The true legend
Can it really be that we haven’t written anything yet about the true legend among the Nissan Skyline GT-Rs, the R34? Even though we’ve covered all the others (see summary here, Sayonara), and even though we know the R34 from our own experience? Well, it’s never too late – and it’s also a good time, as Broad Arrow is putting ‘The Ultimate R34 Skyline GT-R Collection’ under the hammer in mid-May, featuring a few truly exceptional examples.
The R34 was launched as the successor to the (too) little-loved R33 for the 1999 model year. Fans were relieved that the wheelbase had been significantly shortened again (from 2.72 to 2.66 metres), promising the agility one would expect from a GT-R. The powertrain was familiar: the ever-present RB26DETT, 2.6-litre displacement, officially 280 bhp at 6800 rpm, 392 Nm of maximum torque at 4,400 rpm, two turbochargers; the gearbox was now a 6-speed manual from Getrag. Naturally, all-wheel drive, ATTESA E-TS (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All-Terrain), and of course HICAS (High Capacity Actively Controlled Steering) once again. A brand-new feature was the multifunctional display (MFD), which could show various telemetric data – an important precursor to today’s giant touchscreens; perhaps this very R34 took a wrong turn back then. (Pictures below: A completely ‘normal’ GT-R (one of 11,578), chassis number BNR34-001440, in Midnight Purple II (LV4) and a few NISMO upgrades (700 hp…). Auction: Broad Arrow, Villa d’Este 2026, estimated price of 325,000 to 400,000 euros…)
There was also the M-Spec, with a slightly more comfortable set-up and the finest leather – the true Gran Turismo; just 366 were sold. The car below, chassis number BNR34-402612, features a very special colour, Silica Brass; just 122 of all R34s were painted this way (Auction: Broad Arrow, Villa d’Este 2026, estimated price of 450,000 to 600,000 euros…).
The R34 was only built until 2002, after which stricter emissions regulations led to the definitive end of the RB26DETT, which dated back to the 1980s. But of course, shortly before production ended, there were a few special models: the GT-R V-spec II Nür and the GT-R M-spec Nür, with ‘Nür’ naturally standing for the Nordschleife. Both variants were fitted with the N1 racing version of the twin-turbo (primarily: larger turbos), whilst the power output officially remained at 280 hp (this was a gentleman’s agreement amongst Japanese manufacturers, and this figure was noted in the technical specifications), but on the test bench it was closer to 400. Originally, there were supposed to be a total of 300 units, but because they sold out within a few hours, Nissan produced a further 750 V-Specs, plus 250 M-Specs. (Pictures below: a V-Spec Nür, chassis number BNR34-403714, auction: Broad Arrow, Villa d’Este 2026, estimated price of 375,000 to 450,000 euros…)
One might think: that’s enough. But the Japanese still had those special touches up their sleeves, one of which is called S-Tune (the S stands for Street). At the famous Omori factory of Nissan’s racing division NISMO, 14 GT-Rs belonging to selected customers received this upgrade: sharper camshafts, larger turbos, a Weldina NE-1 exhaust system, better brakes, the G-Attack suspension, a few body kits (including a carbon rear spoiler), and forged 18-inch wheels from Rays Engineering. Inside, there was a bit more carbon fibre, a 320 km/h speedometer and a rev counter that went up to 11,000 rpm. This factory tuning cost 3.6 million yen at the time, an investment that is paying off extremely well today. (Pictures at the very top and bottom: chassis number BNR34-402314, in a stunning Bayside Blue. Auction: Broad Arrow, Villa d’Este 2026, estimated price of 500,000 to 700,000 euros…)
We have one more, a Clubman Race Spec (CRS). And here NISMO comes into play again, having launched a special restoration programme in the 2010s. Customers were allowed to bring in their GT-Rs, put down a substantial deposit – and after a year, they could collect a virtually new car. It featured a 2.8-litre engine (F-Sport R, with 500 hp), various new parts, a significantly improved chassis (including the Brembo brakes from the GT-R R35) and – in this case – a new paint finish in Gunmetal Grey (a nod to the R32). It is said that 20 examples of this CRS were produced over the years, effectively a factory-built restomod. (Pictures below: Chassis number BNR34-404238, originally an M-Spec. Auction: Broad Arrow, Villa d’Este 2026, estimated price of 700,000 to 850,000 euros…)
Exactly, there are more interesting Japanese cars under Sayonara. And then there’s the archive too.
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