The Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 buying guide

The third-generation Nissan Skyline GT-R arrived at a point in the late 1980s when most of the established sportscar players were relying more on their reputations than cutting-edge tech to sell their products. Now the R32 is an icon!

Designed to compete in international Group A racing, the GT-R32 was equipped with a high-tech all-wheel-drive system and over-engineered twin-turbo 2.6-litre inline-six. This combination made it one of the quickest contemporary sports cars around.

The R32 launched in late 1989 and entered into Group A the following year. The new car didn’t initially make the splash one might have expected, primarily because it was only made available in Japan. That all changed when it began dominating the Group A racing series like no other car before.

It remained undefeated in Japan over a four-year reign and took top honours at Spa and the Nürburgring too. The Australians named it ‘Godzilla’ after it beat the all-conquering Sierra Cosworth at the Bathurst 1000, two years running.

The ATTESA E-TS AWD system was great at putting down the power in a variety of conditions. The official output figure was a claimed 276bhp (a necessary lie thanks to the Japanese laws of the time), but no R32 produced less than 300bhp once the boost restrictor was removed. Minor modifications can push figures much higher and thanks to this easy tunability, finding a stock R32 today is almost impossible.   

Continued racing successes led to victory special edition (V-Spec) models being released, many of which were built in very limited numbers and have values to match. However, over 40,000 standard cars were produced, but these too are starting to climb in value, particularly now they are legal in the US. While there are still deals to be had, the R32 is fully deserving of its renewed fame. After all, it is a historically significant and very capable world-beating sports car.

Nissan skyline R32 Engine

The heart and soul of the R32 is the RB26DETT inline-six-cylinder engine. These engines are basically bulletproof if left standard, but few are. A stock boost restrictor could be removed, increasing the power to around 310bhp and the majority of cars have at least been remapped, adding another 40bhp. If a larger turbo and more aggressive map are installed the internals will require upgrading too.

The timing belt must be replaced regularly and any new purchase should be treated to a full service, especially if it is a fresh import. Low oil pressures tend to be an issue on these engines and if the tappets are very noisy on start-up, the oil pump may be faulty. Coil packs can also cause misfiring and rough running issues.

Standard turbochargers tend to disintegrate under high levels of boost and specialists tend to rebuild them with stronger steel impellers instead of the factory-fitted ceramic ones.

Crankshafts can get damaged from over-revving. Check for any rough high-rev behaviour or excessive blue exhaust smoke under boost, to ensure the engine’s health.

Nissan Skyline R32 Gearbox

The five-speed gearbox can handle a fair bit of abuse, but it is generally the last component to get upgraded. Consequently, many gearboxes suffer from failures due to excessive boost pressures. Check for any crunching between gears, especially when changing into fifth. Though the ‘box does not like to be rushed, changes should be smooth.

Nissan Skyline R32 Suspension and brakes

The suspension setup is fairly straightforward and tends to require nothing more than the periodic damper and rubber bushing replacements. 

Cars with larger diameter wheels and track-biased settings can make for an extremely hard ride and uneven tyre wear, so if your car is not standard (highly likely), make sure the modifications have been professionally installed.

Brakes are standard steel units all-round and work well unless you are running 400bhp+ where they may overheat causing cracked pads and warped discs.

nissan skyline r-32 bodywork

Rust is common on many cars and there are a few problems areas to look out for. Take a good look around the whole car, but pay particular attention to the rear arches, rear window surrounds and the jacking points. If any of these are damaged they can lead to rusting on the underside and side sills.

skyline R32 Interior

The R32 has a typically ‘90s Japanese interior, meaning acres of plastic, reliable electronics and hard-wearing seat coverings. 

You should still expect some moderate wear and tear on even the best examples after three decades. Many owners install updated radios and a lot of electrical issues can be traced back to aftermarket alarms and other non-standard equipment.

Sourcing minor trim can be a hassle but there are a number of specialists and enthusiast clubs around that can point you in the right direction. Even so, certain items like OEM front seats can be costly.

Nissan skyline GT-R R32 History

1989: Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 goes on sale in Japan. Factory fitted restrictor limits power to 276bhp. Group A restrictions limit wheel size to 16-inches

1990: Very rare NISMO GT-R built, 500 for road and 60 for track

1993: V-Spec I model introduced to celebrate Group A victories and features bigger brakes, 17-inch alloys and updated four-wheel drive system. 1453 units built

1994: V-Spec II model arrives with the only change over the V-Spec I being wider tyres. 1303 units built

1995: Skyline R32 production ends with a total of 40,390 standard models having been manufactured

Which skyline GT-R R32 To Buy

The GT-R R32 not only introduced a new level of performance to the sports car segment, it also made it available to a far larger audience thanks to attractive pricing and fairly large build numbers. 

Almost every car has seen some form of modification and if done properly it can make for a very fast and enjoyable sports car. Standard ones are highly prized and offer the best investment potential.

The majority of cars still reside in Japan, although many have found homes in Australia, the UK and, since 2014, the US as well. This has had a positive effect on prices, but values are still generally below European rivals from the same period.

If you are looking for one of the limited-edition models such as the V-Spec I or II, then be prepared to pay significantly more than a vanilla R32 model demands. The very rare NISMO models are even more valuable and few venture out of Japan. Standard low-mileage models are extremely rare now and the astronomical figures they command reflect their desirability.

With a renewed interest in these special cars pushing prices higher across the board, it is vital to ensure that your potential purchase has been well cared for. There are plenty out there so take your time to find a Godzilla that will destroy the competition and not your bank account.

Nissan skyline GT-R R32 Specifications

2.6-litre Twin-turbo inline-6

Power: 276bhp

Top speed: 155mph

0-60mph: 5.6sec

Economy: 19mpg


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Text John Tallodi Photos Nissan

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