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Due to its amazing race performance in the 1980s and early 1990s, the R32 GTR was nicknamed Godzilla.

Although many enthusiasts recognize the R32 GT-R's grandeur, few are aware of its racing background. After going through several iterations, the Skyline finally debuted in 1989 with the version that served as the true forerunner of the GT-R we know today. The R32 Skyline GT-R was equipped with all-wheel-drive and the legendary Nissan RB26DETT inline-six engine, which produced 280 horsepower. We'll tell you more about it later.

In 1989, a stripped-down version of the R32 entered the Japanese Touring Car Championship and went on to win every race it entered. In the following four seasons, it won 29 races in a row. That moment marked the beginning of the GT-R's illustrious career as a racing car. The greatest achievement, however, was the 1991 Nissan R32 Skyline GT-R. The flagship R32 Skyline was a wholly new car and revived Nissan's GT-R brand after 15 years.

In 1988 the R32 GT-R prototype debuted. Six GT-R Nismos were produced in 1989; the remaining 554 were all produced in 1990. Only 560 cars were made, of which 60 were used for racing and 500 were sold to the public. A total of 43.934 Skyline R32 GT-Rs were built. To further understand how the GT-R came to be, we'll go a little deeper into the past.

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Let us explain. The RB26DETT is the title given by Nissan engineers to a 2.6-liter twin-turbo straight-six engine. This engine block was constructed of cast iron, while the cylinder head with 24 valves was built of aluminum. Because of its 2.6-liter engine, the R32 GT-R was able to compete in a category that required a minimum weight of 2,778 lbs. The racing version of this engine generated more than 600 horsepower, while the road version only developed roughly 320 horsepower in its original configuration.

The carmaker also equipped the R32 GT-R with a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system known as ATTESA E-TS to help it deal with the enormous amount of power it produces. Nissan appears to have gotten the idea for this system from the Porsche 959. They believed that the constant transfer of 20% of Porsche's torque to the front wheels led to understeer. Nissan's technology kept the car entirely rear-wheel drive at corner departure to maintain optimum front tire grip.

For racing, Nismo designed a customized RB26DETT N1 engine for racing that has a balanced crankshaft, enhanced water and oil channels, better pistons and top piston rings, revised camshafts, and turbochargers. That engine continued to be employed for several model years after that, including the R33 and the R34.

Related: Check Out The Godzilla, Or Most Competitive Nissan R32 GT-R Ever

Naganori Ito, the chief engineer, wanted to utilize the R32 GT-R for Group A racing, thus the design specifications were developed in line with the category A regulations. At the time of construction, the Nordschleife production car record was held by a Porsche 944 at 8 minutes and 45 seconds. The record was broken by Nissan test driver Hiroyoshi Katoh, who finished the race in 8 minutes and 20 seconds.

For five consecutive years, from 1989 to 1993, the R32 GT-R won the Japanese Touring Car Championship, completing 29 races out of 29. The three drivers who came out on top to win the title were Masahiro Hazemi, Kazuyoshi Hoshino, and Masahiko Kageyama. Along with the R33 GT-R, this vehicle was unbeatable in Group N racing and amassed a total of fifty victories between the years 1991 and 1997.

After being entered into the Australian Touring Car Championship for the first time in 1990, the R32 GT-R quickly began racking up victories and went on to win the title every year from 1990 through 1992. Additionally, Nissan was victorious in the most prestigious race held in Australia, the Bathurst 1000, in 1991 and 1992. As a result of this achievement, the R32 was given the nickname "Godzilla" by the Australian automotive press since it was a monster from Japan.

When compared to a standard Nissan Skyline R32, the GT-R had a noticeably bigger intercooler, as well as larger brakes and front guards, and a hood that was made of aluminum. The wide front and rear wheel arches are another identifying characteristic. The seats now provide a better level of support. The digital clock and turboboost gauge were deleted from the instrument cluster. As an alternative to the clock, an indicator that displayed how much torque was being transmitted to the front wheels was installed. Indicators for oil temperature, voltage, and turboboost were mounted right above the climate control.

When compared to its competitors, it offered better value for money, which was one of its many benefits. The GT-Rs were priced so that even average people who loved speed could buy them. The Skyline GT-R quickly became a global symbol even though it was never produced outside of Japan and had just a few export markets.

Adriana is a young car enthusiast who enjoys all things automotive. When it comes to cars, she has no problem chatting about them for hours on end. Her passion for automobiles only grew after she began working as an automotive writer a few years ago. And, without a doubt, she will not miss any car museums while traveling.