You’ll never guess how much this Nissan Skyline GT-R has sold
The Nissan Skyline GT-R is popular, especially when it comes to the R34 generation. So it comes as no surprise that a beautiful specimen fetches an impressive price at auction. But we didn’t expect it to be that high.
Well, maybe… Because this Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 is painted in the iconic color Bayside Blue and had a famous owner, the actor Paul Walker. Hence the hammer price of 1.3 million euros.
Paul Walker died in an accident in 2013
Walker is best known for the Fast and Furious film series in which he starred alongside Vin Diesel. He died in a car accident involving a Porsche Carrera GT in 2013. Walker was in the passenger seat. A friend of his drove.
Ten films in the Fast and Furious series have now been released, and an eleventh is in preparation. Walker starred in the first seven, the seventh of which came out two years after his death.
The Nissan Skyline GT-R has become a legend
Partly due to the Fast and Furious films, Japanese sports cars have become extremely popular. Cars like the Honda NSX, Mazda RX-7 and Nissan Skyline GT-R. The latter in particular has a legendary reputation, as evidenced by his nickname Godzilla.
The R34 is powered by an acclaimed engine, the Nissan RB26, a 2.6-litre twin-turbo straight-six that produces around 280bhp in standard form but can be tuned very easily.
When it was introduced in 1999, the Skyline GT-R R34 was a technological feat, with an information display on the dashboard showing a variety of information such as intake and exhaust temperatures, turbo pressure, G-forces and lap times.
The GT-R has a six-speed manual transmission, all-wheel drive and a limited-slip differential. It reaches a top speed of 250 km/h as standard.
No more power of 280 hp after adjustments
This copy is no longer standard. Adapted to the personal desires of Paul Walker, he appears in the fourth Fast and Furious film in 2009.
All Skyline GT-Rs in Fast and Furious 4 except this one are converted Skyline GT-T models. So without turbo and with rear wheel drive to make it easier for the camera to drift.
This R34 was thoroughly redesigned because Walker wanted a whole list of adjustments. Thanks to higher turbo pressure, a modified intercooler and a better exhaust system, the RB26 no longer has 280 hp, but 550 hp.
Seized by US Customs
After filming the fourth Fast and Furious, the car was confiscated by US Customs. The US restricts imports of cars. Foreign models may only be imported if they are twenty-five years or older.
The filmmakers thought they had found a loophole and imported the unpowered Skyline as a kit car. The car was only released by the authorities after a long court case. It’s been in Germany ever since.