Nissan’s Nismo Heritage program puts RB26 engine back into production

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 26.03.2019

Along with a host of reproduction body panels and components

Nissan and its performance arm Nismo, are one of the current day pioneers in factory classic car support; incrementally releasing newly reproduced parts and components to support the restoration and preservation of its R32-R34 Skyline GT-Rs through their Heritage Parts program.

The program was launched mid-last year, initially with factory replacement parts for the R32-generation GT-R only (1989-1994). The initial release consisted mostly of small engine hoses and rubber trims; but was expanded to the R33 (1995-1998) and R34 (1999-2002) generations at the end of 2018, with newly reproduced bumpers, lamp assemblies and exterior and engine seals.

This morning, Nismo announced a third expansion, and arguably the most significant one yet.

Incredibly, Nismo is putting the lauded 2.6lt inline-six RB26 engine back into production after it was reported a number of years ago that engine casting would cease.  You’re now able to head on down to your local Nissan parts department, and order a brand new RB26 engine block and cylinder head.

The engine block and head wear a "manufacturer’s suggested retail price" of 170,000JPY (AU$2,173) and 187,000JPY (AU$2,390) respectively.

For the R33 and R34 generations, Nismo is now offering new replacement wiper motors and assemblies, and window washer bottles. The R32 however, is the big winner of this new expansion.

New rear quarter panels, roof panels, front and rear bumpers, as well as an entirely new reproduction OEM muffler, fuel pump and engine harness are now available for the R32. It can be reasonably expected that the R33 and R34 generations will see the same in a future release.

If you’ve been paying attention to the late-model Japanese market, these Skylines have exploded in value over the past few years, and subsequently seen similar price rises in the market of hard-to-come-by components that, until now, were no longer produced.

Nismo’s Heritage Parts program should be a welcome stabilisation to the used parts market, where a used short block would set you back $5,000 alone, and oem mufflers and bumpers now wear hefty asking prices up to double or triple what they would have commanded ten years ago.

Nissan is likely privy to the booming used parts market; especially in America where its 25 year import rule is only now seeing the first R33 GT-Rs legally driven on the road.  The Yokohama brand may be seeking to cut their own slice of the cake, but regardless; a new parts supply of this calibre should be applauded as a welcome move for those looking to restore their 90s dream machines.

We’d love to see other car makers show the same support for their storied back-catalogues, helping owners keep their beloved cars on the road.

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