1993 Nissan SKYLINE R32 GT-R

The true appeal of this Nissan is that it managed to survive the first seven years of its life in Japan without being meddled with. And then, when it came to Britain in 2010 (via noted Skyline specialist Middlehurst Nissan), subsequent keepers also resisted the temptation to do what happens to so many Skylines, and tweak and tune it. As a result, it’s a GT-R as Nissan intended back when it built in summer 1993.

‘It’s not been chipped or breathed on in any way,’ says its current owner James, although he does note that the steering wheel seems to have been retrimmed at some point. This lack of messing is potentially good news for the car’s mechanical health; for example, too much boost can cause the turbocharger blades to shatter and take out the engine when they do. The comparatively low 76,720 miles - as the recorded 123,464km on the odometer equates to - is also a positive. High mileages can result in issues such as oil pump failures, but the sub-100k figure of this one should be reassuring to any prospective owner.  

Almost half of all R32 GT-Rs wore Gun Metal Grey paintwork, so the rarer Crystal White of this one is refreshing. And it suits the imposing angular lines very well. In sunlight, the car positively glows - it’s certainly eye-catching. Overall condition is generally excellent, and all the more extraordinary when you consider the originality; its three recorded owners have obviously looked after it very conscientiously for it to survive in this sort of order after 27 years. Even the inside of the fuel cap flap is spick-and-span, with a scattering of Japanese stickers still in place.

The purity includes the proper Nissan alloys, which are free from any scuffing. Even the centre caps with their idiosyncratic ‘We produce with Spartan air’ slogans (a reference to filling the tyres with nitrogen) are all present and correct, and the Nissan-branded calipers behind the spokes are so clean that they look like they could have been fitted recently. There are a few stonechips here and there, on the wheels and caps, but nothing to really detract from their overall appearance. The rims are clad in matching Yokohama Ecos ES300 225/50 R16 92V tyres and although there’s plenty of grip left, the rubber does date from 2007.

Being so original and untouched, the body does invariably display a few blemishes. There’s some minor cracking on the bumper adjacent to the left-hand side air intake and some paint missing from its right-hand counterpart. The lower front spoiler exhibits some stonechipping on its right-hand side and scraping underneath (not visible in everyday viewing – your reviewer also took the photographs and had to crawl beneath to see it). There are also a few spots of missing paint under the bootlid lock and some tape holding the cracked right-hand side reversing light lens together. Elsewhere, it looks like some sort of skid pad has been removed from the underneath of the front of the left-hand side bodyskirt - again, it’s not noticeable under normal viewing, you need to get underneath to see it - and the right-hand bodyskirt trim is slightly loose towards its front, presumably thanks to a tired clip. Some of the wheelarch lips display light chipping and the left-hand bonnet hinge mounting stands slightly proud compared to its counterpart on the other side.

However, such small imperfections are hardly surprising on a car over a quarter of a century old, and should be easily rectified if a new owner wants utter flawlessness. To our mind though, they’re all part of the car’s story and do not take anything away from what is a very handsome and arresting example of the R32 breed.

The numberplates sport Middlehurst Motorsport branding, and there’s also a Middlehurst tax disc holder and rear window dealer sticker - all authentic period touches.  

Even given the lovely exterior, just how nicely the interior has survived still comes as a pleasant surprise. There are some areas that look almost brand new and untouched. In fact, our images don’t really do the cabin justice. The fabric seats - blue with grey inserts - don’t photograph as well as they look in reality; the shadows and texture make them look a little dowdy when, in actual fact, they’re remarkably well-preserved. The front and rear passenger ones are simply excellent, with the back bench looking like it’s hardly ever been presented with any posteriors. The driver’s seat does have a few small marks here and there, but nothing like you’d usually expect from a car that has covered over 76,000 miles. There’s minimal wear to any bolsters and certainly no rips, tears or weak areas. Above, the grey headlining is spotless.

The steering wheel has been retrimmed, and still looks so fresh that we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that everybody who has driven the car since has worn gloves. The same can be said of the handbrake and gearstick, the gaiters of which are immaculate with perfect blue stitching. The carpets are very tidy and protected by genuine Nissan Skyline deep-pile over-mats, complete with Japanese tags. These have only minimal signs of wear.

There’s hardly any patina to the dashboard, and everything electrical or electronic seems to be functioning as intended, even the digital clock. The gauges all behave as expected, as do the warning lights, and all readings are normal. The switchgear has hardly any deterioration; symbols and labelling aren’t discoloured or worn away, as you might anticipate with a 1990s car. Even the boot/petrol flap release lever, down by the side of the driver’s seat is in a condition more likely with a car just two years old rather than 27. The ashtrays appear to have not even seen coins or sweet wrappings, let alone cigarette ash; they’re that clean inside. It’s a similar case with other cubby areas too.

The passenger side of the fascia does display the characteristic Skyline ‘bubble’ that strikes many of these cars as they get older, with weakened adhesive allowing an air pocket to develop under the dash covering. This is such a common issue that enthusiasts have developed ways of resolving it without having to remove the dash.

The stereo is a JVC KD-G502 CD/digital receiver of around 2013 vintage. It works, and doesn’t look out of place in an interior 20 years older than it is. However, for anybody craving true Far East authenticity, the factory-fit Clarion CT239 cassette/radio unit is in a box in the boot, if you want to go properly retro. Another subtle addition, albeit in-period, is the HKS turbo timer under the driver’s side of the dash, to allow the turbochargers to cool down before switching off the engine. It’s totally in-keeping with the car, as this fifth generation HKS gadget was sold between 1989 and 1994.

Speaking of the boot, it’s also in great nick, with just a few age marks apparent in places. Lift the carpets and it’s still all good, with the cavities and crevasses showing signs of wax treatment. The spacesaver spare wheel is the original, dated 1993, and doesn’t look like it’s ever seen Tarmac.

The engine bay has been very detailed; we struggled to find any grime at all, and there’s certainly no evidence of any leaks. Incidentally, the fluids are all of a healthy colour and at the correct levels. While checking the screenwash, the cap slipped down the side of the reservoir tank and couldn’t be easily retrieved. So, if you’re wondering about its absence in our shots, it’s just temporary and it will be back in its rightful place when the car goes to its new owner.

There’s no hint of any DIY tinkering under the bonnet; it all looks completely standard and free from amateurishly-added wiring, bullet or crimp connectors, additional pipework or anything that simply shouldn’t be there. In fact, there seems to have been care taken to preserve the engine bay, with several Japanese information stickers still in place. A check around the suspension strut tops reveals no crustiness or apparent weakness.

The blue chassis and data plate is in its correct place on the bulkhead, with the chassis number also stamped into the metal alongside. Fortunately, they both match. Although GT-R engine bays can get very hot, the insulation underneath the bonnet doesn’t seem to have been affected at all.

Turn the key - which is, incidentally, the original GT-R-branded item - and the engine readily bursts into life with a smooth and steady idle There are no worrying noises and blipping the throttle results in an instant rise in revs, with no hesitation or missing. There’s no blowing from the exhaust, just a nice bass rumble.

Look underneath, and it’s obvious that comprehensive undersealing has been carried out. Aside from the occasional area of superficial surface corrosion, as you’d expect with any car, it’s all tidy, solid and sound, and a scan of the MoT certificates reveals no history of corrosion over the last decade. Still, with just over 11,000km (around 6800 miles) covered in that time, it’s not much of a surprise that the British climate hasn’t had a chance to wreak any real harm on the Skyline.  

The V5C is present and correct, and is complemented by a folder of other paperwork, including lots of Shakken (MoT) certificates. The current ticket runs until 2 April 2021, incidentally. You’ll also find the original owner’s manual, in Japanese, but with rather amusing cartoon drawings that do make you wish you could read the language to find out what the hell is meant to be going on.

In addition, there’s the Japanese service book, export certificate (handily with a companion English translation), some Middlehurst sales correspondence and an assortment of invoices for work. The most recent bill is from April 2020 and includes a cambelt.

Nissan Skyline R32 GT-Rs are a rarity in this country. But in this sort of untouched, original condition, and sporting Crystal White too, you’re talking needle and haystack territory. It’s a remarkable survivor, and whoever acquires it will be able to enjoy the pure 1989 to 1994 GT-R experience exactly as Nissan intended. This is a timewarp car, and whoever gets to time-travel in it is going to have something very special. While there are a few minor cosmetics that could be improved over time, the car looks hugely impressive as it is, is mechanically on-the-button (our short time with it revealed absolutely nothing out-of-sorts), and needs no work doing before it can be driven and enjoyed. And it will be a hell of a lot more entertaining than any Gran Turismo game. The estimate is £25-30,000, considerably less than some excellent examples have sold for in the US over the last couple of years.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located in Norfolk; to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.