Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R: “The Return of Godzilla”
In January of 1999, Nissan introduced arguably the most recognizable Japanese sports car the world has ever seen.
With racing pedigree unlike no other due to the previous GT-R generations and powered by the equally as legendary RB engines, the R34 is still to this day considered by many to be the “golden child” of the Skyline GT-R family. To improve upon the R33, which some customers considered to be bulky, Nissan shortened the car and reduced the front overhang, which gave the car an overall sleeker look.
Features on the R34 included an LCD display on the dashboard which showed engine statistics, and like its predecessor it also came with the legendary ATTESA ET-S all-wheel drive system. The even more performance-oriented V-Spec variant came with the Pro variant of the ATTESA along with a firmer suspension, lower ride height, and a carbon fiber diffuser. The top-tier V-Spec N1 model, in which only 38 cars were ever produced with 12 of it being used by Nismo [Nissan’s in-house performance division] for motorsports and the rest being sold pretty much only to racing teams and tuning companies, received the same treatment and was sold without AC, audio equipment, and rear trunk lining along with a special N1 engine.
The car ran an unofficial 7:52 lap on the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife, breaking the R33’s record which was the second fastest road-legal production car of the time. Nissan continued improving upon the R34 platform with the introduction of the subsequent V-Spec II variations.
In motorsports, the R34, much like its predecessors were wildly popular in disciplines such as touring car racing, endurance racing, and was also a popular choice within the tuning scene globally.
The R34 went on to become a pop culture icon being featured in different movies and pretty much every racing game ever.
