Nissan to sport classic Skyline livery at 2015 Bathurst 1000

Nissan will turn back the clock at the Bathurst 1000 with Michael Caruso set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the manufacturer's first Mount Panorama win by sporting the famous livery of the 1990 Skyline.

The Holden Racing Team struck the first blow in the "livery wars" this week when the fully factory-backed team took the covers off a Star Wars-themed Commodore to be driven by Garth Tander in car No.22.

Nissan struck back yesterday when the Japanese giant leaked pictures of the new-look Skyline that it hopes will replicate the feats of Jim Richards in 1990 when the V8 legend blitzed the field to put the company on the Mount Panorama map.

Caruso and Dean Fiore will partner in the No.23 Altima from October 8 as they try to bring down Ford and Holden in the Richards-inspired beast.

"It is always cool to get to drive around with this special livery," Caruso said.

"Jim Richards was a hero of mine and that car from 1990 is just legendary. It is very special to think that I will get the opportunity to honour that drive and that car at this year's Bathurst 1000.

"Obviously it would be even more special if we could do what he did and win the race.'

V8 legend Richards posed with the famous car he now owns in a photo shoot with Caruso to mark the occasion.

"I liked the car so much that I bought it," Richards said.

"It is a piece of history and hopefully Michael can create a piece of his own this year."

The move follows last year's well-received Nissan heritage campaign at the Bathurst 1000, where Caruso and Fiore raced in the colours of George Fury's famous Nissan Bluebird Turbo, which earned the first Nissan pole at Mount Panorama in 1984.