The 1991 and 1992 Bathurst 1000 winners will be in attendance at the Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival in March, but what is the story behind the road-going model these two brutes were based off?
Nissan was determined to dominate the marketplace in the 1990s and even though it didn’t pan out this way, some of its best models were released in a short five-year period headlined by the R32 Skyline GT-R.
The Japanese manufacturer had started to increase its sporting flair by entering Le Mans, expanding its touring car program into Europe and dominating the IMSA Series in the US.
First cab off the rank for Nissan’s ambitious Project 901 program was the release of the 300ZX or Fairlady Z in 1989 before the launch of its luxury brand Infiniti in November, but the jewel in the crown was the R32 Skyline GT-R.
The Skyline nameplate was first introduced by the Prince Motor Company in 1957 as a luxury model before the came on the scene in 1964 building the foundation of what was to become the GT-R, with the third generation C10 in 1969.
The GT-R wiped all before it on the track for a short four year period until the oil crisis ended the model run in March 1973.
When Nissan decided it was going to build one of the most technologically advanced models of the time, the GT-R badge made a fitting return after 16 years.
Highlighted by ‘Super HICAS’ four-wheel steer and the ATTESA-ETS all-wheel-drive system, the 1989 R32 Skyline GT-R gave only a hint of its capabilities.
Powered by the legendary RB26DETT engine featured dual belt-driven overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, two ceramic Garrett turbochargers and an intercooler, which perfectly matched with the technological advances used throughout the GT-R. Power was limited to 205kW due to the Japanese manufacturers holding a Gentleman’s agreement in terms of maximum output.
Nissan Australia was invested locally through its Dandenong assembly plant, its Special Vehicles Division and race team led by Fred Gibson, which had struggled against the onslaught of Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworths.
But, the R32 Skyline GT-R was about to decimate the competition.
Nissan Australia put a plan forward to import 100 road examples modified to Australian Design Standards and this was accepted by the Japanese parent company.
At a price of $110,000 ($210,000) at the time, sales were sluggish to say the least and examples were still for sale in showrooms more than 12 months later.
‘Godzilla’ remains one of those dream cars for many enthusiasts and has only grown in prestige.
Group A history will be on display at the Repco Adelaide Motorsport Festival on March 8-9 as the two Bathurst winning Nissans will be joined by a Dick Johnson Ford Mustang and Sierra RS500 Cosworth, Andrew Miedecke’s Mercedes 190E and many more.