# The Nissan Skyline: A Legendary Car with a Rich History

The Nissan Skyline was not always a Nissan car. In fact, it started as a luxury sedan under the Prince Motor Company name. To understand the evolution of this iconic car, we need to take a look at its past.

## From Prince to Nissan

After World War II, Prince Motor Company became known for producing electric cars. However, in 1952, they decided to move away from electric vehicles and ask engineer Shinichiro Sakurai to create a luxury car that could rival European and American brands of the time. Over the next decade, the Skyline would undergo several transformations, with the Prince team operating almost independently within Nissan until the R34 was phased out in 2002.

One fun fact about the early days of the Skyline is that according to insiders, Prince operated almost completely independently within Nissan until they were acquired by Nissan in 1966. This led to a significant change in the car's history, as Skyline became a Nissan brand overnight.

## The Birth of the GT-R

In 1969, the Skyline underwent its most dramatic transformation yet. The team extended the nose of the car to fit the S20 engine, which was a six-cylinder, 24-valve, twin-cam, triple two-barrel side draft beast that produced 160 horsepower at 7000 RPM. This new engine gave birth to the Skyline Gran Turismo Racer or GT-R.

The GT-R's impact on the racing circuit was immediate and profound. It transformed the car overnight and began embarrassing American and European drivers on the touring car circuits. Its success led Nissan to create a second generation of the GT-R just three years later.

## The Kenmery Era

To give the new GT-R an exotic, American vibe, Nissan marketed it with a series of commercials starring two American lovers named Ken and Mary. From then on, the second-generation GTR was known as the "Kenmery."

This era of the GT-R is legendary, but unfortunately, bad cars from the 1970s came with large gas guzzles, which coincided with the introduction of the car just before the gas crisis hit in the early 1980s. As a result, the GTR badge disappeared for about a decade.

## The R30 and Beyond

During this time, the Skyline soldiered on with the R30 generation, which produced a beautiful boxy design. The R30 RS-X Turbo was a mainstay of the Super Silhouette races in the 1980s, while the R31 GTS-R was purpose-built for Group A racing and won numerous touring car championships in Australia.

## The Golden Era: R32

In 1989, Nissan finally revived the GT-R brand with the Skyline R32 GTR. This straight-six engine, two turbochargers, all-wheel steering, and four-wheel drive setup marked the beginning of a new era for the Skyline.

Fun fact: although the R32 was listed as having 289 horsepower, it actually produced closer to 320 in reality due to a gentlemen's agreement among Japanese OEMs not to brag about their engines. This led to a significant impact on drifting, which had started taking off around this time. Nissan even created a GT-R model with rear-wheel drive, known as the GTS-T, specifically for drifting.

## The Dominance of Godzilla

The R32 was part of a golden era in Skylines that cemented its dominance. The subsequent R33 and R34 generations refined the design while maintaining minimal changes to the overall structure.

During this period, Nissan created numerous low-volume high-performance variations of the GT-R, including the Nismo and 400R models. The R34 even got the M-spec and V-spec Nür editions, which further solidified its legend among car enthusiasts.

## A Legacy for the Ages

The Nissan Skyline has become synonymous with power, performance, and exclusivity. With a rich history spanning over six decades, it's little wonder why many people picture the R32 when they hear "GTR." Whether you live in Japan or the United States, owning a Skyline GT-R is a dream for many car enthusiasts.

However, due to various regulations and restrictions, importing a Skyline GT-R in the US is heavily restricted. If you're one of the lucky few who can own this legendary car, congratulations!

In conclusion, the Nissan Skyline has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a luxury sedan under the Prince Motor Company name. Its legacy continues to inspire and captivate car enthusiasts worldwide, solidifying its place in automotive history forever.

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enStarted as a luxury sedan and ended as Godzilla.It wasn't available to most of us for decades,but it's an icon around the world. An evergreenstar of video games and movies, Nissan Skylineis the quint essence of forbidden fruit.In the late 90's Japanese import culture exploded and suddenly posters of JDM cars covered American teenagers walls:SuprasRX7's300zx's3000GT'sMR2'ss13'ss14'sIntegra'sEclipse'sCivic'sBut for many, one car stuck outtwin turbo, all-wheel-drive, it looked like a buff Maxima, and we weren't allowed to have it.This is everything you need to know aboutthe Nissan Skyline in less than 10 minutes.First things first, the Nissan Skyline wasn'talways a Nissan it was a Prince.What is a Prince you ask?Well in the years followingWorld War 2 Prince Motor Company was mostlyknown for making electric cars, but in 1952they moved away from electric and they askedengineer Shinichiro Sakurai, the godfatherof the Skyline, to create a luxury car torival the European and American brands ofthe day. Over the next decade the Skylinewould undergo a number of iterations, so wouldthe Prince Company. 1966, Prince was acquiredby Nissan, all of a sudden Skyline was a Nissan.Fun fact, according to insiders the Prince team operated almost completely independently within Nissan'til the R34 was phased out in 2002.May live in your house Nissan, butyou are not my real dad.You're not my dad! Ugly a**...In 1969 shit got real, team lengthenthe nose of the Skyline so they could fitthe S20; This is a six-cylinder, 24 valve,twin-cam, triple two barrel side draft badass,that made 160 horsepower at 7000 RPM. Theycalled it the Skyline Gran Turismo Racer orSkyline GTR!It transformed the car over nightand immediately started embarrassing the Americansand Europeans on the touring car circuits.The GT-R was successful enough to warranta second generation just three years later.Nissan wanted to present the car as havingan exotic, American vibe. So they marketedit with a series of amazing commercials starringtwo American lovers named Ken and Mary.KenMaryKen - MaryMary-KenAmericanHuh!From then on the second generation GTR was known as the kenmery.Now this car is a legend and its bad as f@$!, but unfortunatelybad as f@$! cars from the 70's ate a lot of gas and the gas crisis happened right afterthe car was introduced. That made the GTRbadge disappear for about a decade. The GTRmay have been dead but the Skyline soldieredon with the R30 generation.It's a good looking car,Boxy.The R30 RS-X Turbo was a mainstayof the Super Silhouette races of the 1980s.Later, the R31 GTS-R was purpose-built for Group A racing and won a ton touring carchampionships in Australia so not sweatingit.As the eighties continued gas crisis disappeared, Japanese economy recovered, Nissan got moremoney, and they were finally able to focuson the GTR brand that they abandoned a decadeearlier. In 1989 the Skyline R32 GTR debuted.It had a straight six, two turbos, all wheelsteering, and four wheel drive. This is thebeginning of the Skyline that most of youguys know. This is the beginning of Godzilla.Fun Fact, although the R32 was listed as having289 horsepower, it really had closer to 320.This was part of a gentlemen's agreement betweenall the Japanese OEM to not brag about theirhorsepower. Around the time that the R32 debuteddrifting started taking off and Nissan hada Skyline for that too. The GTS-T was basicallythe same as the GTR, but it was rear wheel drive.Which means it's good for skids aroundthe cornerslinking it.The R32 kick of the 90's which is the golden era of Skylines. The R33 and R34 only cemented the dominance ofGodzilla!The changes between this three generationsare minimal, they lightened up the front end,improved structural rigidity, moved the battery to theback, made the hicas electric, and improvedaero and updated the cosmetics. This is theSkyline we fell in love with.This is the car that made it a legend. This is the reasonfor Brian O'conner/Spilner.This is what many people picture when they hear GTR.During this time Nissan made a number of low volume high-performance variance of the GTR.Nismo, Nissan's racing divisions turned the R33 into the 400R. A 400 horsepower GTR.HuhLater the R34got the M-spec and V-spec Nur editions.Now it's the late ninetiesR32R33R34 have made the GTR a legend. People are importing themto the UKto Australiato New Zealand,but if you live in the States you cant have one unless you're Paul Walker."dude I almost had you."In 2001 Nissan updated the Skyline to the V35.No longer a straight six now it'sa V six, and hey we even got it in Americaas a naturally aspirated two wheel drive Infiniti."dumbass"Sweet thanks. For now, the GTR was dead again.Or was it?In 2007 Nissan announcedit wasn't dead and it was coming to America.And it was twin turboed and it was all wheeldrive and it's not a Skyline.It's just the Nissan GTR. looks kinda like a fat 350z. Isit a Skyline? Is it a continuation of thelegendary Godzilla? Let us know in the comments.If the there is other things that you thinkpeople should know. Let us know. If you likethis format let us know what you want us to coverIf you hate my face, let me know. If you want me to die, please tell me how.Please subscribe, comment, and share.