The Nissan Skyline

A long time ago, when Nissan weren't even called nissan but Prince Motor Company (later called Datsun).
The first skyline rolled off the production line in 1957.
It was in the 1980s when the Skyline really got going with the R31 designation.
It was a 2000 cc turbo-charged engine (RB class) which started the ball rolling and was exported to Australia and New Zealand plus elsewhere. It had 4 wheel-steering. A technological first for Nissan and the motoring world.
This became known as HI-CAS or High-Capacity Steering. Not meant as a parking-aid, but to aid handling.
The most powerful of these called the 'GTSR'

This model ran until 1985 when the most popular series of Skylines were designed and built...

In 1989 the R32 arrived on the scene. It too has the Inline-straight six cylinder engine the R31 has. But the power increases and body shape had been improved upon.
The engines capacity was a 2.0 litre, a 2.5 litre and a 2.6 litre version for the GTR version.

The GTR version was a beast of a car. It's twin turbo's were all-ceramic and and it came with electronic all-wheel drive. As before the HICAS was on all versions too.
Nearly 280 bhp was on tap with this version.

The GT-R had a significantly larger intercooler, larger brakes, and aluminium front guards and bonnet. Other distinguishing features include flared front and rear wheel arches.

More supportive seats were fitted, and the turbo boost gauge and digital clock were removed from inside the instrument cluster. The clock was replaced with a torque meter that indicated how much torque was being delivered to the front wheels (0%-50%). Oil temp, voltage, and turbo boost gauges were fitted just above the climate control.

To this day the R32 is seen as the 'old school' skyline. A rough-round the edges, mad-max of a machine compared to it's later, more improved models of skyline.
The R32 Skyline is quite affordable nowadays, although it's aged and getting on a bit with parts that will need looking at often for replacement etc.

For all that this version and model of the nissan skyline often is seen as a perfect project car for drifting or drag-racing.
It's slightly lighter than the later incarnations.

1993 saw the arrival of the R33 model of Skyline. This was heavier and sported more refinements including airbags (post 1996).
On the Spec 2 GTST and GTR 'smart ignition coils' were fitted. The chassis remained unchanged.

The GTR version of the R33 has the same RB26DETT engine however this has been improved with increased Torque and turbo-airflow management.
The turbos were ceramic or nylon and typically are less robust for mid-to-high levels of tuning.
Further upgrades for the R33 GTR were in 1995 when the AWD transmission system and RB26 engine were improved.
Production for this Skyline ran from 1993 to 1998.

This version is the mainstay of most Nissan Skyline clubs in the UK and elsewhere. It's reliable, fast and relatively affordable. It also has a wide-ranging parts industry (many more R33s were produced in comparison the more recent R34) mean spares are slightly cheaper than the other models.

In 1998 the R34 Skyline came onto the motoring scene.
By this time most, if not all the 'faults' and percieved short-comings had been put right; the RB 20DE engine was more fuel-efficient and environmentally-friendly and the interior was given a facelift.
The replacement model for the GTST was the GTT model which was given an RB25 NEO DET .
An improved ceramic turbo but still one that's potentially unstable if heavily tuned. Good for low-levels of tuning though.

The GTRs centre management console had evolved into a mission-control function display and asthetically the car is more pleasing on the eye.

Many consider the R34 to be the last of the 'True' Skylines, production of these only ran from 1998 to 2002 and 64,000+ were sold. Compared to the R33 which had numbers nearing a quarter of a million the R34 has an air of exclusivity. Spare parts are therefore less available but still sourceable. Plus the aftermarket parts industry, like for the R33 means that prices are affordable.
Brake discs for the R34 GTT are in notoriously short supply from aftermarket suppliers. The main-dealers charge a fortune for these.

The GTR model of the R34 is considered one of the most desirable of the Skylines, second only to the R35 GTR.

The GT-R reappeared in 1999, with a revised chassis and other updates. The R34 turbos received a ball bearing core. The R34 N1 turbos had a metal exhaust wheel, and ball bearing center section. A 6-speed Getrag gearbox was used. The turbo outlet pipes were changed from cast to formed metal outlets. The intercooler had a temperature probe in the V-spec models.

The Twilight of the Skylines...

When production ended in 2002 Nissan dropped the sedan / coupe 'look' that had been developing in the R31 thru to the R34 and changed the design and emphasis radically.
The engine shifted from an Straight 6 to a V6 and the bodywork became much uglier and box-like.
Known as the 350Z or V35 it's a shadow compared to the previous incarnations yet sometimes called the 'skyline' by enthusiastic dealers but the reality is it isn't considered one by most owners or tuners.

Japanese tuners practically ignore the V35 'Skyline', and instead concentrate on the R33 and R34 models.

After being out in the cold for several years during the V35 period the GTR was back!

Like the Skyline GT-Rs R32 through R34, the Nissan GT-R is all-wheel drive with a twin-turbo 6 cylinder engine; however, the evolutionary, incremental changes between Skyline models R32 through R34 have been done away with.
The engine's no longer a Straight Six cylinder one but a V6 3.8 litre. The 'Skyline' badge and name has disappeared yet the chassis code was maked as R35, indicating some reference to the previous incarnations.

The body shape and 'look' of the car is very different. The 'stove-pipe' brake lights are still there but only about 5% of the rest are compatable with earlier skylines. The sedan shape is gone, replaced by an aggressive 'coupe' look.

As a supercar it truly does offer the power and speeds to put the pricier sportscar pedigrees so shame.
With a top speed of 193 mph it is claimed to of lapped the Nurburg Ring in 7 minutes 28 seconds. Beating it's rival the Porshe GT2.

It also is now officially imported to foreign countries in greater numbers than previous GTRs

Yet for all its power its price and affordability are in question. Compared to the spare parts for the R32 to R34 models the R35 is truly an expensive car to maintain.

As a benchmark transmission is reckoned to cost $20,000 to change and fit in a Nissan dealer garage. This is many times that of the previous GTRs before it.

Some Skyline owners desire the GTR but others do not, stating price, the radical shift from its roots and the look is a skyline too far...

An R34 GTT was used in the popular racing film 'The Fast and the Furious 4' for the race sequences.

The GTR was not chosen due to the fact that it would of been prohibitively expensive to wreck and damage them and that they were not RWD (being AWD instead).
For the drift shots and the sliding it was a hinge factor in chosing it over the AWD varient.
However for the engine shots (during race prep) a GTR was used.

The R34 GTT used was, however, given the 'look' of a GTR via the bodykit and 'bayside blue' paintjob.

The makers of the film were astute in using a car that has 'exotic appeal while being a classic' due to not being officially distributed in North America.

Unlike most clubs which demand a membership fee. Usually just the ownership of a Nissan Skyline is enough to warrant instant membership.
With the advent of the internet forums since 2000 onwards the online world has meant a wide scope for arranging meetings, races at the track and even european touring.
Indeed being a member or even an affiliate is a wise choice for the often crucial insider methods, techniques and mechanical know-how that conventional car garages may lack.

The United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are favourite export destinations for the Skyline.
Despite there being other owners clubs of Japanese imports in greater numbers the Nissan Skyline has established itself as among the most exceptional.
The ease-of-tuning, look and performance, combined with a country's import laws have meant that a whole sub-culture for the driving scene has arisen.
Not content with the conventional cars produced for the mainstream, the Skyline owner has something more substantial.
While the mainstream cars are usually more practical and fuel efficient, they are often are lacking in engine strength, tuning, handling and durability.
Something that the Skyline surpasses on all counts, even some of it's rival sports-imports like the Subaru and Mazda.

In the high octane world of Japanese imports there are certain factions and rivalry's.

The most notable rivals to the Nissan Skyline are:

The Sabaru Impreza - The number one nemesis. It's chief advantages over the Skyline are: Cheaper to buy, slightly shorter wheelbase and size give it an advantage in rallying competitions. It falls down as being a notorious boy-racer mobile, hard to tune and has a woeful image as a chavs-best-friend. Commonly known as a Scoobie.

The Toyota Supra - More of a stately Japanese sports car and somehow, with it being less of a grey import, has less of a mystique surrounding it. In Skyline culture they are often held in fairly high-regard.

The Mazda RX-7 - It's rotary engine gives it appeal from the norm and it's rarity (even when compared to Skylines) give it an exclusive edge. Fast and powerful it is understated and some say a match for an un-modified skyline...
There are doubts as to the engines reliability...

It's a tough choice sometimes but even the most careful of sportscar drivers can be caught out in rough weather conditions.
While there are vehicles out there that can handle, indeed thrive, on awful weather conditions Nissan Skylines are not one of them.
Any vehicle that is rear-wheel-drive will suffer in snow, rain and ice.
In the UK the most common hazard is rain-soaked roads, followed by black ice and snow.

For this next section it will mostly be covering snow and black ice.

For some drivers it's an easy call to make; don't drive in such conditions.
The wealthier owners can simply switch vehicles and use a 4 x 4.
But then there are those who choose to brave the conditions and take on the limitations of a sportscar vs mother nature!
Indeed in some cases car parks are proving grounds for the younger drivers to show off their prowess and skill at drifting when snowing or icy.
Much to the chagrin of the local authorities and CCTV operators!

Regardless of the choices made or reasons three factors come into being:

The lack of traction excaserbated by a very powerful engine.
The typical Skyline being an R32, R33 or R34 that isn't a GTR will be RWD. RWD is considerably vulnerable to sliding and drifting.
The tyres on most skylines are 'summer' tread pattern type for dry and hot weather.

Countering hazardous conditions in a Skyline is difficult but not impossible:

The first is to put aside any notion of fast moves, racing 4x4s or showing off on public roads. You're unlikely to prove anything except a potential prang or worse. And we all know that Skylines are not cheap to fix, even as an 'affordable' sports car.

Second is if your Skyline is a GTR it'll be 4WD (it's actually All-Wheel-Drive - AWD but the term fits) and you have a definate edge compared to a FWD vehicle in poor conditions.
Indeed GTRs can and have been used fairly easily in icy and snowy conditons (where driven with an even-hand). This is ironic because the GTR version of the Skyline is typically seen as a less practical Skyline overall compared to the GTST or GTT.

Third is to drive with extreme care. A deliberate and planned style of travel is wise and moving through areas of thick snow will be nearly impossible unless you generate a run-up first. I'd also make sure your way is clear before you do this. You'll have no braking control until your car either slides through the thick snow or comes to a halt! Be wary of hills and steep descents! There's no shame in waiting for a thaw.