Its being called one of the most valuable collections Japanese cars ever offered at auction in New Zealand, and will will headline a live Sunday Drive event featuring up to 30 Japanese performance and collector cars.
A rare 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 M-Spec Nür, valued between $950,000 and $1.2 million, will take centre stage at Sunday Drive’s JDM Legends auction in Auckland on Sunday 26 July.
Finished in Millennium Jade and showing just 13,648 kilometres, the R34 is one of only 285 M-Spec Nür models produced worldwide and one of approximately 150 finished in the highly sought-after colour.
At the other end of the catalogue, bidding on selected cars will begin at just $1 – creating an auction designed for everyone from first-time JDM buyers to serious international collectors.
Sunday Drive Director Taylor Campbell says the range reflects the depth of New Zealand’s Japanese-car culture.
“That’s 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.”
Up to 30 vehicles are expected to cross the block, with the catalogue spanning more than five decades of Japanese motoring.
Alongside the headline R34 are a 1994 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 V-Spec II, a 1995 R33 GT-R V-Spec, a 1993 Toyota Supra RZ Twin Turbo, a low-kilometre Mazda RX-7 FD3S, several rare Subaru WRX variants, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolutions and a restored 1972 Nissan Skyline C10 “Hakosuka”.
The entry points are just as varied. A largely original 1998 Nissan Skyline GT Coupe and a low-kilometre, New Zealand-new 1992 Honda Civic will both be offered from a $1 reserve.
Campbell says the auction reflects a major shift in how Japanese cars are viewed. “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 will be hosted at Sunday Drive’s Highbrook showroom on Sunday 26th July, with entertainment beginning at 12pm and the live auction starting at 2pm.
The programme includes live music from James Harvey Gibbons, a special guest appearance by Warriors legend Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, the iconic Sunday Sessions bar will be open, food truck onsite, cars available for sale on the day and the feature unveiling of the R34 M-Spec Nür.
People unable to attend can participate through live online bidding from anywhere globally. Phone bidding and absentee bidding are also available, alongside in-person registration.
Campbell says the event is designed to feel more like an automotive occasion than a conventional auction. “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.
Event details
- Sunday Drive JDM Live Auction
- Sunday 26 July 2026
- Entertainment from 12pm
- Auction from 2pm
- Sunday Drive, 22 Stonedon Drive, Highbrook, Auckland
Bidders can register to attend in person, bid online globally, arrange phone bidding or submit an absentee bid through the Sunday Drive event page: https://www.sundaydrive.co.nz/auctions/jdm-highbrook-2026
