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Nissan Skyline

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Nissan Skyline: The JDM legend behind the GT-R. From hakosuka to the R34, the Skyline is Japanese performance royalty.
Photo: Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The JDM legend behind the GT-R. From hakosuka to the R34, the Skyline is Japanese performance royalty.

The Nissan Skyline is one of the most storied nameplates in Japanese performance, spanning sedans, coupes, and the legendary GT-R variants. Dating to 1957, it became an enthusiast icon through the hakosuka GT-R of the late 1960s and the turbocharged RB-powered coupes of the 1980s and 1990s. The R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-R, with the twin-turbo RB26DETT inline six and ATTESA all-wheel drive, earned the Godzilla nickname for dominating motorsport. Non-GT-R Skylines offered RB20, RB25, and later VQ power. In North America the Skyline lived on through the Infiniti G35 and G37. On WhipJury, Skyline submissions span hakosuka classics, R32 to R34 GT-Rs, and RB-powered coupes, among the most revered JDM cars on the platform.

Skyline highlights

Hakosuka GT-R (1969-1972). The boxy original GT-R that started the legend.

R32/R33/R34 GT-R (1989-2002). RB26DETT twin-turbo, ATTESA AWD, the Godzilla era.

Non-GT-R coupes. RB20/RB25 turbo sixes, hugely popular tuner platforms.

Skyline on WhipJury

Among the most revered JDM nameplates here, especially the R-chassis GT-Rs.

Frequently asked questions about Nissan Skyline

Is the Skyline the same as the GT-R?
The GT-R was historically the top performance version of the Skyline (R32, R33, R34). Since 2007 the GT-R (R35) became a standalone model, no longer carrying the Skyline name.
What engine is in the Skyline GT-R?
The R32 to R34 Skyline GT-R use the RB26DETT twin-turbo 2.6 liter inline six with ATTESA all-wheel drive, one of the most legendary and tunable engines in JDM culture.
Why is the Skyline GT-R called Godzilla?
Australian media coined the nickname after the R32 GT-R dominated touring car racing. The name stuck across the GT-R lineage.
Can you import a Skyline to the US?
Under the 25-year import rule, older Skylines including the R32 and R33 GT-R are now legal to import. The R34 became eligible starting in 2024 for the earliest cars.
Is the Infiniti G35 a Skyline?
The V35 Skyline was sold in North America as the Infiniti G35. It shares the platform but is the luxury-branded version, not a GT-R.

More on the Nissan Skyline

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What Does JDM Actually Mean?
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