• Nissan built just 416 Skyline GT-R Autech four-door sedans.
  • It shared its RB26DETT engine with the two-door GT-R.
  • One Autech has 148,000 miles and is listed for sale in the US.

Once considered the more practical cousin in the GT-R family, the four-door versions of Nissan’s R32, R33, and R34 Skylines haven’t typically enjoyed the same spotlight as their two-door counterparts. They’re less common, usually less performance-focused, and tend to draw a different kind of attention.

But there is an exception. Nissan quietly built a special variant of the four-door R33 Skyline, one that gave up none of the performance offered by the standard GT-R coupe. It carried a factory badge that read, GT-R Autech.

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This was no diluted version. Developed by Autech, Nissan’s in-house tuning subsidiary, the four-door GT-R shared its core hardware with the two-door R33 GT-R, including the engine, drivetrain, and suspension.

It was officially revealed at the 1997 Tokyo Motor Show as part of the celebrations for the Skyline’s 40th anniversary.

Key Specs 1998 Nissan Skyline Autech GT-R
Engine2.6L RB26DETT twin turbo inline six
Power (claimed)206 kW (276 hp) at 6,800 rpm
Torque (claimed)368 Nm (271 lb-ft) at 4,400 rpm
DrivetrainATTESA all-wheel drive, 5-speed manual
SuspensionMultilink front and rear
BrakesVentilated discs, front and rear
Tires245/45ZR17
Dimensions4,755 mm (187.2 in) Length

1,780 mm (70.1 in) Width

1,380 mm (54.3 in) Height

2,720 mm (107.1 in) Wheelbase
Curb weight1,560 kg (3,439 lb)
SWIPE

A total of 416 were built. None were originally sold in the United States. But if you’ve ever dreamed of owning one, you’re not entirely out of luck. There are at least two currently available, both 1998 models, and one of them is already on American soil.

Also: Nissan GT-R R35 Officially Dead After 18 Years of Glory

Under the hood, it’s business as usual for a GT-R of this era. The Autech version used Nissan’s same iconic RB26DETT engine found in the coupe, a 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six officially rated at 276 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque.

Import Auto Center

Those numbers reflect Japan’s now-defunct “Gentlemen’s Agreement” on output, but as with most RB-powered GT-Rs, the real performance lies beyond the official figures. Tuners know this motor can deliver well beyond those numbers with relative ease.

Like all GT-Rs from this generation, power was sent to all four wheels through Nissan’s ATTESA all-wheel-drive system and a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Read: Cops Impound YouTuber’s GT-R, Drop Him At Tim Hortons To Call His Mom

The example shown here is number 247 of the 416 produced, and it’s clear this one hasn’t lived a sheltered life. Its odometer reads 239,939 kilometers, or 148,470 miles. That’s no small feat for any Skyline GT-R, let alone a limited-run four-door version.

Import Auto Center

More surprising, perhaps, is how untouched it remains. Apart from a Fujitsubo catback exhaust, it’s entirely stock, a rarity in itself.

See: Nissan Won’t Rush R36 GT-R, Eyes Solid-State Batteries For Next Supercar

Given the car’s age, and the mileage, there are some small areas of damage, but nothing major. It includes scuffs on the front lip, a scratch on the left fender, a crank in the left side skirt, and scuffs across the driver door. The driver’s seat also shows some wear, as does the shift boot, and the steering wheel.

JDM Expo

This particular GT-R Autech is listed by Import Auto Center in Greenville, South Carolina, with an asking price of $44,985. It’s a fair sum for such a rare and mechanically pure example, even considering the mileage and cosmetic wear.

If lower mileage is your priority, there’s another option. JDM Expo has a cleaner car available for export, listed at $78,500. That one has traveled only 57,788 kilometers, or about 35,907 miles. The steeper price reflects its condition and preservation, though it has yet to make it stateside

JDM Expo