Nissan to Auction Usain Bolt Gold GT-R on eBay for Charity
A one-off gold Nissan GT-R, created in partnership with Usain Bolt, will be auctioned on eBay to raise funds for the Bolt Foundation supporting children in Jamaica.
Nissan has announced it will auction a unique Bolt Gold GT-R on eBay, with bidding set to run from 22 November to 2 December. The car, developed in collaboration with Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt, is being sold to benefit the Bolt Foundation, which supports educational and cultural opportunities for children in Jamaica.
The Bolt Gold GT-R is based on the 2014 model year GT-R and finished in a bespoke gold paint, echoing the medals that made Bolt a household name. The car features matching gold interior trim, a gold plate embossed with Bolt’s signature, and an autograph from the sprinter himself. Nissan refers to the car as a one-off, created to celebrate Bolt’s relationship with the brand, which was formalised earlier in 2012 when he became Nissan’s “Director of Excitement”.
The car will be built to the performance and regulatory specifications of the winning bidder’s country, according to Nissan. This means the GT-R will be homologated for road use wherever the buyer is based, rather than being restricted to Japanese or European standards. Nissan says the car will be delivered in March 2013.
Auction details and delivery
Nissan has not disclosed the starting bid for the auction. The sale will be conducted on eBay, opening on 22 November and closing on 2 December. All proceeds will go to the Bolt Foundation, a charitable organisation established by Usain Bolt to provide educational and cultural opportunities for young people in Jamaica.
The car will be manufactured after the auction, allowing Nissan to tailor the GT-R to the legal and technical requirements of the winning bidder’s home country. Delivery is scheduled for March 2013, giving time for production and homologation. Nissan has confirmed that the car will carry both a gold plate with Bolt’s signature and his actual autograph, making it a collector’s item for both GT-R enthusiasts and athletics fans.
Charity and collector appeal
This auction is part of Nissan’s wider marketing partnership with Usain Bolt, who has previously added a GT-R to his own garage. The Bolt Gold GT-R is expected to draw attention from collectors, motorsport fans and those interested in supporting Bolt’s charity work. The company has not indicated whether future collaborations with Bolt will result in further special editions.
For those interested in the intersection of celebrity, motorsport and philanthropy, the Bolt Gold GT-R auction offers a rare opportunity to acquire a unique car with a clear charitable purpose. For more on Bolt’s own GT-R, seeUsain Bolt Adds Nissan GT-R to His Garage.
