It's no longer difficult to purchase a Nissan Skyline R32
GT-R in the United States. Build between 1989 and 1994, this car finally falls
under federal regulations to meet import requirements, and car enthusiasts are
scrambling. Check out this buyer's guide to learn how to find yours and even
how to find the best indoor and
outdoor car covers for it.
Know What You'll Pay
Because the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R has become a classic in
recent years, you can now expect to pay more. A few years ago, purchasing and
bringing your car to America would have "only" cost about $30,000
total. Now, the same vehicle is selling for at least $75,000, not including the
import costs. The Nissan Skyline is becoming quite common at large auctions,
but can still be hard to come by in certain colors. The most popular color for
this vehicle is Gun Grey Metallic (code KH2) and was the most popular every
year the car was produced. In fact, more than 50% of them are this color. White
was the second most popular, followed by black. There are several other colors,
including red, silver, and blue. Only 141 of these cars were made in Greyish
Blue Pearl (code BLo), making it the rarest and hardest to find today.
Several Different
Modifications
If you're considering purchasing an R32 Skyline, it's also
important to know which body modifications you may come across. After all, how
else will you know which custom fit seat covers you'll need? These cars are all
right-hand drive from the factory and available in four different variations:
Nismo and N1 (which were for racing), Standard, Vspec, and Vspec II. Only 560
Nismos were created (and only 60 of which were for racing - the rest went to
show rooms). These ones are easy to identify because of the RA in their VINs.
There are some slight body modifications, including additional rear spoilers,
air intakes on the front bumper, no wiper on the rear window, and several other
small differences.
The rarest of the R32 GT-Rs are the ones build for Japan's
N1 racing series. Only 118 of these were made, and they can be identified by
the ZN in their option codes. You'll find them on the blue plate of the
driver's side firewall. The GT-R N1 came without air conditioning standard,
which made them 66 pounds lighter, but air conditioning could be optioned in.
Knowing What to Look
For
When you're looking to purchase an older car, the R32
included, you'll need to know what to look for to ensure you get a good deal.
Because these cars are upwards of three decades old and driven in Japan, where
snow is common, rust is common in these cars. Look for seams and holes where
water can get in, as well as behind the rear wheels where bubbling paint can
point to corrosion.
Keep in mind that the interior can be rough, too, in cars
this old. Garages aren't common in Japan, which means sunlight can cause the
car's interior to bubble or create waves. Shrinking and pulling around the
vents is also common. You may need to replace the dashboard, which can cost up
to $500. Many owners have swapped out the factory 180-kph speedometer for ones
that read up to 320kph. It is practically impossible to verify mileage on
these, so keep this in mind when looking to purchase as well.
Of
course, after you purchase your new import, you'll want to take care of it as
well as possible. This means ensuring you have a garage, car covers, and, of
course, the best tire
protection.
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