1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R R32: The JDM Legend That Earned the Name Godzilla
Ryo Tanaka
· 6 min read
0 min left
When the Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 debuted in 1989 to compete in Group A touring car racing, it didn't just win—it annihilated the competition. In the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC), the R32 won all 29 races it entered from 1989 to 1993.
When it entered the Australian Touring Car Championship and crushed the local Ford Sierra Cosworths at the Bathurst 1000, Australian motoring press famously dubbed it 'Godzilla'—the monster from Japan.
Tech Ahead of Its Time
- RB26DETT Engine: 2.6-liter twin-turbo inline-six with cast iron block, officially rated at the Japanese 'gentlemen's agreement' limit of 276 HP (real output was 320+ hp in street trim, easily tunable to 600+ hp).
- ATTESA E-TS: Advanced electro-hydraulic all-wheel drive that ran 100% rear-wheel drive until rear slip was detected, vectoring up to 50% torque to the front wheels.
- Super HICAS: Electronically controlled four-wheel steering system.
The R32 GT-R pioneered the digital performance era and established the foundation for modern supercar AWD systems.
