Nissan GT-R history: from the 1969 Skyline 2000GT-R to the US-market R35

Nissan GT-R history: Skyline GT-R to the R35 history

The Skyline began in 1957 as a Prince Motor Company car and became a Nissan after Prince and Nissan merged in 1966. The first Skyline GT-R, a sedan with a 160-hp twin-cam inline six derived from the R380 racing prototype, was unveiled in 1969 and won 52 races in its first three years, according to Nissan.

The name lapsed after a 1973 C110 version and returned in 1989 with the all-wheel-drive R32 Skyline GT-R and its RB26DETT engine. Nissan notes the R32 still wasn't sold in America; the R33 and R34 followed in 1995 and 1998.

The R35 dropped the Skyline name. It debuted in Tokyo in October 2007, and the first US car was delivered on July 7, 2008, as a 2009 model with a hand-built 480-hp 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6. Nissan raised output steadily to 565 hp and ended North American production in October 2024.[1],[2],[3],[5]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• Every R35 uses the VR38DETT 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6, each hand-assembled by a takumi technician in a clean room at Nissan's Yokohama engine plant.
• The engine has plasma-sprayed cylinder bores instead of cast-iron liners, twin IHI turbochargers and a wet and dry sump oiling system.
• Power went from 480 hp (2009) to 485 hp (2010), 530 hp (2012), 545 hp (2013) and 565 hp (2017); Nissan says the current rating dates from refinements for the 2020 model year.
• The NISMO has made 600 hp and 481 lb-ft since its 2015 debut, using high-flow turbochargers similar to those of the GT3 race car.
• Power goes through a paddle-shifted 6-speed dual-clutch transaxle at the rear and the ATTESA E-TS all-wheel-drive system.

Sources:[1],[3],[4],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14]

What changed over the years

1. October 2007R35 GT-R debuts at the Tokyo Motor Show; North American debut follows at the Los Angeles show in November.
2. July 7, 2008First US-spec GT-R delivered in California.
3. 2010 model year485 hp, retuned suspension and standard curtain air bags.
4. 2012 model year530 hp, new fascias and the Black Edition.
5. 2013 model year545 hp.
6. 2015 model year600-hp GT-R NISMO arrives.
7. 2017 model yearMost significant makeover since launch; 565 hp and a standard titanium exhaust.
8. 2020 model yearEngine refinements behind the current 565-hp rating; 50th Anniversary Edition.
9. 2024 model yearRevised fascias and rear wing; T-spec returns.
10. October 2024GT-R production for North America ends.

Sources:[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14]

What to check before you buy one

• Confirm the model year and grade from the VIN and paperwork; output ranges from 480 hp (2009) to 565 hp, and 600 hp for the NISMO.
• Ask for service records from a GT-R-certified Nissan dealer; Nissan originally sold and serviced the car only through certified dealers with a dedicated master technician.
• For a T-spec Takumi Edition, look for the red-etched engine badge and gold VIN plate in the engine bay.
• Check open recalls for the exact VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup before buying.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Nissan GT-R known issues page. Engine guides: 3.8L twin-turbo V6 (VR38DETT).

How to verify a Nissan GT-R history: Skyline GT-R to the R35's factory options

A Nissan's model, engine, transmission and drivetrain are fixed at the factory. CarWhere decodes the 17-character VIN and, where licensed factory build data exists, lists the equipment the car was built with. It does not promise a complete option list for every VIN.