#R34 SKYLINE IMPORT SERIES#
Nissan beat Porsche time and time again in Group A class races (a series of production-derived vehicles intended for outright competition in touring car racing and rallying). What’s particularly interesting is that an R32 cost around $31,000 USD when new, whereas a 959 would cost you $225,000 USD. It raced the Porsche 959, a limited-edition offering from the ‘80s that pioneered the all-wheel-drive systems and turbochargers used in supercars today. Nissan Skyline GT-R R32’s RB26 Engine Bay level of engineering meant that the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 was able to take on supercars from completely different markets. Everything from all-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering, and a race-proven twin-turbo RB26 power plant put the Skyline way ahead of its predecessors,” added Anagnostopoulos. “If you look at some of the mechanical and technological features that Nissan offered back in the ‘80s, you’ll understand that the Skyline, especially the GT-R, was a mechanical marvel for its time. “I always thought was cool but I never thought it would be possible to see one unless I went to Japan or Australia,” Anagnostopoulos told HYPEBEAST.
#R34 SKYLINE IMPORT FULL#
Greg Anagnostopoulos, owner of New York’s Skyline Source, an automotive shop that specializes in full factory-correct restorations of various Skyline models, holds a special place in his heart for the R32. Nissan re-imagined its Skyline series in the late ‘80s, introducing the R32. The closest to a GT-R following “Kenmeri” was the R31 Skyline, appearing in GTS-R format in a limited run of just 823 units in the mid to late ‘80s. However, the oil crisis in the 1970s meant that production was short-lived, and the demand for performance cars died out. It was an instant hit, with the GT-R model earning the nickname “Kenmeri” thanks to its popular advertising campaign featuring a young couple named Ken and Mary. Nissan had to produce a successor to Hakosuka, and introduced the C110 Skyline in 1973. Nissan Skyline “Hakosuka” Masuda Kazuhisa ©2014 Courtesy Of Rm Auctions Today, the Hakosuka is a six-figure collectible. While the production model produced a healthy 160 HP - strong figures for a two-liter car from the late ‘60s - its racing variant, complete with a long list of upgrades, won 52 races in its first three years of production. In 1969 Nissan developed its first performance-focused Skyline - what is commonly referred to as the “Hakosuka.” The Hakosuka put Nissan’s racing legacy into gear. This would be the last time Prince would appear on the race track however, as in 1966 it merged with Nissan.
In 1966, Prince raced four of its mid-engined R380s in the Japanese Grand Prix against three Porsche 906s - Prince cars placed first and second.
It was inspired by the 904’s mid-engine layout and featured a highly-aerodynamic custom-built body, and was also used to break five E-class land speed records in late 1965. Not only did Sakurai have a major hand in producing the first Prince Skyline, he also designed the R380 - the first prototype race car developed by Prince in postwar Japan. The car’s loss to the Porsche 904 spurred Shinichiro Sakurai, an engineer for Prince and then Nissan, to make a car that could beat Porsche.
The S54 GT was also Prince’s lead car in the Japanese Grand Prix in 1964. Prince used the signature Italian abbreviation “GT” to drive sales and make the car desirable. In 1964, Prince Motor Company - which originally manufactured the Skyline - produced a Gran Turismo variant of the Skyline, dubbed the S54 GT. Today, Skylines are a holy grail of the car world, a unicorn to most and a challenge for many others as they navigate import regulations and sky-rocketing prices. Alongside its video game appearances, the Skyline was a lead car in numerous Fast and Furious films, such as the one driven by Paul Walker playing Brian O’Connor whose blue and silver 1999 GT-R R34 became an icon in itself. The Skyline became a go-to choice for many gamers playing the likes of Need for Speed, where a digital version would be the closest they’d ever get to driving any Skyline iteration. The Skyline’s extensive racing pedigree played out both in real life and as a poster child for almost every PlayStation Gran Turismo video game. By the ‘90s, Nissan’s leading performance model was adopted by a burgeoning scene of car enthusiasts looking to tune them, and as we entered the 2000s the Skyline became a starlet on the silver screen. In 1957 it was introduced as a luxury four-door sedan and five-door station wagon, but throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and beyond it was championed for its successful racing career. The Nissan Skyline has a history that spans more than 50 years.
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