The Nissan Skyline series is one of the most iconic car series of all time. The Nissan Skyline GTR became the focal point of many mainstream Hollywood movies and attained a cult status among automobile enthusiasts. In addition, Nissan’s GT-R was so dominant in the 1990s motorsport scene that it earned the nickname “Godzilla” from the Australian car magazine “Wheels.”
The Skyline’s rise
The R32 Skyline GT-R arguably cemented the legend of the GT-R in racing. A stripped-down version of the R32 won every Japanese Touring Car Championship. It entered in 1989, winning 29 races over four seasons. The GT-R abbreviation stands for Gran Turismo–Racing, while the GT-B stands for Gran Turismo–Berlinetta. Japanese decided to name the car using Italian naming conventions to increase sales. The Skyline GT-R’s legacy spans six generations. It carried Nissan’s flagship label and demands respect among enthusiasts even now.
“Fast and furious” series and the GTR’s Popularity
The generation of the R34 is the most iconic one of them all. The late fast and furious star Brain O Connor’s iconic 1999 Nissan Skyline GTR R34 blue and silver is one of the most iconic cars of all time. The Fast and Furious franchise is possibly the main reason behind the R34 GT-R’s fame. The R34 appeared in other TV shows and films apart from F&F, but it will forever remain the iconic car of choice of the beloved Brian O’ Conner alongside his Mitsubishi Eclipse.
It is the forbidden JDM fruit as it is not street-legal in the US.
The digital Video game version quickly became the standard for those who wanted to experience driving a Skyline GT-R version but couldn’t afford the real one. This was the closest that most enthusiasts came to driving a Skyline GT-R iteration. In addition, the real-world racing history of the Skyline GT-R was a huge boost in making the car an icon in racing video games like Gran Turismo, Forza Motorsport, and Need for Speed.
Paul Walker’s 2001 Motorex Nissan R34 GT-R V-Spec II was Priced at almost $500,000 at the Mecum auction. There’s a reason the R34’s RB26 is the ideal platform for tuners; its level of customization is unparalleled. The RB26DETT motor is also highly tunable and a joy to work on. In addition, many aftermarket tuning components are available, including body kits, lighting, spoilers, hoods, and wheels.
In its day, the R34 GT-R was considered a serious contender to more expensive exotic sports vehicles like the Ferrari F355, with an original suggested retail price of roughly $45,000 ($80,000 now). Nowadays, an R34 can fetch ten times or more than its original purchase price. For example, consider this 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec that brought in approximately $550,000 at auction.
The cost of buying a modern-day GTR
The base price of a 2021 Nissan (Skyline) GT-R Premium trim is $113,540. The NISMO trim model has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $210,740.
Price of previous generations now
Even though not in production now, the previous generation of used cars is available.
R32:
A clean, unmodified, and low mileage can cost around $25,000 to $40,000.
A modified and high-mileage car would usually cost you lower than $25,000.
But if you take the case of rare versions such as V-Spec, V-Spec II, Nismo, or N1, they sell for more than $45,000.
R33:
The price tags of used R33s are the same as the R32s, but some rarer limited-edition models sell for more than $60,000.
R34:
The most expensive of all is the Skyline GT-R R34 due to its iconic status.
Most unmodified accident-free GTRs can have price tags as high as $70,000.
Rarer models like the V-Spec II Nur cost even more.
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