1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R – Project Profile

Dust off your Teriyaki Boys CDs, give Tokyo Drift  a re-watch and get ready for the project car of your dreams. Yup, what we have for your delectation this week is a Nissan Skyline. And it’s not one of the lowly models. No sir, this is a full fat, turbocharged, RB26-powered, all-wheel drive R32 GTR. And the R32 is – and we’ll die on this hill – the best Skyline. The perfect mix of of power and tech; a car that still needs you to show some talent behind the wheel, and one that rewards you if you do. It’s not a product of the PlayStation generation like the later R34 and R35. This is a monster of a car.

Of course, said Skyline is here, in Project Profile which means there is some work required. However, while the car may indeed look a little bit down at heel, the reality is that it has an MOT until August of next year. You can buy this and drive it home, and home is where it will take you without issue, probably. It is a Nissan after all. And while some of you might be looking at this twenty three thousand pound car with a raised eyebrow, remember that a shiny one in this spec and trim will set you back fifty grand without breaking a sweat. On that basis, this is a bargain. Plus, it’s an automotive legend, the stuff of dreams for many. This is peak Japanese performance, and it deserves to be shown some love and brought back to show standard.

What is it? 

What we have here is a 1991 Nissan Skyline GT-R. The Nissan Skyline can trace its roots all the way back to 1957. Back then though, in ALSI-1 guise, it wasn’t the fire-breathing monster we know it as now. In fact, it was a fairly standard family saloon. And it continued to be until 1969, when the first GT-R version landed. The legendary Hakosuka model. There was then a performance lull (there were sporty models, but nothing too wild) until 1981, when the RS landed. Then things got serious, with the R31 GTS-R in ’87. In 1989, we arrived at the R32 version we have here. Like all the Skylines before it, you could (in Japan) buy it as a standard, uninspiring four-door saloon. However, the GT and GT-R models were the ones to have. And soon, tuning companies got wise to the potential that lay within the straight-six RB26 engine. Nismo, Top Secret, G Reddy, HKS, Garret, the list of names to have a play with the GT-R is endless. After the R32 there was the R33, which was excellent. Then the more ‘digital’ R34 and R35 followed. Ask any Skyline fan which one they want, however, and they’ll almost certainly say an R32 GT-R.

Why is it a project? 

Well, just look at the poor old thing. It’s a bit down at heel. but before we get to that, there is some good stuff to talk about. Firstly, it has an MOT until August of next year. It did earn some advisories, such as corroded brake and fuel lines, some surface corrosion and tyres. It also had some welding to get that MOT. Looking back through the history, it’s had further advisories for brakes and tyres and corrosion, but nothing too scary. However, it would be best to treat this is a full-on project rather than a rolling restoration, owing to the performance nature of the GT-R. Going back to the looks, the body is tired and there is rust coming through on the arches, rear lower quarters and on the C pillars. The front bumper is damaged, the aftermarket bonnet doesn’t look too hot, and the Advan three-spoke wheels won’t be to everyone’s taste. Then we have the interior, which again, is complete but a little aged in places. However, it’s all there, and as we said, it’s road legal.

Five things to look for:

1) Engine

The engine is the big selling point here, and the RB26 is a hardy lump. But only if it’s been looked after. If it has been forever on boost, being driven as if it were stolen, then it won’t be happy. Service and rebuild kit is readily available, as the engine is still hugely popular. However, still check fluids, check it gets to temperature without fuss, and listen for any noises, particularly bottom end.

2) Turbo

The single turbo (they’re normally twin) on this sucker is bigger than the Blackwall Tunnel and as such, provides ginormous globs of power. However, it might have been worked hard. If you can whip the intake pipe off, do. It’s only one clip, and then you can check for any play in the shaft, you’ll be able to see if there is any oil (there shouldn’t be) and you can check the condition of the blades.

3) Rust

This Skyline is, like all of them of this era, an Import. We can only assume it’s come from Japan. It landed here in 2004 from what we can see, which means it’s had twenty-six years of our roads. This is bad, because Japan doesn’t protect its cars like we do, and so rot is a common issue. It’s already going on the rear arches, the rear quarters and the C pillar, but be sure to check suspension mounting points, sills, boot floor, gutters, pillars and, well, everything metal, really.

4) Modifications

This Skyline has been modified. The turbo isn’t stock, the intake isn’t, there is a massive front-mount intercooler fitted, there’s a strut brace and there are extra gauges inside. None of this is bad. The Skyline is synonymous with modified car culture. However, as with any modification, it needs to have been done right. So check the installation and function of all these parts.

5) All-Wheel-Drive

The magic of the R32 was its road-holding ability, thanks to a system called ATTESA E-TS – Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain with Electronic Torque Split. It had a a five-speed transmission, LSD, multi-plate clutch and a hydraulic unit for shifting power from the rear to the front. In fact it could send up to 50% of the power to the nose, should it be needed. It’s a complicated and expensive system though, so you need to do your best to check it functions.

What should you do with it? 

Given the way values are going, the correct thing to do would be to restore this GT-R back to its former glory. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to go back to standard specification, restore the crusty bits, give it a mechanical overhaul, that kind of thing. It would certainly build some serious value into it if done well. However, the market for modified cars is strong, so bolting go faster bits – as long as they’re good quality – won’t be to the detriment of the overall value. Or at least, not in the same way it would be if you were to modify, say, a UR Quattro or something. Whatever you choose, the important thing is to save this car. The R32 Skyline was a real high point in this model’s history, and we should celebrate that.