1991 Nissan GT-R Skyline R32 Coupe

Description

The Porsche 959 was Nissan's target when designing the R32 GT-R. Chief engineer Naganori Itoh intended to use the car for Group A racing, so the design specification was drawn up in conjunction with a copy of the Group A rules. The Nurburgring Nordschleife production car record at the time of development was 8min 45sec set by a Porsche 944, but Nissan's test driver Hiroyoshi Katoh reset the record with a time of 8min 20sec.The GT-R achieved its sensational performance with twin ceramic turbochargers, which boosted power of the car's 2.6-litre straight-six engine to more than 300 horsepower at 6,800rpm, but this was deliberately understated due to the Japanese carmakers' 'gentlemen's agreement' at the time not to exceed 276 hp (206kW).All-wheel steering and electronically controlled all wheel drive based on the system developed for the Porsche 959 resulted in a serious supercar that is still revered today.The R32 GT-R was introduced in to the Australian Touring Car Championship in 1990 and promptly ended the reign of the previously all-conquering Ford Sierra Cosworth, winning at Bathurst in 1991 and 1992. This success led to the Australian motoring press nicknaming the car Godzilla due to it being a "monster from Japan". As Australia was the first export market for the car the name quickly spread. Such was GT-R's dominance that it was a significant factor in the demise of Group A Touring Car racing, the formula being scrapped soon after.