Photo: Yahoo! Auctions Japan
Produced in very few examples, the original Skyline GT-R was succeeded in 1973 by the second generation. An ultra-rare model that numbers 197 examples, the two-door coupe is nicknamed Kenmeri after Ken and Mary, a fictional couple used by Nissan for advertising.
1973 also happens to be the year the world stood still over the OPEC oil embargo that had exacerbated the price of oil almost overnight. Japan has virtually no natural resources to speak of, and alas, Nissan had to nip the Skyline GT-R in the bud until the R32 resurrected the nameplate in 1989.
Codenamed KPGC110 as opposed to KPGC10 for the first generation, this model features a 2.0-liter six connected to a five-speed stick shift. Four-wheel disc brakes, a semi-trailing ring arm setup for the suspension system, and better aerodynamics differentiate this model over its predecessor. The same can be said about the black fender flares with visible screw heads.
When it was new, the S20 straight-six engine in the KPGC110 was much obliged to belt out 160 horsepower and 130 pound-feet (176 Nm) of torque, thanks in part to the triple side-draft carburetors of the Mikuni-Solex variety. Considering the curb weight of 2,524 pounds (1,145 kilograms), you can bet a tenner that driving the Skyline GT-R is an extremely engaging experience.
Given this information, finding a KPGC110 locked in a barn is big news for the Nissan Skyline GT-R community and collectors alike. The vehicle in the photo gallery is one-of-seven Kenmeri painted in this shade of red from the factory, and the odometer shows only 50,000 kilometers (31,000 miles).
Listed on Yahoo! Auctions Japan, the numbers-matching vehicle carries an asking price of $338,630 at the current exchange rates. “What? Is this for real?” Well, it’s a fair valuation if you glance over auction results for similar models. Earlier this year, for example, chassis number 000104 hammered for $457,000, although the wheels and suspension were not original.
There are, however, two things you have to consider before getting out that checkbook. First of all, bear in mind the rear-wheel-drive sports car needs plenty of expensive restoration work. Last but certainly not least, you may want to hire a Skyline GT-R expert and go in person to analyze the car.
Codenamed KPGC110 as opposed to KPGC10 for the first generation, this model features a 2.0-liter six connected to a five-speed stick shift. Four-wheel disc brakes, a semi-trailing ring arm setup for the suspension system, and better aerodynamics differentiate this model over its predecessor. The same can be said about the black fender flares with visible screw heads.
When it was new, the S20 straight-six engine in the KPGC110 was much obliged to belt out 160 horsepower and 130 pound-feet (176 Nm) of torque, thanks in part to the triple side-draft carburetors of the Mikuni-Solex variety. Considering the curb weight of 2,524 pounds (1,145 kilograms), you can bet a tenner that driving the Skyline GT-R is an extremely engaging experience.
Given this information, finding a KPGC110 locked in a barn is big news for the Nissan Skyline GT-R community and collectors alike. The vehicle in the photo gallery is one-of-seven Kenmeri painted in this shade of red from the factory, and the odometer shows only 50,000 kilometers (31,000 miles).
Listed on Yahoo! Auctions Japan, the numbers-matching vehicle carries an asking price of $338,630 at the current exchange rates. “What? Is this for real?” Well, it’s a fair valuation if you glance over auction results for similar models. Earlier this year, for example, chassis number 000104 hammered for $457,000, although the wheels and suspension were not original.
There are, however, two things you have to consider before getting out that checkbook. First of all, bear in mind the rear-wheel-drive sports car needs plenty of expensive restoration work. Last but certainly not least, you may want to hire a Skyline GT-R expert and go in person to analyze the car.
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