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Jan 30, 2016

14,000 KM 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R Sells for $82,500 At Auction


A 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R, one owner, 14,000 km car sold this last Thursday at auction in Arizona. The car, an excellent stock example fetched even more than the pre-sale estimate of $50,000 - $70,000.  On the block the bidding went to $75,000, and with a 10% buyer premium, the cost was $82,500.  If you are looking for much less expensive examples. International Vehicle Importers always has some in stock.  http://www.importavehicle.com/inventory.aspx


Buy USA Legal R32 Skylines at Importavehicle.com!
Buy-R.com for Nissan Skyline GT-R and GT-R parts.

RM/ Southerbys Auction 




Jan 1, 2016

Waiting on R34 GT-R : The 25 Year Old Nissan Skyline GT-R Story


So, by a show of hands, how many of you are anxiously waiting for the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R to turn 25 years old? When it turns 25 years old, it will be exempt from NHTSA requirements, and able to be imported to the US legally.

So, have to love stuff like this.


The R34 GT-R was released Jan 1, 1999. So you are off a year. Even then, US Customs wants the car to be over 25 years by month of manufacturer. So a January 1999 car, can legally enter in January 2024, etc, etc.

To us, waiting on R34 GT-R is like opening up a book, reading the last page, and saying you finished it, its like watching the finale of a TV series, and saying you watched the whole thing.

In real life, the R32 GT-R was released in 1989, and was sold though 1994. The R33 GT-R in 1995, and sold though 1998. The R34 GT-R from 1999 to 2002.  All three cars share the RB26, all have all wheel drive, all have four wheel steering. Overall they share many parts within the platform. Many parts crossover between the models. They were more of a evolution, rather than a revolution.  To us, the important parts are under the skin. The drive train, the suspension. To many people the aesthetics rule all.

Buy USA Legal R32 Skylines at Importavehicle.com!
Buy-R.com for Nissan Skyline GT-R and GT-R parts.

TV2, or Bayside Blue R34 GT-R from Fast and Furious 4

They were all rated at 280 horsepower, although the torque numbers went up though the years. The R33, and R34 both gained weight and size vs the R32.



Some R32 GT-R History.

August 1989 – R32 GT-R debuted
February 1990 – GT-R Nismo debuted
March 1990 – Group A GT-R debuted and won its first race
November 1990 – 1990 Group A series Champion
August 1991 – Spa Francocious 24 hr Endurance Race , Group A GT-R won the race (First time for a Japanese car to win)
November 1991 – 1991 Group A series Champion
November 1992 – 1992 Group A series Champion
March 1993 – GT-R Vspec debuted
November 1993 – 1993 Group A series Champion
February 1994 – GT-R Vspec II debuted
April 1994 – GT Racing series debuted and the GT-R won



The R32 did great against its contemporaries. The R33, not as well. In the 6 years from 1989 to 1995, when the R33 debuted, the competition had started to catch up. Then 10 years later, the R34 had further refinements, but again, the drivetrain was showing its age. The R34 got a Getrag V160 6 speed transmission.  Further suspension and ATTESA upgrades, but nothing revolutionary. 

The R32 GT-R sold 43,000 units, the R33 GT-R 16,000 units, and the R34 GT-R 12,000.  We are often asked to speculate on R34 GT-R pricing in 2024. It is hard to predict the future of vehicle prices, 8 years away, but currently the R34 GT-R prices in Japan are rising. Some great condition cars, being sold for the same prices as they were new. We suspect that the US R34 GT-R market might be $100,000+ USD. There is a limited supply, they don't make them any more, and the demand of the US market will be high. 

Nissan Skyline GT-R Buyers Guide 1957-2002

Racing an R34 GT-R in SCCA World Challenge


Car
R32 GT-R (early)
R33 GT-R (normal)
R34 GT-R (normal)
R35 GT-R (early)
Length
4545 mm (178.9 in)
4675 mm (184.1 in)
4600 mm (181.1 in)
4650 mm (183.1 in)
Width
1755 mm (69.1 in)
1780 mm (70.1 in)
1785 mm (70.3)
1900 mm (74.9 in)
Height
1340 mm (52.8 in)
1360 mm (53.5 in)
1360 mm (53.5 in)
1370 mm (54 in)
Weight
1480 kg (3265 lbs)
1530 kg (3373 lbs)
1540 kg (3395 lbs)
1737 kg (3829 lbs)
Wheelbase
2615 mm (103 in)
2720 mm (107.1 in)
2665 mm(104.9 in)
2780 mm (109.4 in)
Front track
1480 mm (58.3 in)
1480 mm (58.3 in)
1480 mm (58.3 in)
1590 mm (62.9 in)
Rear track
1480 mm (58.3 in)
1480 mm (58.3 in)
1490 mm (58.7 in)
1600 mm (63 in)