Nissan Pulsar GTI-R: Spotted

It's Japan's Delta Integrale, right?

Homologation specials are always a source of much discussion and admiration on PH. We love motorsport, so any car that can legitimately claim some competition influence is good news by us. That so many homologation models have made exceptional road cars - not surprising really - only helps their reputation further.

You could say boring, or you could say unassuming...

Those cars that have long since sealed their reputation as great racing cars as well as brilliant road cars have been climbing in value for a while. The BMW M3, Lancia Delta Integrale, Ford Sierra Cosworth and Audi Quattro spring to mind immediately as cars that have achieved success on and off the track, or stage.

Certain cars have become more difficult to predict the success of. The Toyota Celica GT-Four was a very good road car and did well in the WRC too but isn't that covetable now. Or yet. That Skyline GT-R NISMO we featured last year was way less than some of its touring car equivalents, despite its incredible reputation.

So there have to be some subjective elements to how certain homologation cars become desirable. In no case is that more evident than the Nissan Pulsar GTI-R, or Sunny as it would have been known in the UK. Visually it's about the dumpiest hatchback in history, even with the GTI-R embellishments. Yet it cloaked a very interesting powertrain and the car did eventually achieve some rally success, albeit in Group N rather than Group A.

You thought it was plain outside

The GTI-R was powered by a unique version of the SR20DET used in the 200SX also, producing 230hp and 210lb ft. The Autocar road test timed it to 60mph in 5.4 seconds and 14.2 to 100mph. It's certainly a quick car, and Nissan's clever ATTESA four-wheel drive was standard also. The Internet says it was too nose heavy for true rallying success, and that the top-mounted intercooler restricted it also. But as a British road car package it looks enticing, particularly being so small as well. Nobody say Subaru Impreza now...

This car is an entirely standard Japanese import Pulsar, right down to its very ordinary alloy wheels. It's a fascinating mismatch of the incredibly tedious Nissan hatch with the in-yer-face rally rep. It's not pretty, but there's a huge amount of geek appeal here. People who don't know cars won't notice it, people who know a little will think it's a chavved-up old hatch and only the proper nerds will really appreciate what this really is. To see a standard GTI-R looking so pristine will probably send them into a fever. That wheelarch gap!

It's hard to make a rational case for a Pulsar at £10K, but what a treat to see such a car so unmolested. There's all manner of Subaru or Mitsubishi you could buy instead, but for ultimate rally rep rarity the Pulsar might be the best of all.

NISSAN PULSAR GTI-R
Engine: 1,998cc, turbocharged inline-4
Transmission: 5-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 230@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 197@4,800rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: 279g/km
First registered: 1993
Recorded mileage: N/A
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £9,995