As the North American public waits -- just as it has been for the past 30-some years -- for the coveted Nissan GT-R to make its transpacific leap, here at AskMen.com we’ve decided to remind you of just how cool this car is and always has been, just in case you forgot.



What began as a stripped-down version of the heavier Nissan Skyline, the GT-Rs have always been designed with racing in mind, even in 1969 when the first GT-R-badged Nissan emerged. Within its first two years, this GT-R sedan earned 36 racing victories -- and a road and track champion was born.



GT-R is an abbreviation for Gran Turismo Racer, so it’s no surprise this powerhouse of a vehicle did, and still does, take on the likes of Porsche and Ferrari -- and more often then not, it wins each and every battle. 

NO.10  1969 Skyline GT-R

Equipped with a 2.0-liter, DOHC inline-six engine that let loose 160 ponies, the very first GT-R-badged Nissan Skyline was bread to conquer the race track -- and conquer it did. Rear-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission rocketed the Hakosuka (Box Skyline) to a JAF Grand Prix win and solidified the GT-R a place in racing history. And in 1970, a two-door coupe Skyline GT-R version, combined with the earlier-model sedan, garnered Nissan 50 racing victories in just three years. Quite an impressive start for quite an impressive vehicle.

NO.9  1973 Skyline GT-R

It’s immediately clear to see that this GT-R’s design was greatly influenced by the fastback American muscle cars of the ‘70s. Known as the “Ken and Mary” GT-R, thanks to the commercial that aired at the time, this gas-guzzling performance vehicle didn’t receive the stardom its predecessors reveled in. Due to increased emissions standards and an oil shortage crisis, only 197 units of the Ken and Mary GT-R saw the light of day. This was also the last GT-R model to touch tarmac for another 16 years. 

NO.8  1989 GT-R R32

When the GT-R reappeared in 1989, we’re pretty sure the automotive world wasn’t ready for Nissan’s beast of a car. Equipped with NISMO-designed, motorsport-oriented all-wheel drive (this was the first GT-R to feature the ATTESA E-TS Pro all-wheel drive system) and a 2.6-liter. turbocharged, inline-six engine that pumped out 280 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, it’s no wonder the GT-R quickly earned the nickname, Godzilla. The R32 was entered in 29 Japanese Touring Car Championship races, and won all 29. This particular model was built to meet Japanese Group A racing specifications, yet it was a street-legal car.



It’s interesting to note that the R32 also became the most popular import model in Canada over the past few years as it hit the 15-year import mark. Here’s a car that’s nearly 20 years old and is looked upon with the same longing and desire as a brand new Ferrari or Porsche. Nissan truly created a legend -- but its story was far from over. 

NO.7  1990 NISMO GT-R

This limited-edition GT-R, introduced in early 1990, was produced to further Nissan’s racing career. Only 560 units were produced -- just enough to homologate the model so the changes could carry over onto the race track. Shaped similarly to earlier GT-R models, the NISMO GT-R saw a number of aerodynamic changes that complied with Group A racing standards, such as additional air ducts in the front bumper and a large rear-bumper spoiler to help with downforce. NISMO also decided to release this special edition in an exclusive, dark charcoal color known as Gunmetal Grey that was instantly recognizable -- even if the subtle bodywork changes weren’t.

NO.6  1993 GT-R V-spec R32

This special edition GT-R was produced thanks to the earlier R32’s popularity on and off the track. NISMO took it upon themselves to release the “Victory Specification” (V-Spec) edition to highlight the R32’s racing successes. This retuned model featured Brembo brakes and an updated ATTESA E-TS system. And while it had the familiar N1 engine of the base R32 model, this V-Spec addition had all the charisma and charm needed to, once again, bring it to the forefront of automotive popularity in both Asia and the United States.

NO.5  1995 GT-R R33

While the R33 edition of the GT-R didn’t look that much different from the previous R32 models, it made up for its lack of originality with a more powerful engine and an impressive performance at the Nurburgring with an eight-minute lap time that had everyone’s jaws on the floor. Housing Nissan’s standard 2.6-liter, six-cylinder, turbocharged engine, the R33 produced 275 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque. But with stiffer suspension and an improved Super-HICAS (the Skyline’s all-wheel-steering that allowed the rear wheels to influence steering by up to one degree), the R33 continued to tweak what already seemed so good in previous GT-R models -- rarely were qualities removed, instead Nissan continued to grow it’s models and build upon previous generations, learning and improving as they went along. 

NO.4  1999 GT-R R34

With the R32’s success, it was hard to imagine Nissan could improve upon such a popular, well-performing vehicle. But it did, and it may have taken the company 10 years to make the changes, but they were worth the wait. Nissan upped the horsepower and the torque with a twin-turbocharged, inline-six engine that produced 276 ponies with 216 lb-ft of torque and had the GT-R hitting 60 mph from a dead stop in just 5.2 seconds. Besides the increase in performance, Nissan also made drastic, and modern, changes to the interior: The R34 featured a configurable in-dash display that could monitor seven types of driving statistics such as oil and water temperature, PSI and Gs. Nissan’s technological advancements and attention to detail -- constructing the turbochargers out of a hybrid steel/ceramic composition to allow for faster, more efficient spooling -- saw the GT-R, once again, take the spotlight in the automotive world.   

NO.3  2002 GT-R V-Spec

This final production model for the GT-R V-Spec edition was available in two different models; the Skyline GT-R V-Spec II Nür and the Skyline GT-R M-Spec Nür. The Nür name was derived from the famous Nurburgring track in Germany where the Skyline was developed. Both models featured an improved RB26DETT N1 engine (NISMO’s signature 2.6-liter, inline-six with a parallel twin-turbo system). The Nür editions also featured a speedometer that hit the 186 mph (300 km/h) mark. And it’s said that for those who wish for a bit more power than the original engine can produce, with limited modifications (such as a larger, singular turbocharger) this GT-R model can expel up to a staggering 1,000-plus horsepower

NO.2  2004 NISMO GT-R Z-tune R34

Finally, NISMO got the hint and produced a street-legal racing monster. With 500-plus horsepower, this race-inspired and race-ready vehicle was a vehicle enthusiast’s wet dream incarnate. Unfortunately, only 20 of these beasts were produced, making this GT-R fabulously rare. On top of its limited numbers, the Z-tune R34 featured a 2.8-liter engine instead of the standard 2.6-liter, and produced approximately 178 horses per liter. Not bad, if you ask us. The engine wasn’t the only modification NISMO got its sticky hands into, from flared carbon-fiber fenders to twin oil coolers installed on either side of the front bumper, the GT-R Z-tune R34 is a monster of a machine. And for $170,000 U.S. is worth every penny for a very lucky few.  

NO.1  2009 GT-R

After nearly three decades of champion racing cars and street-legal beasts -- none of which were ever available in North America -- Nissan has finally answered the call of car buffs everywhere with a brand new GT-R model (known as the R36 to all you hardcore GT-R fans) that’s pure sex on an all-wheel-drive chassis… and it will be available for North American purchase, brand new. This time around, Nissan opted for the “bigger is better” motto and upped the engine to a 3.8-liter, 32-valve, V6 block with twin-turbochargers. And if that doesn’t have you salivating, then the power most definitely will; the new GT-R lets loose 480 horses and 434 lb-ft of torque. It can reach 60 mph in a blistering 3.2 seconds, yet still features Nissan’s ATTESA ET-S, all-wheel-drive system.



Here’s a high-performance vehicle that could blow any Porsche or Ferrari off the track with minimal effort without the pansy looks and fancy branding. Just brilliant if you ask us. Oh, and the price? It’s been rumored that the GT-R’s price tag will fall in the $70,000 U.S. range, and we’re already counting our pennies.