Tuesday 21st May 2013

Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R: Spotted

Box-fresh, delivery mileage R34 or a nearly-new R35? It's a £50K dilemma for any Skyline fanatic...

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So the Gran Turismo franchise is 15 years old this year. As well as making gamers the world over feel their age, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to celebrate one of the game's iconic cars.

Exactly as it left Nissan's production line

Along with a myriad of Mitsubishi Evos, Subaru Imprezas and Mazda RX-7s, Kazunori Yamauchi's PlayStation title revealed to the West the freakish talents of the Nissan Skyline GT-R. In R32, 33 and 34 versions, the game reflected its real world virtues with great accuracy; specifically, an engine that responded fantastically to modification and huge levels of grip from advanced 4WD and chassis technology.

The grey import scene flourished thanks to Gran Turismo, drivers keen to get their hands on the latest JDM rocket denied to British buyers. Nissan was keen to exploit the game's success and imported 80 UK-spec Skyline R34 GT-Rs in 1999 for baying enthusiasts.

Finding a British R34 (or indeed one of the 100 R33s from 1997) is a thankless task now given the tiny numbers, and the majority of the imported cars are modified to full Brian O'Conner Fast and Furious spec. But not all of them...

An unmolested R34 is rare - a 600-mile one?

Redline Vehicle Solutions has sourced a Japanese 2001 R34 Skyline GT-R, resplendent in metallic black with the trademark gold calipers, with a recorded mileage of just 1,120km (695 miles). It has to be one of the lowest mileages on any R34 globally.

It comes from Garage Defend in Japan, a renowned Skyline specialist and appears completely stock. Speaking with Redline confirmed that its £49,990 asking price is an on-the-road price, complete with SVA approval papers, de-limited and fully road legal in Britain.

Now Chris Harris isn't an R34 fan, and many others prefer the earlier iterations, but this car presents a fascinating conundrum for those to whom a later Skyline appeals; would £50,000 be spent best on this R34, or on a used R35 GT-R.

If you want to use it would this be better?

Searching the PH Classifieds for R35s reveals a wide selection of early GT-Rs at significantly less than £50,000, and even a couple of 2011 MY cars, upgraded to 530hp. Which to choose? The R34 would certainly occupy a special place in any collection, but each mile that passed under those anthracite alloys would further reduce its value. Realistically, is any R34 Skyline ever likely to be worth more than £50,000? Moreover, if you can't buy a Skyline to drive it, what's the point? It's hardly a car of static beauty, after all...

 

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NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R R34 V-SPEC
Engine: 2,568cc 6-cylinder, twin-turbo
Transmission: 6-speed manual, four-wheel drive
Power (hp): 280@6,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 289@4,400rpm
0-62mph: 5.2 sec
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Weight: 1,666kg
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Price: £54,000 (new, UK version)

All figures as officially stated for standard, unmodified UK car

See the orginal ad here.

 

 

 

 

[clarki]

See, I really dont think the R34 has aged particularly well, especially when compared to the sharp looks of the 35.

An R32 on the other hand, godzilla, spot on.

[GroundEffect]

1666kg? I didn't think they were that heavy. The R35 must be A LOT faster.

[k-ink]

To use it would be madness. There are loads of used examples for that purpose. Buy it, store it, watch it double in price.

[toppstuff]

The R34 just looks like an old Japanese car.

The R35 was and remains a game changer.

[Jazzy Jefferson]

toppstuff said:

The R35 was and remains a game changer.

Wasn't the same said about the R34 when it came out?

I love the R34, its my dream car. One day I will have one.

[TommyBuoy]

The R34 has not aged well. With so little mileage it would by crazy to actually use the thing and there are faster, better looking cars out there for the price.

I would buy it and sit and stare at it.

It is the car that got me into cars (playstation era hero).

Anyone who gets an R35 over this is missing the point.

[Krikkit]

k-ink said:

To use it would be madness. There are loads of used examples for that purpose. Buy it, store it, watch it double in price.

This - if you have any hopes of retaining some of that £50k it needs wrapping in cotton wool.

[nightwalker]

The 34 & 35 just look like big heavy clumsy lumps, both epically quick and fantastic at what they're designed to do but neither is a looker. Always prefered the look of the 33 myself.

[Alfa159Ti]

nightwalker said:

The 34 & 35 just look like big heavy clumsy lumps, both epically quick and fantastic at what they're designed to do but neither is a looker. Always prefered the look of the 33 myself.

They may not be lookers, but they sure as hell have presence.

[drophead]

nightwalker said:

The 34 & 35 just look like big heavy clumsy lumps, both epically quick and fantastic at what they're designed to do but neither is a looker. Always prefered the look of the 33 myself.

In the next couple of years, the R34 will become a 'design classic'. I remember looking at the R33 10 years ago and thinking what a boring and ugly thing it was.

I'd happily have this R34 in my collection. A delivery mileage R34 will be worth a stupid amount in the next decade as it's such a rare occurrence to see this type of car unmodified and not driven!

[liner33]

This one has been around for a while

I dunno the R34 GTR is a great car but the R35 is in a different league , depends on if you want a car to drive or a car to polish really

[k-ink]

The R35 is of course faster. But then the R36 will be faster again. Speed is not really the point. The R34 is an icon for a generation. It is also mega rare, which the R35 certainly is not!

[exceed]

If only it wasn't black .

[radiodario]

I really like both cars, but to me, an unmolested R34 has a more exclusive feel than an R35 - I see like 5 of those everyday on my cycle back home.

[cuda]

'iconic cars'? Discuss...

[Andy ap]

I dont know about you (in general) but i know which i'd rather buy and it wont be the new one regardless of how revolutionary it is. The R34 just oozes coolness (to some people) esp' (if we forget the F&F scene) in standard trim and it looks far better than the new one. If you can say either of them look good? Ironically the skyline has never really floated my boat for some reason even though the R33/34 was from an era when turbo's and 4WD was cool but now thats just the norm. I dont know enough about them but computers controlling a 4WD boosted car now i think is just 'ordinary' for this kinda car. Back when the former was out it was advanced and futuristic.

Sorry i cant convey my point better.

Edited by Andy ap on Tuesday 21st May 10:43

[SimonSaid]

If we're talking which GTR was the best looking, I've long thought the R32 was the most well-proportioned and subtle looking, if you can find one unmolested (or de-molest one, if you're brave...)

[LukeR94]

exceed said:

If only it wasn't black .

Cant agree more, Bayside blue or Midnight purple for me....


Stunning cars, inspired a generation (including me)

As will the R35 will do...

[DeanoM12]

I'm sure the R35 is pretty much a superior car in all areas. But for me, the R34 has the "right" engine. Love the rb26

[cirian75]

until the R35, I preferred the R32 in GTR form.