Following the demise of locally made R31 models, Australia could and should have seen an R32 version of the Skyline GTS, but Nissan went instead with the front-wheel drive Maxima.
In Japan, the Skyline was a popular family and business vehicle, available in a range of configurations from non-turbo 2.0-litre cars to the fearsome 2.6-litre, twin-turbo GTR coupe.
Shortly after the excitement of the GTR’s 1993 exclusion from local Touring Car race events, import car yards began displaying 160kW versions of the R32 GTS which was available as a coupe or four-door sedan.
These, as per their position as quite ordinary cars in the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), were basic fare with a turbocharger added and uprated suspension. Inside though, they were bland and basic with just a leather-bound steering wheel to add some flair. GTS-Ts came with five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission and cars coming to Australia would normally be five to seven years old with air-conditioning already installed.
R33 versions of the Skyline replaced the R32 in 1993. These were a longer car on a lengthened wheelbase with curved panels and a less purposeful appearance than the R32. The new design was heavier too, but with 184kW from the 2.5-litre turbo against the earlier versions’ 160kW there was enough power to compensate for an extra 80 kilograms.
Improved air-conditioning was a feature of the R33 and while these cars were among the first JDM imports to arrive locally with a driver’s side airbag, the chances of the bag still deploying in a crash are doubtful.
R33s remained in production until 1997, when replaced by the more purposeful and powerful R34 series. These family friendly Nissans did come here in non-turbo form but GT-T versions with two or four-doors were more keenly sought and costly.
Power from the turbocharged 2.5-litre straight-six reached 206kW and the time taken to run 0-400 metres became 14.2 seconds. Tweaked suspension delivered a car with sharper steering response than the understeery R33 and a neutral stance through high-speed bends. Standard 17-inch alloy wheels and 45 Series tyres helped here.
With R35 Skylines being quite different in style from previous versions, demand for the chunky R34 remains strong. Prices in the current market have fallen slightly since their peak in 2023 which saw some GT-T coupes reach $70,000 and sedans at $45-50,000. Some will still make that money, but they need to be significantly modified or in exceptional condition.
