Deep Dive: Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R Is the Ultimate '90s JDM Icon

Well, at least that used to be the case about a decade ago, but things are rapidly changing. The year is 2023, and I'm sure most automotive enthusiasts know what JDM is. "Japanese Domestic Market" is a term that is sometimes misused, but I won't delve into that just now. Many will point out that Japan's automotive industry started by imitating what other manufacturers had achieved in Europe and North America.

But we all have to start somewhere, right? Japanese engineers and designers developed a style and way of thinking of their own, and people across the globe soon cherished their work. Ask any Japanese car enthusiast about his favorite sports car, and you'll get various answers. Some will choose Hondas any given day of the week, others will opt for AWD Subarus or Mitsubishis, and there's the Toyota crowd.

I have gone down the path of rotary-powered coupes with the Mazda RX-7, but I have always considered owning an R32 GT-R. While I won't be focusing on that car for today's story, it does have a role in the bigger picture. We all know that Nissan's most recent, and perhaps last GT-R, is the R35. But most of us will also agree that it is the R34 generation that is the undisputable king of the Skyline series.

History

The R34 GT-R didn't just happen overnight. Imagine that it took Nissan more than 40 years to get there since the launch of the first-ever Skyline in 1957. The classic Prince Skyline had a meager 1.5-liter engine with a maximum output of just 60 hp, which is not exactly what you'd call sporty. It took the Japanese manufacturer another 12 years before introducing the first GT-R, a third-generation Skyline.

The "Hakosuka" featured a 2.0-liter inline-six powerplant with 160 hp and 130 lb-ft (176 Nm) of torque, a 5-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel-drive, and a limited-slip differential, among other things. Given that Nissan only built less than 2,000 of these cars, don't be surprised that it costs as much as a brand new Porsche 911 Turbo. Kenmeri GT-Rs arrived in 1972 and are rarer still, reportedly with fewer than 200 vehicles coming off the factory floor.

Three more Skyline generations became available to the public over the next 16 years, but neither wore a GT-R badge. But the introduction of the R32 changed everything. This machine was a giant leap forward from its predecessors, with a fancy AWD system known as ATTESA E-TS and an RB26DETT engine at its core. The twin-turbo, 2.6-liter-, inline-six unit could deliver up to 276 hp and 260 lb-ft (353 Nm) of torque in standard guise, which was enough to deem the 3,153 lbs (1,430 kg) machine as more than just agile.

Using Nissan's halo sports car, the legendary Motoharu Kurosawa lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in just over eight minutes and 22 seconds. Mind you that this was in 1989, track conditions were anything but perfect, and the R32 GT-R instantly became the fastest production vehicle at the German venue. Not only did it achieve this performance, but it dominated motorsport events in which it competed, which ultimately brought on the "Godzilla" nickname.

So, it is no surprise that Nissan sold just under 44,000 units of this machine, which is also becoming increasingly expensive today. After a relatively short lifespan of five years, the R32 made way for the fourth generation of GT-R models: the R33. This used to be the family's ugly duckling, but people are looking more favorably at it in recent times. Despite being heavier, it was more refined than its predecessor and broke the eight-minute barrier at the Nordschleife, becoming the first production vehicle to do so. Nissan only built less than 17,000 units of the R33 GT-R before coming up with the hero of our story today: the R34.

Model Features

If you've come this far, there are still a lot of questions you need answers to. I hear the most: How many R34 Skylines were made? The short answer is a little over 67,000 units! Of course, only some wear a GT-R badge, so let me dive deeper into the topic and explain. You can buy an R34 Skyline with two or four doors if you have the money. It can have RWD only or AWD. You'll also have to choose one of four engine configurations and three gearbox types. Nissan split these options into nine different models, from the entry-level GT to the mighty GT-R.

The first one relied on an RB20DE inline-six setup that was good for 153 hp and 137 lb-ft (186 Nm) of torque. The RB25DE pushed those numbers up to 197 hp and 188 lb-ft (255 Nm) of torque. But the real fun begins once you enter turbocharged territory. The RB25DET NEO sat at the edge of the Japanese Automotive Industry's Gentleman Agreement, developing 276 hp and up to 268 lb-ft (363 Nm) of torque.

As you can tell, the RB26DETT had one extra turbo but still had to respect the horsepower limit, at least in theory. We've all heard the rumors that the R34 GT-R had more power than Nissan is willing to admit, but there's more to it than that. Reportedly, this new Godzilla was about seven seconds faster around the Nordschleife than its predecessor, which should not be taken lightly.

But people were only beginning to comprehend its true potential then, and we'll talk about that in a minute. Let's talk colors! Nissan offered 14 options for the R34 GT-R, and choosing the best one must have been tough. Most customers went for White or Bayside Blue, with almost 3,000 orders each. Black Pearl was the second most popular choice, with nearly 1,400 cars, but which is the rarest color for an R34 GT-R?

One hundred thirty-one vehicles left the factory in Silica Brass and 122 in Active Red, but Nissan only built 68 Lightning Yellow R34 GT-Rs! But if you wanted to drive the most terrifying GT-R out there, you would have joined the Police Force in Japan. The Saitama Prefecture Police Department used six of these vehicles for special missions, one being an unmarked model. Imagine doing a high-speed run on the Wangan and seeing one of these in your rear-view mirror.

Prices/Market Value

The deeper you dive into a topic, the more fascinating it becomes. As that happens, your emotions will start to take over. Next thing you know, you're browsing the classifieds looking for that dream car, wondering how you'll ever be able to afford it. That last bit depends on how big of a dreamer you are and your annual income. But most normal people will struggle to comprehend why a car that's 20 years old costs as much as a modern piece of machinery. Let me rephrase that from a non-automotive enthusiast's perspective: Do you mean to tell me that an old Nissan can be worth more than a brand-new Porsche 911 Turbo?

There, I said it. But then again, someone not into cars will be shocked upon hearing that information, as you can only see the whole picture if you have all the pieces to the puzzle. So here are more questions I often hear when talking to others: What is the most expensive Skyline GT-R? And there are several ways of answering that. Naturally, cars that belong to famous people will have a premium price attached to them. R34 GT-R price tags are usually made of six-figure numbers, but it will be soon that $1 million transactions become more common.

Looking at a particular online auction platform, I noticed that the most expensive model was a 2002 M-Spec Nur model that cost $455,000. Why is this R34 GT-R so expensive? It's one of the last variations to leave the factory, and Nissan built fewer than 300 units. Of course, there's a whole list of reasons why these cars cost so much: decades of hype thanks to movies like The Fast and the Furious and Japanese TV shows, countless hours of YouTube footage showing modified versions of them, their fantastic tuning potential and timeless design, and there's the scarcity to consider as well.

If you want an R34 GT-R on a budget, the same auction website shows the cheapest model went for $138,000. But of course, there's always the option of buying a non-GT-R machine. And then, $30,000 should do the trick if you're not bent on having a turbocharger under the hood. You can expect a flood of R34 GT-Rs in the US soon, thanks to the 25-year import rule. The US Senate passed this law in 1988, banning vehicles that weren't made for the American market. But that doesn't apply to cars that left the factory floor over 25 years ago.

In case you're wondering: Where can I buy an R34 GT-R in the US? There are several options. Craft Sports is one of the companies that stocked up on these cars and are bringing them over from Japan. You can fly over there and handle the import if you have the time, money, and knowledge to deal with it. Of course, there are several auction sites in the USA where you can try your luck and have the cash ready to go as soon as you find the right deal.

Stock Performance and Tuning Potential

If you've made it this far and are still unsure about "How fast is the R34 GT-R?", here are more answers for you: a stock one isn't going to feel out-of-this-world fast, at least not if you have ever driven any modern sports cars before. It will reach 62 mph (100 kph) from a standstill in under 5 seconds- a modern BMW M4 Competition only needs less than four. The GT-R tops at 165 mph (266 kph), slightly slower than a new Honda Civic Type R.

Its sub-8 minute lap around the Nordschleife isn't as impressive if you compare it to a Renault Megane IV R.S. Trophy-R, which is just a simple FWD Hot Hatch. But, and this is a big but, the whole appeal of owning one of these cars is its tuning potential. Buying one that Nissan fiddled with would be the best way to go, as that will only increase in value. But if you don't care about resale value, have your way with it, take it up to 600 hp, where it's still somewhat streetable and reliable, and enjoy it.

Just be sure to buy quality parts and avoid getting stingy with labor costs to prevent unwanted issues. After all, if you've spent $150,000 or more on the car, why not go the extra mile and drop another $50k to make it stand out of the crowd? I've only been a passenger in three different R34 Skylines. And neither one of those was a GT-R. Two were drift cars, and Miro Zrncevic's (Rimac's Chief Test Driver) still had the standard RB25DET inside. Jakub Skomorucha from Poland had gone down the 2JZ way for his, and I experienced it in 2013.

But you may be more familiar with the Signal Auto R34 GT-R, a vehicle some people call the Holy Grail of JDM cars, which could easily tackle drag racing and time attack courses back in the day. The Fusion RR built by Top Secret in Japan was equally as exciting, as this car could lap the Tsukuba circuit under one minute more than 15 years ago.

With 854 hp on tap, it could reportedly speed up to 210 mph (338 kph). That's just about what you'd expect from a Lamborghini Murcielago back in the day. If you're like me and spend hours binge-watching videos of fast cars online, here are some iconic machines you can look into: Ken Nomura's ER34 sedan from D1GP, the Nismo Skyline GT-R from the JGTC, and who can forget the ultra-high-responsive Mine's R34? That car proved that it's about more than having tremendous power, as balance is critical to a good performance! Liberty Walk also built a rather unique R34, but it's not a GT-R, and it doesn't even have an RB engine underneath the hood anymore.

Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R in Pop Culture

If you have even the faintest knowledge of GT-Rs, you are undoubtedly aware that Paul Walker drove several models in The Fast and the Furious movies and in real life, too. The one he had in the second movie was a 1999 R34 belonging to Craig Lieberman. As you'd expect, Mattel produced several 1/64th-scale replica castings of the iconic Japanese vehicle, some of which are more expensive than others.

It's not uncommon to see variations selling for over $1,000 per item! Naturally, plenty of other diecast manufacturers have created their tiny GT-Rs, and the MotorHelix and AUTOart ones are expensive, too. Thinking of other Pop Culture references, I have to mention Initial D. One of Keisuke Takahashi's most brutal battles was driving his RX-7 against Kozo Hoshino's V-Spec II Nur.

It only seems fair that a character with the nickname "God Foot" drives the Millennium Jade GT-R in this series, and you'll have to watch the battle yourself to understand how exciting it truly is. And then there's Wangan Midnight. The K Racing R34 demo car picks a fight with two highly modified Evos but retires to avoid embarrassment.

In the Live Action Movie, Reina Chan drives a red R34, an evolution of the RGO Demo car she gets to experience in the anime series. Let's remember racing games, too. Before I had seen Wangan Midnight, I would tune an R34 GT-R as best I could and go for high-speed runs on the highway in Need for Speed: Underground 2. With the right amount of nitrous, you could reach speeds over 230 mph (370 kph), dodging incoming traffic to refill your tank.

You'll find R34 GT-Rs in various titles in Assetto Corsa, Gran Turismo, Forza Horizon, Grid, Need for Speed, The Crew, and Project Gotham racing game series. So, it's no wonder there is so much hype surrounding these cars. Prices will continue to increase for the top-spec versions, but you don't need to go there to have fun. If you must get an R34 chassis, start with a cheaper model and take it from there. And try to focus on getting as much seat time as you can, as it's no fun just seeing the car on jack stands while you pursue some intangible dream of perfection and over 1,000 hp.