HISTORY OF THE NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R
- The Nissan Skyline has a rich history that began in 1957 and evolved into a performance sports car after merging with Nissan.
- The early generations of the Skyline, such as the GT-R, were known for their powerful engines and racing success within Japan.
- The modern-day GT-R, particularly the NISMO version, offers exceptional performance and high price tags comparable to high-performance European sportscars.
First introduced in 1957, the Nissan Skyline is a legend. Originally built by Japan's Prince Motor Company, the Prince Skyline lasted until 1966, when the automaker merged with Nissan. As a four-door luxury car at first, it was after this merger that the Skyline began to evolve into a performance sports car.
The car was even available as a five-door station wagon, featuring a 1.5-liter GA-30 engine. 1964 marked the first racing GT Skyline, still under the Prince brand. This represents the beginning of the shift from sedan to race car for the Skyline. Even the first-generation Nissan Skyline was still a sedan, but it didn't take long for a two-door coupe to emerge. Since then, any Nissan attached to the GT-R designation has meant one hell of a racer, coming along with quite an enthusiastic following.
We've referenced information from Nissan and other reputed sites including Car and Driver and MotorTrend to put this feature together on the history of the Nissan GT-R.
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First Gen Nissan Skyline & Early Successors
It was 1969's Nissan Skyline GT-R, the first of its kind, to start off the legacy. Revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show, this was a sedan that featured an inline-six engine with 160 horsepower, impressive for the time. This was a touring car like no other, taking cues from a Nissan Prince R380 racing prototype. Utilizing a four-valve Dual Overhead Cam engine, with four-wheel independent suspension, it obliterated the competition. In three years, the car won 52 races within Japan's domestic touring circuits.
The first two-door coupe then emerged in 1970. It was well received, but a global gasoline crisis along with stricter emissions regulations, shelved the Skyline GT-R for some time. The first generation ran until 1972. Next, the Skyline C110 ran from 1973 to 1977. Commercials with owners named Ken and Mary, got this one dubbed the Kenmari. Only the first year featured a GT-R version, which would become the last branded GT-R Skyline until 1989.
The R30 Skyline was available in 26 variations, and the versatile design proved a success. Despite being available as a coupe, sedan, five-door hatchback, and four-door wagon, it never really hinted at what the Skyline had in store for the future. Introduced in 1986, the R31 Skyline was bigger and boxier than previous models, but not by much. It was the first to feature the famous FJ20 engine. Known as the "Red Top," a nickname derived from the red cam covers, it also utilized the Nissan Induction Control System.
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The Skyline GT-R Returns In A Big Way
The 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R was the true precursor to the GT-R of today. As the car that famously earned the nickname 'Godzilla', the R32 came with an all-wheel drive system and Nissan's RB26DETT engine. This was an inline-six mill, pumping out 280 horsepower. It wasn't sold in the United States, but since then, the R32 Skyline GT-R has become a legend within the American tuner scene. A stripped-down version of this JDM model won 29 straight races, every race it started, as part of the Japanese Touring Car Championship. Beginning in 1989, this streak was over the next four seasons, bringing to life the legend of the GT-R.
This of course led to the R33 Skyline GT-R, which was first seen as a prototype during the Tokyo Motor Show in 1993. It wasn't until 1995 that this vehicle was launched to the public. Still carrying the RB26DETT engine, the R33 was nevertheless an evolution from the R32. With improved body stiffness, better weight distribution, and improved traction control, it was simply a faster and more stable ride.
A new all-wheel drive system called "ATTESA ET-S PRO" was responsible for the optimized traction. A factory test car equipped with an aluminum roll-over bar, ran the Nürburgring in 7:59.887, besting the R32 by 21 seconds. Impressive indeed for the early to mid-1990s. Other special race versions of the car were developed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although Nissan stopped competing in the event after 1990, NISMO simply took this place.
Last but not least, we have arrived at the R34 Skyline GT-R, introduced in 1998. This vehicle was available until 2002, and still made use of the RB26DETT mill. This twin-turbo inline-six produced impressive horsepower. With a shorter wheelbase, along with a more streamlined body over the predecessors, the R34 Skyline GT-R achieved even higher performance. Like the R33, special models include the R34 M Spec Nür, built to tackle sprint and endurance races. The R34 would be the last generation dubbed Skyline GT-R.
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The GT-R Finally Officially Hits America
The year was 2008, and the GT-R landed on American roads, although the Skyline name was subsequently dropped. However, a twin-turbo V-6 was added, putting out 473 horses. This was enough to make the R35 GT-R outclass not just American muscle, but also foreign supercars from the likes of Germany and Italy. Still with an all-wheel drive system, but now even more technologically advanced, the handling performance was exhilarating. The exterior design was modern, but also sleek and muscular.
Car and Driver reviewed a 2009 GT-R and compared it to a Porsche 911 Turbo, as well as a BMW M3. Admittedly, the Turbo is not the publication's favorite 911, and the M3 seems to be in a lower weight class figuratively speaking (it's the lightest car, but also with the least horsepower).
Yet, somehow given their reasons, the M3 was the top car, while the GT-R finished second. The six-figure 911 finished last. The overall verdict for the GT-R was that it was a car shooting for Ferrari, but hitting between these two aforementioned competitors. Not bad for a car starting around $70,000. The M3 might be cheaper, but it doesn't perform as well, while the 911 is a monster with a beast of a price tag too.
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More Modern GT-R Cars
After 2008's GT-R, the R35 generation's start, we are now rocking the golden years for the GT-R. As part of the worldwide 50th-anniversary celebration, the updated GT-R was revealed in 2020 with excitement, perhaps only rivaled by its performance.
Nissan NISMO GT-R Specs
| Engine | 3.8-Liter Twin-Turbo V-6 |
| Horsepower | 600 @ 6800 RPM |
| Torque | 481 pound-feet @ 3600 RPM |
| Transmission | Six-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Curb Weight | 3,850 pounds |
| Layout | Front engine, AWD, 4-passenger coupe |
| Starting MSRP | $220,990 |
To be NISMO, as in Nissan Motorsport, means to be the top echelon of performance for the brand. One can see that is reflected in the NISMO GT-R, but that performance all comes at an all-time high price, now costing more than a Porsche 911 Turbo S and McLaren 570, a NISMO GT-R yields these numbers:
- 0-60 MPH: 2.9 seconds
- 0-100 MPH: 6.9 seconds
- 1/4 mile: 11.2 seconds
Today, a new 2024 Nissan Skyline GT-R, one without the NISMO treatment, still starts at $120,990. The Premium and T-Spec models sport a de-tuned 565 horses, with 467 pound-feet of torque. Equipped with Brembo brakes and Bilstein shocks, one will get a car costing significantly less than a NISMO, but the Godzilla treatment will still be very much appreciated.
2023-09-23T19:57:16Z dg43tfdfdgfd