Nissan Skyline GT-R R34: The True Cost Of Ownership

Just how much does it take to have custody of this desirable Japanese monster?

First off, there’s good news and bad news for stateside fans of the revered R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R. The relevant one, worth high-fives all around, is that it will finally be street-legal in the United States, saving owners and enthusiasts thousands of dollars in skirting the current federal prohibition on importing one.

But before you break out either the Bud or the bubbly, here’s the caveat: the ban will be lifted no earlier than January 2024, when the iconic automobile will have counted 25 years of existence. Meanwhile, the mainstream R34 Skyline can now arrive on American soil unhindered as of May 2023, according to the terms set forth by the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988.

For better or worse, that window provides one with ample opportunity to either ponder the wisdom of buying an iconic (read: old) sports car or save up for the inevitable upkeep in case the trigger has been pulled. Given the GT-R R34’s standing in automotive circles, the number of months left in counting down to its North American arrival can be met with either anticipation or dread.

Just what is the Nissan Skyline GT-R?

The Nissan Skyline is a compact car originally built by the Prince Motor Company in 1957 before it merged with Nissan 10 years later. The model was initially sold in various iterations such as coupe, sedan, station wagon, crossover, and even pickup body styles, although only the sedan version has been officially marketed since 2014.

It counts 13 generations so far, with the first two carrying the Prince Skyline moniker for a decade and the thirteenth being what we know as the Infiniti Q50 in the USA. That’s right; the R35 Nissan GT-R is not a Skyline.

By the time the third-generation Skyline appeared in 1968, Nissan engineers had come up with the first performance-oriented trim level for the range, giving birth to the Skyline GT-R. Nissan would subsequently discontinue this variant after the 1976 model year, bringing it back in 1988 on the eighth-generation Skyline with the R32 designation.

The Skyline GT-R of that era began its streak of straight wins at the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC) from 1989 to 1983, ending the dominance of the Ford Cosworth RS at Australia’s Bathurst 1000 touring car race in 1991 and 1992. These feats earned the “Godzilla” sobriquet for the Nissan Skyline GT-R from the Australian automotive press.

Enter the R34 Skyline GT-R

The R34 Skyline GT-R is the fifth iteration of the performance-focused Skyline, released in 1999 and based on the tenth-generation Skyline that debuted the previous year. Customers had a choice of two engines for the R34 Skyline GT-R: a base 2.6-liter RB26DETT twin-turbo gasoline unit and a more powerful 2.8-liter RB28DETT version, the latter of which was exclusive to the Nismo Z-Tune.

There were various other special editions aside from the standard R34 Skyline GT-R. Nissan also produced the V-Spec (Victory Specification), with standard equipment including the Pro version of Nissan’s Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain (ATTESA) all-wheel drive system. A subsequent V-Spec N1 trim skipped the air conditioning and audio equipment, with only 38 known examples used mostly for racing.

These would be followed by the V-Spec II and V-Spec II Nur editions, the latter being the final production version of the R34 GT-R named after the Nurburgring in Germany, where the Skyline was developed. The R34 GT-R was the last GT-R to use the Skyline name before Nissan spun it off into a standalone performance product.

Nissan Skyline R34 cars for sale

We have 20 Nissan Skyline R34 cars available from trade and private sellers

Expert opinion

An icon almost 20 years after it went off sale, and with good reason. Because while the RB26DETT straight-six is known for its almost unburstable tuneability, and the R34 has become a movie star in its own right, neither of those should take away from the standard Skyline’s ability as a driver’s car. At the turn of the 21st century, little could match it.

Officially the 2.6 twin-turbo made 280hp, but the suspicion was that no R34 made less than 300hp. Moreover, with a suite of technology now seen as commonplace – ATTESA E-TS Pro that could vector torque across the rear axle, Super-HICAS four-wheel steer – the GT-R revolutionised expectations of large, heavy, four-wheel drive coupes. It was like nothing else.

Today, the R34’s legend is not only helped by its role in popular culture, but also its status as the last GT-R using the infamous RB26. When the R35 GT-R made its debut in 2007, power, weight and capacity were all up. Leaving the R34 as the final derivative of one of the 1990s’ ultimate cult sports cars – no wonder you’ll now need at least £50k for a good one.