Inside The Nissan Heritage Car Collection (Part 3) - Nissan's Magic Kingdom

After the ninth-gen Skyline dropped in August of 1993, Nissan introduced the R33 GT-R later that year at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show. With improvements such as Super HICAS and standard Brembo brakes, the R33 GT-R was one of the first production cars to break into the seven-minute barrier at Nurburgring. Pictured is the prototype displayed at the Tokyo Motor Show.

To celebrate the Skyline's 40th birthday, Autech released a limited production four-door version of the R33. Based on the V-Spec trim, the sedan came equipped with the GT-R's RB26DETT, ATTESA ETS, and Super HICAS.

Utilizing a tuned RB20DET found in the R31, this Skyline competed in the All-Japan Touring Car Championship in 1986. The GT Passage Twin-cam Skyline made 300 ps from the 2.0L (an increase of 110 ps over stock), allowing A. Suzuki to take the Constructor and Driver's Championship.

For competition in European Touring Car Championships, Nissan Motorsports Europe built an R31 GTS-R (the Group A homologation version of the Skyline), increasing its output from the stock 210 ps to 400 ps, and decreasing its weight from 1,345 kg to 1,160 kg. Driven by A. Grice and W. Percy in the ETCC series, A. Olofsson joined the pair for the 24-Hour Spa-Francorchamps endurance race in Belgium, helping the team finish Sixth overall.

The R32 GT-R made its motorsports debut at the opening race of the All-Japan Touring Car Championship in March 1990. The 550ps, 1,260kg Calsonic R32, driven by K. Hoshino and T. Suzuki, would qualify for pole position, smashing the track's record by two seconds, and would go on to smoke Toyota Supras and the previous Ford Sierra champs, winning the race, and later, the Championship. In all, the R32 would dominate the four years leading to the final JTCC season in 1993 (Supras and Sierras, uncompetitive, pulled out), winning all 29 races it competed in-a flawless victory, a rare feat in motorsports.

To meet the homologation rules for the GT class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this official road car, based on the R33 GT-R, was developed by NISMO. The RB26DETT-equipped Skyline was registered in the UK but was never marketed.

Following their 1989 attempt at 24 Hour of Le Mans in the R89C, Nissans returned to France in 1995 with a pair of R33 GT-Rs netting NISMO a Fifth in the GT1 class and 10th overall. The following year, NISMO entered two RB26DETT-powered R33s again in Le Mans: a #22 car (not pictured) that did not finish, and the 1,250kg #23 car that would finish 10th in class and 15th overall, with K. Hoshino, M. Hasemi, and T. Suzuki taking turns behind the wheel.