The Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 has become a Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cult classic. Loved by car enthusiasts across the world, the GT-R R34 is outstanding in many ways. Also being a part of the Fast and Furious franchise and Gran Turismo, the car is a big part of many childhoods and is a nostalgic car for many. But while almost every car enthusiast has heard of the GT-R, many are surprisingly still unfamiliar with its history and why it's such an important JDM.
That being the case, we believe it is important to keep people reminded of them so the car community can discuss and share information on such a fantastic car. Here's everything you might have forgotten about the Nissan Skyline GTR R34.
9 Stock price
The cost of buying a Nissan Skyline GTR R34 now has increased massively due to the interest in the JDM market and the high amount of enthusiasts wanting a GTR R34. Indeed, for the V-Spec N1 and V-Spec II N1 models, the price is high, and for the M-Spec Nür models, the price can easily fetch nearly half a million dollars.
However, for a stock Nissan Skyline R34 GTR, the price is more reasonable, even if it is sky-high. Costing around $175,000 is by no means cheap but is a reflection of the desirability of a quickly emerging classic car.
8 Illegal in the US - but it can be owned
The Nissan Skyline R34 GTR is illegal to drive on US roads due to environmental standards. Even while the 25-year law allows the car to be legally imported from 2024 (with all models being legally allowed to be imported from 2027), this doesn't necessarily mean that the car will be approved to be driven because of environmental legislation.
However, one can import the car and use it as a race car or a drag car, making it legal in this regard but it would not be legal to drive on US roads. It can also be owned as a show car but again it cannot be driven on the roads which is a clever workaround for such an iconic car.
7 However, you can import the car to make it road legal
One way of owning a Nissan Skyline R34 GTR is to pay a registered importer to modify the car to make it compliant under federal standards, which means that the car can be then driven on US roads. This fact isn't often known about the Skyline R34 GTR and it can cost quite a buck too. Combining this with the cost of the vehicle and shipping fees, along with taxes it would easily rack up the expenditure of the vehicle.
As such, even though the car may be expensive, it is certainly worth it if enthusiasts are after a gem of a car that is a cultural icon. Just be prepared for a federalized R34 Skyline to behave differently to a factory JDM mode.
6 'Wangan Blue' Color
The original name of the iconic blue color was actually named 'Wangan Blue'. However, Nissan changed its name to Bayside Blue after they wished to avoid any affiliation with the Mid-Night Club which was an illegal Japanese street racing club where people would drive around the Bayshore Wangan route between Tokyo and Yokohama at midnight.
After a multi-car wreck, Nissan changed the name to 'Bayside Blue' and it has been the same ever since. It is also by far the most iconic color associated with the R34 Skyline.
5 VQ30DETT engine was better, but not the same
The GT500 RB26DETT was an iconic engine used in the Nissan Skyline GTR R34, and it performed incredibly well. Producing 276 hp stock while being able to power the car to go 0-60 mph in 5 seconds was impressive and it was a dream to tune. However, Nissan decided to switch to the VQ30DETT racing engine as the original engine struggled to keep up with its competition in motorsport.
The engine was used in the JGTC racing cars from 2002 to 2003, and it was actually a very formidable engine. It was actually better in terms of racing it earned Nissan, with them reaching much success with the engine, and it could keep up with the competition.
4 Only 19 Z-Tunes Ever Made
The Nissan Skyline GTR R34 came with plenty of special editions, and the Z-Tune was an incredibly famous one. There were only 19 ever produced and they came with 493 hp as produced by the 2.8-liter turbocharged RB28DETT I6 engine (bored out from the 2.6-liter one in the standard).
18 of the cars came with the silver color, but there is a purple one (called Midnight Purple III) that exists at the request of a private buyer. The Z-Tune models are considered to be the best models and are insanely desirable.
3 V-Spec N1 Models
The V-Spec models brought firmer suspension to the GTR R34, alongside front and sider splitters and the 'Pro' AWD system. Then came the V-Spec N1 models which were made for homologation and they were very much the hardcore sports car that we know that Nissan is capable of making.
These models also had no boot linings and lighter air-con and rear wiper to reduce weight. The car was mostly sold to racing teams and tuning companies before bringing the V-Spec II which enhanced the stiffness of the suspension even more and brought a low-drag air inlet to the car. Indeed, the Nissan Skyline GTR R34 was a very powerful car and the V-Spec models are loved by JDM enthusiasts.
2 Was the last Skyline GTR
The Nissan Skyline GTR name was finished after the R34, with the R35 being the 'GT-R R35". In terms of history, this is important as the Skyline remains to be remembered as an icon for the brand and it is a name that the JDM enthusiasts love. While it did succeed the Skyline GT-R, the Skyline name is now associated with Nissan's luxury-sport vehicles.
While still sharing the Nissan Skyline luxury car platform, the Nissan FM platform, the R35 isn't the same in terms of history and cult status as the R34. The R34 being the last Skyline is nostalgic and reflective of the JDM supremacy that the car continues to have.
1 The engine was supposed to be a V6
Despite coming with the highly revered RB26DETT engine, the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 was actually supposed to come with a V6 engine. Indeed, when the Nissan GT-R R35 came with a V6 engine, many were unimpressed but its history is actually embedded in the GT-R R34 and it was the brand's first choice for the engine.
However, monetary problems meant that Nissan had to equip the RB26DETT engine instead. Coming with the I6 engine instead may have simply been a money saver, but things could have been very different with the V6.