U.S.-Legal Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R is a Crazy Rare Limited Edition and It’s for Sale
A U.S.-legal R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R is a challenging thing to come across. When Nissan originally released the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R , it did not meet the standards for crash safety or emissions regulations for the United States, so it was not sold here, nor was it legal to import. Of course, as many folks know, once a car is 25 years old, it becomes exempt from the importation restrictions and can legally be brought into the U.S.
However, there are some exceptions to that rule, and this 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec currently for sale on Cars & Bids is one of them. Being one of only 282 V-Spec models finished in the iconic Midnight Purple II color-shifting paint allows importing it under the U.S. “Show and Display” exemption to the 25-year importation rule. As one can imagine, a combination of its rarity and importation eligibility makes for a price tag that’s nothing short of substantial.
How much will this U.S.-legal R34 GT-R cost?
Considering it’s up for auction, putting a definite price on this car is virtually impossible. However, another one of these rare beasts sold on fellow auction site Bring A Trailer in June of 2021 for an astounding $315,187. If that doesn’t make your eyes water, we don’t know what will.
Interestingly, this very car also made an appearance on Bring A Trailer in February 2023. Though the bids reached $220,000, the car did not sell. So, it’s safe to assume that there’s a reserve on the Cars and Bids auction, too.
We can’t say what the bids will reach or if it’ll even sell. However, we can say that Cars and Bids founder Doug DeMuro expects to see the price tag surpass $200,000. We wouldn’t be surprised if we see it go unsold without the bids surpassing that milestone by quite a bit!
Though its 276-horsepower twin-turbocharged RB26DETT inline-six isn’t all that impressive from a modern power output standpoint, the car itself has undoubtedly stood the test of time when it comes to looks and admiration of car enthusiasts worldwide. Furthermore, its remarkable all-wheel drive system and six-speed manual transmission mean it’s still a blast to drive. Even by modern standards!
Of course, tuners and modifiers still love the RB powerplant to this day, and with proper modifications, tuning, and support, these engines are capable of power figures in the four-digit range.
What is the Show and Display rule?
The Show and Display exception allows very rare examples of cars to be brought into the U.S. This applies to certain cars regardless of their age. There are, however, some restrictions.
Show and Display cars are expected to see at most 2,500 miles annually. Basically, the driving permission is there to get the car to and from car shows, museums, events, and so on. Only certain vehicles qualify for Show and Display import, too. Previously, we listed all of the cars that are currently eligible.
We’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on this auction to see if it sells and how high those bids go!
