The current Nissan GT-R introduced back in 2007 has earned legendary status among car enthusiasts, but for some fans the last great GT-R was the last one to wear the Skyline badge.
Whether it comes from growing up playing Gran Turismo or watching Paul Walker’s antics on the Fast and the Furious, or just knowing that it runs the legendary RB26 straight-six, and the newer car doesn’t, the R34 Skyline GT-R just has more want factor for many people.
The trouble is, the R34 was never officially sold in North America (although a handful were imported and Federalized), and while the earlier R32 and the first batch of R33 Skyline GT-Rs can now legally be imported to, and driven in, the U.S. under the 25-year rule, the R34 produced between 1999 and 2002 is still tantalisingly out of reach.
Except this one that’s cropped up on Bring-a-Trailer, that is. One of just 282 GT-R V-Specs built in 1999 to come coated in Midnight Purple II paint, its rarity qualifies it for the NHTSA’s Show or Display program that allows it to be driven legally in the U.S. But that’s not a free pass. Show and Display cars are limited to 2500 miles per year until they reach 25 years old.
This car was imported to Colorado in 2020 and the digital odometer reads 64,000 km, which equates to just under 40,000 miles. The twin-turbocharged RB26DETT straight-six was comically rated at 276 hp by Nissan, but the cars actually made well over 300 and were strong enough to form the basis for 1000 hp tunes.
With five days still to go on the auction at the time of writing, bidding has already reached $253,000, but Tristan Longford at UK-based Japanese car specialist Torque GT told Carscoops the bids have a long way to go yet.
‘This car has had a lot of exposure in JDM circles and the market is red hot right now,’ said Longford, whose firm’s private collection includes an R34 Nur and R33 Nismo R400. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if bids went as high as $400,000.’
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