The Nissan GT-R turns 50

This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most beloved and famous high-performance car families in the industry. Of course, we are talking about the GT-R models of Nissan, a car that will be celebrated at the NISMO Festival next month in Japan, alongside the Nissan Z family.

In 1969, Nissan introduced its first Skyline GT-R as a model exclusive to the Japanese market. Initially it was sold only as a four-door saloon and, from March 1971, it was also offered as a two-door coupé. Power was provided by a 2.0-litre DOHC S20 straight-six engine delivering 165 CV at 7,000 rpm and 176 Nm of torque at 5,600 rpm, all of which was sent to the rear wheels through a five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential.

In 1973, Nissan began building the second-generation Skyline GT-R, also with a S20 engine straight-six, rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual gearbox. Only 197 units were built due to mediocre demand for high-performance vehicles caused by the global energy crisis. From 1973 to 1989, the GT-R badge was absent from the history books.

When the Skyline GT-R returned for its third generation, it marked the beginning of a new era of performance for the Nissan brand. The R32 generation model was designed with Group A racing in mind and debuted with the iconic RB26DETT 2.6-litre turbocharged straight-six engine, with a claimed 280 CV at 6,800 rpm and 353 Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjUjo14Ck_c&feature=emb_logo

Nissan GT-R, 50 years make for a lot

The success of the R32 encouraged Nissan to continue the Skyline GT-R nameplate for a fourth generation with the introduction of the R33 in 1995. It was sold as a two-door coupé and a four-door saloon and was produced in a large number of different variants, including the 400R model, which was limited to just 44 units worldwide.

In 1999, it was time for the fifth generation of the GT-R, called the R34. The RB26 engine remained and the car received a large number of mechanical and technological updates and improvements. This model has become a coveted object of desire for sports car enthusiasts, and some have even dared to import it directly from Japan for the privilege of getting behind the wheel. Quite an achievement! In addition, this model gained great prominence thanks to the first instalment of the Fast & Furious film saga, in which Brian O’Conner, Paul Walker, was behind the wheel.

When production of the R34 ended, Nissan decided to separate the GT-R model from the Skyline family and launched the R35 GT-R in 2008. It is still in production today, and earlier this year it presented a special 50th anniversary edition. Here’s to another 50 years of the GT-R, at least…