Why a Good Godzilla is Worth Seven Times What It Was Ten Years Ago

Nissan Skyline GT-R ‘Godzilla’ values are going through the roof, and for a very good reason, too.

“How does a car that sold for $50,000 new in the ‘90s sell for $360,000 today?” That’s the question Clay Wong asks in his latest YouTube video that’s enjoyed over a million views since April. It’s the story of Godzilla, the Nissan Skyline GT-R and it’s a most interesting one indeed.

The saga starts back in the 1960s, when Japanese niche carmaker Prince unveiled its sporty six-cylinder Skyline. It went on to prove a very handy track tool too. Prince was soon snapped up by Nissan. It sought to stem the advantage its home rival Toyota was enjoying in the local market. Nissan promptly launched the 1968 Skyline PGC10 (below) to allow its owners a taste of that Skyline sporting heritage. And followed that up with the 160 HP GT-R — for Gran Turismo Racing.

First Skyline GT-R Was a Sporty Four-door

“That first Skyline GT-R was a sporty four-door sold alongside R380 race car and it meant business,” Wong explains. The Japanese were impressed by the motorsport inspired driveline and chassis. Not so much by the four doors.

Nissan responded by unleashing the boxy, meaner, smaller and sharper 2 door KPGC 10 Skyline GT-R Coupe in 1971. Known as Hoku (Box) Ska (Skyline), it was followed by the sleeker 73 Ken Mar evolution with the same straight six driveline. Nissan kept on racing the Skyline and the cult was evolving and growing. But the oil crisis killed the Ken Mar GT-R after just 196 units were built. GT-R was canned, but Skyline continued through its humbler and more economical R30 and R31 versions.

As the world recovered from the Energy Crisis the Skyline became more athletic again. Nissan soon embraced Touring Car racing as its principal motorsports, but it wasn’t until 1989 that the appetite for GT-R returned.

GT-R Came Back Stronger than Ever in R32

And return GT-R certainly did — Nissan Motorsport — or NISMO designed the EVN R32, or R32 for short (above), with the specific intention of dominating in touring car racing. Developed using serious race derived engineering, the reborn GT-R was powered by all-new 276 hp RB36 DE-TT biturbo straight six driving all four wheels through revolutionary ATESSA E-TS all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering for ultimate grip in almost any situation.

That would never be enough however, and Nissan soon developed a 70 lb lighter track-bred race-homologated 500-off Skyline GT-R R32 NISMO road car. It had upgraded aero, bigger wheel and tire and a bigger turbo too. R32 also proved utterly dominant on track right from the get-go and Skyline GT-R was soon christened Godzilla. But it was only ever available to satisfy the new frenzied JDM cult in its Japanese home market. It was not sold anywhere else on earth.

NISMO then unleashed another couple of hundred limited edition N1 versions. Homologated for near-standard Group N racing with an uprated engine, radio and A/C delete. And even thinner paint to keep weight down. V-Spec followed to celebrate GT-R’s dominance on track. 1400 were built with a re-tuned AWD and even bigger Brembo brakes. 1300 V-Spec IIs followed in ’94 to make it five special edition R32 GT-Rs in as many years.