Ferntree Gully Nissan: Rare signed Nissan GT-R R35 to be auctioned for charities

An outer east fire brigade and a youth support charity are set for an incredible boost from the auction of a rare sports car. Here’s how to bid.

Firefighters and youth support workers in Melbourne’s outer east will receive a once-in-a-lifetime cash injection when a rare sports car is auctioned by a local dealership.

Ferntree Gully Nissan is set to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Upper Ferntree Gully CFA and Lilydale’s Bridge Builders through the auction of the last remaining, brand new Nissan GT-R R35 in Australia.

Would be owners will have to pay $500 to register and place a bid for the car, nicknamed Godzilla, which was discontinued last year.

Only 28 of the cars were sent to Australia and the dealership’s general sales manager, Greg Dennis, said he specifically held one car back to raise money for charity purposes.

He said the dealership had already knocked back an offer of $600,000 for the car, and predicted it would sell for up to or above the amount, with the proceeds split between the two charities.

Supplied Editorial Nissan GTR, Ferntree Gully Nissan

Supplied Editorial Nissan GTR, Ferntree Gully Nissan

Mr Dennis said he wanted to help Bridge Builders as their work with underprivileged youth was close to his heart.

“Growing up I was in a similar situation, luckily I came out the other end, but there’s other kids that don’t and desperately need the help,” he said.

Meanwhile, the dealership’s co-owner, Scott Embrey, said he wanted to help the Upper Ferntree Gully CFA after seeing the state of their facilities during a bushfire crisis.

“They have one shed, and they start warming the truck up in the same place they’re getting changed,” Mr Embrey said.

“It (the auction) is life-changing and will give them the chance to buy a proper facility and get some better equipment.”

Upper Ferntree Gully CFA captain Peter Smith said the auction was the biggest thing to happen to the brigade in its 96-year history and would secure its future.

He said it would allow the brigade to do an extension to their station, build new changerooms, and provide more room for volunteers to “make them feel comfortable and keep them coming back”.

“We’ve had beautiful community support before, but nothing like this in such a big package,” he said.

“We’re not even on the radar to get a new station, so this will give us something we can put our own mark on and show what the local people have given us.”

The winning bidder will also get a signed engine cover and book by the car model’s chief engineer and designer, Hiroshi Tamura.

The auction will open on March 24 and close on March 29, and will be conducted on eBay through administrators BidForGood.

Matt Wilkin, eBay Australia’s head of vehicle parts and accessories, said the GT-R “holds a special place in Australian motorsport history thanks to its short but dominant spell at Bathurst in the 90s.

“We know our customers will jump at this rare opportunity to own a future classic and support two fantastic causes,” he said.