There have been a lot of amazing JDM cars, but the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 somehow holds a special place in every gearhead's heart. Since its debut in 1999, the car has become legendary for its performance, looks, and being produced in such small numbers only added to its appeal. It earned international fame by being featured in the Fast and Furious movies, and while technically legal for the U.S., it still falls under the import ban until 2024.
With that date approaching, the R34's price is suddenly skyrocketing. Some models can go for nearly half a million dollars, and it's possible the price may rise even more in the next few years. The reasons vary from the general love of JDM cars to '90s nostalgia, but the true reason is how iconic this car and its performance have been. While it may be out of the price range of many consumers, the R34's rising prices prove why it's such a beloved hypercar.
7 It's Still Not Legal For Import
A reason why the R34 might be rising in value is that its predecessors are dropping in price. For a time, the R32 was also pretty expensive, but that changed when it became import-legal for the U.S. and prices dropped. The R33 likewise is seeing shifts now that it's more available.
With the R34 ready to become importable in 2024, the interest level is much higher and the attention has shifted from its predecessors. JDM buffs can go more for the "newest" thing, and thus the R34's price rises as its competitors fall.
6 They Were Never Cheap, To Begin With
It's one thing for a relatively cheap car to rise gain value; it's another when an already expensive car takes to the collector's market. In 1999, a new R34 cost $45,000, which would be closer to $71,000 in 2021. Thanks to the lower production numbers and the unique rarer variants, the prices have slowly escalated, combined with a new love for both JDM cars and '90s machines.
What looked like a high price tag over two decades ago now seems like a bargain for a car that can go over $300,000 from some dealers.
5 The Tech Is Still Brilliant
Even with all the advances in hypercars in the last several years, the R34 still possesses some stunning tech. The highlight is the ATTESA ET-S all-wheel-drive system. The R34 managed to add more power to the wheels thanks to a computer system with stunning split-second adjustments with more than 50% more power going to the front.
That allows the car to take on corners nicely and it's part of the reason why the R34 feels like a brand-new sports car on the track. Mix that with the ahead-of-its-time interior tech like multi-function screens, and the R34 brilliantly holds up today.
4 The Performance Is Legendary
At the end of the day, the real reason the R34 is so expensive is simple: it's one of the most thrilling cars of its era. The 2.6-liter GT500 RB26DETT is an iconic engine that could produce 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque stock, allowing for a 0-60 mph time of 4.6 seconds.
Nissan then boosted it with turbochargers, so some models could get nearly 330 hp. It felt even faster than the 165-mph top speed alongside the wonderful handling.
3 They're Rarer Than You'd Think
Of the original run of the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, 2709 of the base model were made, although many ended up being damaged in accidents. The total number of R34s out there, counting all variants is 11,578. This is a good number, but models in mint condition are tricky to find. That includes the ultra-rare NISMO Z-Tune, which was only produced in 19 models, with one selling for $400,000.
Likewise, the V-Spec II N 1 was only 18 models. The rarity of these even better versions of an already stunning car is the reason why the rest of the R34 line is going up in price.
2 Modders Love Tricking It Out
It's true that modding a car in real life is a lot tricker than the Fast and the Furious movies make it look. However, the R34 is enjoyed by modders for how well they can trick it out. Thanks to engines being made to handle way more power than they produce, custom injectors and turbos can easily push the power to over 500 hp.
There's also advancing the handling and the exhaust to boost the speed more. The genius here is, because the R34 is already a great car, there's not as much work modifying it into a performance monster.
1 The Fast And The Furious Movies
Movies have a way of making some cars look even cooler than they already are, and this is true of none more than the Fast and the Furious movies. Paul Walker's character used the 1999 Skyline GT-R R34 in 2 Fast 2 Furious as a standout car.
Walker later used a 2002 model for 2009's Fast & Furious. He didn't just drive the car on camera either; an R34 was one of Paul Walker's favorite personal cars.
Even before the JDM culture became popular in the U.S., fans could drive these cars in the popular video game Gran Turismo. After seeing it on-screen for so long, who wouldn't be eager to finally get one of these icons for themselves in real life?
Sources: caranddriver.com, hagertys.com, forbes.com, autowise.com