chen expected that the auction would raise $5,000. He felt extremely happy when the live auction hit that milestone. However, the numbers kept increasing, going higher than ten times the amount he thought he would raise. Eventually, the bidding stopped around the $70,000 mark, leaving Chen stunned. He wrote:
“I stood there in the airport staring at my phone. I could not comprehend that someone had spent that much money for a day of shooting with me, all in the name of charity and continuing Ken Block’s incredible legacy.”
He then connected with the winning bidder several months later and flew to his state to shoot something unique there. When the garage door opened, Chen saw in front of him a cream-colored R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nür with “delivery miles” on the odometer.
Chen then explained how NISMO gave immense importance to details while restoring the car, and the mods on the car that he stated were very different from what he’s used to seeing coming out of the Omori Factory. The cost, he revealed, was a seven-figure amount.
“This was not just any GT-R M-Spec Nür, though – if there’s such a thing – but a full Clubman Race Spec (CRS) built by NISMO’s Omori Factory with essentially every available NISMO option selected,” he wrote.
“If you understand what a NISMO CRS build represents, you know this is not just a restoration – it’s a reimagining of the R34 by the people who originally engineered it. The cost? Well into the seven-figure zone.”
Chen got to drive the M-Spec Nür R34 Skyline, the car’s first run on the street since it was restored. He added:
“Aside from the Z-Tune, Nismo complete car builds do not get more serious than this, and in some ways, the CRS feels even more refined and usable. Yes, during the shoot, I had the chance to drive the car on the street for its maiden voyage since being restored – a privilege I did not take lightly.”
As for the rest, we’ll let the images do the talking.
