There are four of them at the Nissan factory in Yokohama. They are called the Takumi, and they are the craftsmen behind the great 3.8-liter engine that fits into the engine bay of the R35 Nissan GT-R. These are hand-built motors, and each one receives the builder's signature plaque when it's finished. Nissan recently brought cameras into its engine clean room to give us all a glimpse into the world and mind of the Takumi.

The four men produce a 545-horsepower twin-turbocharged V-6 engine that makes many folks around the planet smile with delight. Pressing the gas pedal on a GT-R is an exciting experience, and it all comes back to these four Takumi.

I recently had the chance to sample the latest GT-R and paid attention to the name of the person who plied their skills on the motor. It was Nobumitsu Gozu, one of the four Takumi from the Yokohama plant, and he can be seen in the video.

There are only a few automakers left who utilize specialized craftsmen to create hand-built portions of modern vehicles. Aston Martin builders apply their names to their finished 6.0-liter V-12 engines. Bentley artisans will hand form fenders. The Nissan Takumi are part of an elite set of highly skilled individuals that work hard to make the automotive world a bit more special.

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