1991 Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R – Auction Car of the Week

‘Godzilla’, as it was nicknamed due to its all conquering race credentials, the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R has always been ripe for modification. From day one of production way back in 1989 fans of going fast have tweaked, fettled and modified these cars in order to squeeze every ounce of performance from the legendary RB26DETT engine. That 2.6-litre, six-cylinder twin turbo motor – already a hefty unit producing over 300bhp (despite a deliberately underestimated claim of 276 from the factory) – is the perfect base for performance upgrades.

You see, the engine, with its iron block and forged internals, was built to cope with over 500bhp for racing in Group A competition and then scaled back for road car applications and so the potential to unleash this extra grunt is a pretty simple process, beginning with a boost controller to increase the boost pressure of the dual T25-type ceramic turbochargers. The further people pushed performance, however, the more supporting mods were required; from larger intercoolers to better intake systems and exhausts, and an entire industry developed to support these shenanigans.

That doesn’t meant that all modified Skylines are professionally put together using the best quality parts available though, far from it. There are plenty of dodgy examples out there, “built” by people who are all too willing to cut corners just for pub bragging rights. Trust us, we’ve seen our fair share and it’s part of the reason why more original, unmolested examples are now being sought out. When it’s done right though, the results speak for themselves, as is the case with this particular 1991 model.

Externally the car doesn’t look that much different from a stock GT-R save for some larger, after market wheels. As nice as they are we always personally thought that the factory 16” alloys were too small anyway, a sentiment that was clearly shared by Nissan as they introduced 17” BBS items on the later V-Spec models. An R32 GT-R doesn’t need to be adorned with silly wings and wide arch kits, that classic silhouette is classic for a reason.

Where the differences between this car and a standard Skyline R32 GT-R become apparent, however, is underneath the bonnet. One look at the long and distinguished list of performance parts will give you some idea of the level of quality and detail that has gone into this build and anyone au fait with the Japanese performance tuning industry will no doubt be familiar with names such as Tomei, HKS and Tein and it’s a who’s who of leading brands. The engine has been bored out to 2.8-litres, care of a Tomei Stroker kit, accompanied by pistons, crankshaft, conrods and oil pump and the original twin turbos have been replaced with a single, larger Blitz/Borg Warner K27 unit.

Head on over to the listing for the full list of engine mods but suffice to say this R32 GT-R now produces an alleged 600bhp. While that does sound like a lot, and it is, these engines can successfully cope with double that amount of power and so those figures are still well within the realms of safety. All of that grunt is supported, too by upgraded suspension and bigger brakes from the later R34 model so both handling and stopping are equal to the task.

Imported from Japan in 2021 this Skyline comes with a comprehensive history file including its full Japanese service history. Since arriving in the UK the car has been cared for by renowned GT-R tuning shop RK Tuning, with invoices confirming a post-import inspection as well as another check over and service earlier this year, giving any new owner complete peace of mind, something that is invaluable when it comes to highly modified, performance cars.

Not only has this Skyline R32 GT-R been professionally improved it has also been executed tastefully, and that’s important. With a fresh respray in R34 GT-R Sparkling Silver and a largely original interior, free from an overabundance of extra gauges, it presents in excellent condition throughout and remains an incredibly usable and drive-able example despite the massive hike in power. Perfection.