The R32 generation of Nissan Skylines was introduced in 1989 and included a GT-R version for the first time since the short lived KPGC110 generation Skyline 2000 GT-R made between 1972-73. The GT-R was intended to form the basis for a Group A regulation touring car and Nissan initially intended building only the required 5000 cars for Group A homologation.
A 2.6 litre turbocharged straight six engine powered the car through an advanced four wheel drive system with electronically actuated rear wheel steering which all together meant the new GT-R had incredible traction and handling. The factory stated power output of the new car was 280bhp in line with a gentlemen's agreement between Japanese car manufacturers at the time (which limited maximum engine output to 280bhp in order to avoid a horsepower race between the different car companies that it was feared could result in draconian safety regulations being brought in by the Japanese government). However, many fans of the car believe it had closer to 320bhp in standard factory tune and with minimal tuning was capable of producing far higher maximum power outputs.
The racing version of the R32 GT-R was so dominant in Japanese and Australian Group A touring car racing that it earned the nickname "Godzilla" as it was practically invincible. Between 1989 and 1993 R32 Skylines entered 29 races in the Japanese Group A touring car championship and won all of them. It also won the prestigious 1000km race at Bathurst in Australia in 1991 and 1992 and won the 24hr touring car race at Spa in Belgium in 1991. The previously dominant Group A car, the Ford Sierra Cosworth, was totally outclassed by the new Skyline GT-R. Many as a result blame the Skyline for the death of Group A touring car racing as it was so dominant therefore making the racing boring. From 1994 Japanese touring car racing was no longer run to Group A regulations, but nonetheless the Skyline in modified form continued to dominate for a few more years. From 1993, Australian touring car racing was revised into two categories for 2 litre non-turbocharged and 5 litre V8 cars (Holdens and Fords). This barred the Skyline from racing in Australia with immediate effect. Touring car racing in Europe had been moving away from Group A regulations even before the Skyline asserted it's dominance on the series hence the Skyline's history in European racing was also brought to a close.
Despite it's racing career being somewhat prematurely curtailed, the Skyline R32 GT-R's place in history as one of the greatest Japanese cars to date was already assured. The motoring press at the time loved it and it was a real giant slayer, as it was considered to be a better performer than many of the more established performance cars of it's era. The Ferrari 348 for example was no match for it and it gave the Porsche 911 (964) a run for it's money. The first one I saw was with my Dad in a Nissan dealer in Tokyo (where we were visiting along with my Mum for a medical conference in July 1990) in the same gunmetal grey as this model. I tried hard to persuade my Dad that this was the car to buy but he was having none of it!
A true modern classic and not a cheap car to buy today if you can find one. Best of all from my perspective is that all of them are right hand drive (which means the bulk of them were not snapped up by the American market and hence there are plenty in the UK which is convenient for someone considering buying one from Ireland!).
AUTOart introduced this model of the R32 GT-R in 2005. It was the first Aa R32 Skyline in 1:18th although previously they had released several versions of the later R34 Skyline in the same scale. The honours for the first R32 Skyline in 1:18th has to go to Kyosho who introduced racing versions of the car back in 1993. Compared to the earlier Kyosho Skyline, the newer AUTOart model has much finer detail especially in areas such as the engine, interior, wheels and brakes. However, many Skyline experts feel the shape of the front of the Aa version is too "square" looking, especially around the headlights, and feel the Kyosho model although older has a more accurate shape.
Kyosho never released a roadgoing version of the car until after AUTOart released this model, but since 2006 they have done just that. Kyosho greatly updated the model so that it is comparable to the AUTOart in terms of detail. I'm happy with my Aa version of the car and I don't think there is much to choose from between the two models but it has to be said that many of the "Skyline experts" I've talked to feel the Kyosho version is the better model. I guess it's a case of paying your money and taking your choice!
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