1995 Nissan Skyline GTST

This example isn’t the aforementioned range-topping GTR, instead it’s the rear-wheel drive GTS-T model. That’s not the only difference either, compared to the GTR, as its engine is shy 100cc of displacement and a single turbo. When it comes to Skylines however, your money goes a whole lot further with a GTS-T. Its price however, is far from the car’s only appeal; many also prefer the outright rear-wheel-drive handling of the lighter GTS-T.

In outright performance, the GTS-T does play second fiddle to the GTR, at least as far as factory standard figures go, but how many old Skylines have you come across that are still factory original? These figures aren’t to be trusted anyway as the RB26DET engine in the GTR was supposed to ‘only’ develop 276bhp, whereas it actually developed over 300bhp. When it comes to the GTS-T, that apparently makes 247bhp (on paper) but, due to its single turbo arrangement, it’s even easier and cheaper to tune than a GTR, with comparable 300+bhp performance very easily achievable.

First registered in the UK in March 1999, this 1995-built GTS-T comes with clever HICAS four-wheel steering, air-conditioning and plenty of electric creature comforts in its tidy cloth-lined cabin. The car has also just been granted a fresh MoT, which won’t need renewing until December 2024.

Painted in Silver (KL0), this R33 Skyline generally presents well, with straight panels and excellent, uniform panel gaps. Even those on the front and rear bumpers look superb, suggesting this car has avoided any parking bumps. However, there are the usual mid-1990s Nissan patches of rust evident. These appear to be predominantly limited to the backs of the sills and the rear wheel arches; although clearly, we can’t guarantee there’s not more hiding under the various areas of body kit and trim. We did see another small area of corrosion on the bottom of the offside front wing, for example. 

These cars are by no means strangers to corrosion of course, but with strong specialist support, many of whom have become a dab hand at fixing these issues, rectification needn’t cost a fortune. This is what the vendor had to say on the matter; “The exterior is still looking very well for its age. It does come with the odd stone chip but that's to be expected. Its only exterior problems are the usual Skyline rear arches. They’re bubbling and have a slight crack on one side. There is also a small patch on one of the sills, but it feels solid, so I believe it's just surface rust.”

On the bright side, there’s a good set of Davanti tyres, though these have been stretched to fit those attractive aftermarket (JAV Designs) rims – especially at the back. The paint finish on the majority of the car looks good and seems to shine up well, with uniform colour throughout. Light lenses and glass also generally look great, with the former shunning the usual unsightly clouding or condensation. The front licence plate shows a little delamination and, out back, there’s the obligatory exhaust exit nearly large enough to fit your head in. 

The inside of this Skyline seems to have survived even better than its exterior. The cloth seats remain largely unmarked – though there is small stain to the passenger seat base. The usual thinning of the material on the driver’s outer bolster has only just taken hold and hasn’t degraded to the point where it’s torn. 

The dashboard and clocks look good, without any unsightly cracks, though there are plenty of light scratches and peeling to some of the regular used areas (driver’s electric window switches, dash around the steering wheel and HVAC controls). Leather covering the steering wheel and gear knob however, seem to have fared far better. 

We couldn’t fully assess the condition of the carpets – as there’s a set of snazzy zebra-coloured mats covering them – but from what we could see, they appeared to be in good order. Carpet in the boot and trim in general are looking good, though we did spot some staining from corrosion to the lifters and around the boot lid drains.

As seems to be the norm with imported 1990s Japanese machinery, the engine bay has been treated to some bright coloured hoses. In this instance we’re talking blue eye-catching silicone to connect the coolant and intake circuits. While we’re under the bonnet, there’s some corrosion to the suspension strut tops evident, as well as oxidisation to the alloy parts (rocker cover and intake).

We spotted plenty of surface corrosion underneath this Nissan, though we could only get a good look under the rear. While poking around here we spotted that the exhaust backbox has been previously welded (not very neatly) and the patch is encouraging further corrosion. The vendor had more to say on the matter; “It's had all four coils and dampers replaced, plus it's had a new windscreen in the past 12 months too. In my ownership, the Skyline has been dry stored, so hasn't seen any rain/water in the past 14 months. The wheels could do with a slight restoration. The underside is really good too, it could do with a brush off and oil waxing. It also has an Apexi cat-back exhaust system that really gives it an aggressive sound, but also doesn't drone badly on longer journeys.”

The car comes with a V5C and a long MOT, and the only marker on the HPI check is for it being an imported vehicle.

The Skyline GTR is already performance car royalty, with a price tag to match. The GTS-T might lack the halo appeal of its more celebrated cousin, though that does mean you can get a fantastic Skyline for a fraction of the cost of a GTR. That’s even before you delve into the rear-wheel drive thrills and ease of tuning of this model over its more grippy cousin. In short, if you want to own an R33 Skyline – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t – this could make a great option. We estimate that it will sell for £12,000-£16,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located with the vendor in Wigton, Cumbria. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.