R33 Autech Four-Door: The Rare and Intriguing GT-R Sedan You Never Knew Existed

Arguably the most famous JDM nameplate of all time, the GT-R was born in 1969, a year when, across the Pacific, muscle cars were ruling the roads.

Based on the anemic third-generation Skyline and nicknamed Hakosuka, the first GT-R was by no means a Japanese muscle car, but with a curb weight of 2,425 pounds (1,100 kg) and a 160-hp DOHC inline-six under the hood, it was undoubtedly one of the most impressive high-performance vehicles ever created by an Asian carmaker.

During its first years of service, the Hakosuka could only be purchased as a four-door sedan, but in March 1971, a two-door version was added.

From that point on, the GT-R nameplate became synonymous with the sportier two-door coupe body that defined the succeeding KPGC110 "Kenmeri" as well as the modern versions from the late-1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

Thanks to video games and the "Fast and Furious franchise, the Skyline GT-R morphed from a JDM icon into one of the most sought-after and glorified sports cars ever.

Though the R32, R33, and R34 were only available as coupes, many enthusiasts have swapped GT-R engines and front ends onto Nissan Stageas, giving birth to GT-R wagons. The same recipe was used for cooking up GT-R sedans on stock Skyline chassis, so the concept of a GT-R with four doors is familiar to die-heart fans.

But, for most car enthusiasts who aren't necessarily obsessed with Nissan's most popular nameplate, the fact that the Japanese manufacturer greenlighted the production of a four-door R33 back in 1988 might be a surprise.

A throwback to the original Hakosuka

After the success of the initial PGC10 (and KPGC10) Skyline GT-R, Nissan introduced the updated second-generation Kenmeri in 1972. Unfortunately, the fuel crisis that hindered the automotive industry during that period had a devastating impact on the new high-performance model, which was discontinued a year later due to poor sales.

The GT-R nameplate laid dormant for nearly two decades, but when it was revived, it took the high-performance world by storm. Unveiled in 1989, the R32 Skyline GT-R was a sophisticated sports car with a powerful twin-turbo straight-six and an innovative AWD system dubbed ATTESA E-TS.

During its four-year production run, it became one of the most successful Japanese sports cars ever, with close to 44,000 units leaving dealerships. It was also a formidable race car that won many championships in Japan and Australia - where it was nicknamed Godzilla.

Although it was nowhere near as successful in terms of sales, the succeeding R33 model unveiled at the 1993 Tokyo Motor Show was also an iconic member of the Skyline GT-R family, becoming the first production vehicle to lap the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife track in under eight minutes.

It was also the only modern GT-R officially available in a four-door body style.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the now-legendary nameplate, Nissan officials commissioned its tunning division Autech to create a four-door R33.

First shown at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show, the GT-R sedan was officially conceived as a throwback to the original Hakosuka, but Nissan also wanted to test the market interest in a JDM high-performance sedan that could rival European offerings such as the BMW M5 or the Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG.

More than just a four-door conversion

Autech engineers started with a base R32 Skyline four-door chassis that received all the performance upgrades that made the two-door GT-R version famous. These included the suspension setup, Brembo brakes, the 280-hp RB26DETT twin-turbo engine, and, of course, the newer ATTESA E-TS Pro AWD system.

On the outside, the 40th Anniversary sedan version received the bespoke GT-R front bumper and grille, but Autech designers also added a pair of custom side skirts and a rear bumper that resembled the ones of the two-door version. Moreover, the rear fenders and doors were modified to look like the standard GT-R's bulged quarter panels.

Curiously, the rear spoiler was not initially carried over from the standard version, but that only made the sedan look more like a sleeper.

Inside, the front bucket seats and steering wheel were borrowed from the two-door, but rather than using the factory Skyline sedan's rear bench, Autech devised a custom one that featured individual bolstered buckets.

Extremely rare, yet surprisingly affordable today

Tipping the scales at 3,439 pounds (1,560 kg), the sedan was only 66 pounds (30 kg) heavier than the standard two-door version; therefore, it didn't suffer a noticeable drop in performance.

Nissan decided to commence a limited production run for the 1998 model year, hoping to sell around 350-400 units. In the end, public response was positive, and the manufacturer built 416 units.

Although the R33 (excluding the Nismo 400R) is considered the least desirable modern GT-R by many enthusiasts, the average value of an example in great condition currently stands around $75,000.

Despite being considerably rarer, the 40th Anniversary sedan can be had for much less. Recently, a pristine example with a US title popped up on Cars and Bids. The highest bid reached $51,908, and although the seller's reserve was not met, the website reported that a deal between the owner and the highest bidder was eventually made. While the final figure was not disclosed, it's fair to assume that it stood around the $55,000 mark, much less than what a two-door version demands these days.

If you want to learn more about this fascinating sedan, we recommend the YouTube video below by Contempo Concept.