Skyline Legends

Kris

Hey everyone, welcome back to Everything to Know About Cars. I'm the man the myth the legend Kris, and as always, I'm here with my co host donald. Today, we're diving into the Skyline Legends—man, this is a story I love.

donald

Yeah, Kris, this one's special. The Nissan Skyline GT-R, it's got a history that goes way back, even before it was a GT-R. Started with the Prince Motor Company, right?

Kris

Exactly. Prince Motor Company, before they merged with Nissan in the '60s, they were already making the Skyline as this kinda luxury sedan. But then, 1969 rolls around, and boom—the first GT-R, the PGC10, shows up. That S20 engine, 2.0-liter DOHC inline-six, 160 horsepower. For the time, that was wild.

donald

And it wasn't just about the numbers, man. That car, the Hakosuka—people call it that 'cause it's like "hako" for box and "suka" for Skyline—just dominated Japanese touring car racing. I mean, it was a sedan, but it was out there beating everything else on the track.

Kris

Yeah, and then they dropped the two-door coupe version in '71, and that thing just looked mean. I actually saw a Hakosuka at a car show in Long Beach a couple years back. I swear, it stopped everyone in their tracks. You could just feel the respect, you know? It's not just a car, it's like a piece of racing history sitting right there.

donald

I get that. Those early GT-Rs, they really set the tone for Japanese motorsports. They showed the world Japan could build something that could win, not just look good. And, honestly, I think that's what made the Skyline name legendary from the jump.

Kris

Totally. It's wild to think it started as a luxury sedan and then just—transformed. The Hakosuka's racing wins, the vibe, the whole thing. It laid the groundwork for everything that came after.

donald

So after the Hakosuka, you get the Kenmeri Skyline in '73. That one, man, it's rare—like, only 197 units made. They called it Kenmeri 'cause of that ad campaign with Ken and Mary, which is kinda funny, but it stuck. Still had the S20 engine, but it was more of a collector's thing than a racer.

Kris

Yeah, and then you fast forward to the '80s, you get the R30 and R31. The R30 had all these body styles—sedan, coupe, wagon, even a hatchback. The RS Turbo, that was the hot one, with the FJ20E engine, and then they turbocharged it. The R31, though, that's where you get the "Red Top" RB20DET and the first HICAS four-wheel steering. That was some next-level tech for the time.

donald

But the real game-changer, for me, is the R32 GT-R. That car, man, it was like Nissan just said, "We're going all in." The RB26DETT engine, twin-turbo, all-wheel drive with the ATTESA system, Super-HICAS four-wheel steering. They called it "Godzilla" for a reason—it just destroyed everything in Japanese touring car racing. Undefeated streak, if I remember right.

Kris

Yeah, the R32 is just legendary. And, you know, the R33 and R34 kept pushing it. The R33 had better aerodynamics, stiffer chassis, and it was the first production car to break eight minutes at the Nürburgring. That's nuts. The R34, though, that's the one everyone drools over now. Multifunction display, all the tech, and those special editions with the N1 engine. It's like the ultimate evolution before the GT-R went solo as the R35.

donald

I gotta tell you, Kris, first time I saw an R32 in person was at a Fresno street meet. I was probably in my twenties, and this guy just rolled up, right-hand drive, that RB26 sound. Everybody just crowded around it. It was like seeing a UFO, man. You knew you were looking at something special, even if you didn't know all the specs.

Kris

That's the thing, right? The R32, R33, R34—they're not just fast, they're engineering icons. They took what was possible in a street car and just—pushed it. And you could feel it, even if you weren't a car nerd. It's like, you just knew.

donald

And then, man, the GT-R just blew up in pop culture. Fast and Furious, video games—Gran Turismo, Need for Speed, all that. Suddenly, everybody wanted a Skyline, even if they'd never seen one in real life.

Kris

Yeah, and it's not just the movies. The GT-R badge became this symbol—like, if you had a Skyline, you were part of something bigger. The Kenmeri, the Hakosuka, the R34—all these rare editions, they're collector gold now. I mean, the prices are just... I don't even wanna look at auction results anymore, it hurts.

donald

For real. Some of those classic GT-Rs, especially the Kenmeri, they're so rare now, it's like owning a piece of art. And the R34s, man, those things are skyrocketing in value. It's wild to think a car that was once just a cool import is now a six-figure legend.

Kris

I think it's 'cause the Skyline GT-R isn't just about speed or tech. It's about innovation, yeah, but also this mystique. Like, it's always been a little out of reach, a little mysterious. And that just makes people want it more. It's a symbol of what Japanese engineering can do when they go all out.

donald

Yeah, and it's not just car folks, either. The GT-R's got this cultural weight now. It's in movies, games, music—it's everywhere. And every time you see one, you know there's a story behind it. That's why it's a legend, man.

Kris

Couldn't have said it better. The Skyline GT-R is more than a car—it's a movement. And honestly, I can't wait to see where the legend goes next. But that's all for today. Thanks for hanging out with us, donald. Always a blast, man.

donald

Yeah, Kris, always good talking cars with you. Thanks to everyone listening—catch us next time for more stories from the road. Take care, y'all.

Kris

See you next time, everybody. Stay curious, keep driving.