Miguel Sánchez
With the Japanese engine there is one indisputable thing: it does not leave you indifferent. You may like the aesthetics more or less, to point out the fact that despite its great mechanical level it has never ceased to be a somewhat competitive panorama "peripheral”, Whatever you want… But the truth is that every time we talk about a sports car from the rising sun, the quality / price ratio is usually outstanding, not to mention a light and playful demeanor.
Come on, although we have grown up in the fascination for Italian names and German circuits ... It is impossible not to wish from the rooftops to drive one of the great Japanese sports cars. And well, for big ... Nissan skyline. It may not be your favorite, but a car is on the market 50 years over 7 different evolutions it is something that speaks for itself.
A model that evolved, from the sedan conception of the beginning, to being a rabid and competitive racing legend in the Japanese touring car championships. And, you see: you start to power a familiar bland a priori and end up eating the tracks in the mid-70s thanks to a skillful mix of power, agility and cutting-edge technology.
A state-of-the-art technology that, although today it is surpassed, is capable of delivering strong emotions to the driver who dares with a Nissan Skyline 2000GT. A classic as fun as it is charming that little by little begins to appreciate in the market. Perhaps that is why this one that we bring you to the pages of The Escudería has been acquired less than a month ago. And that is not exactly in the original state! But ... you have to see how it seduces. And how it sounds.
[your_vimeo url = »https://vimeo.com/265646405 ″ width =» 700 ″]
SKYLINE C10 WITH HAKOSUKA, FUN IS COMING
Launched in 1957, the Skyline was presented as the perfect car for an emerging Japanese middle class that was beginning to access both consumption and parenthood. In that sense, Nissan released a respectable-looking car; perfect for the image of any accountant as gray as efficient, equipped at the same time with a large interior space for children who would be wrapped in the latest security measures.
All in all: a comfortable and reliable sedan for the average family man. However, we speculated on the idea that both inside and outside of Nissan there were Japanese people wanting to have fun. So things, the Skyline began to gain power in its second generation, in addition to appearing available in a coupe version.
Evolving in this sense, the Skyline C1968 appeared in 10, which for fans of the saga is the most iconic stage of the model. Why? Possibly because during its four years in production it not only sold like bagels - more than 300.000 units - but it also burst into touring car competitions by sweeping almost every race where it was presented.
In short, a master play in which Nissan swapped the old four-cylinder for a 2-liter inline-six capable of giving 106 hp of power in the basic versions. In this way, the brand's confidence in the sporting possibilities of the model was consolidated, which was fully confirmed when in 1969 the Hakosuka ingenuity was launched; a somewhat smaller motor -but capable of delivering up to 160CV- destined to motorize the sportiest versions such as the 2000 GT of rear wheel drive y 5 marches that stars in our article.
Already in the 70s the mythical denomination was launched GT-R; the one that reminds racing enthusiasts of the legend it was on the Japanese tracks and, for engineering lovers, drives them crazy for its sophisticated four-wheel independent torque system, which acts when it detects loss of power. traction compensating the movement of the car. But don't worry, we'll see that another day ...
NISSAN SKYLINE 2000 GT: AN EXEMPLARY OF THE CAPRICHO
As you can imagine, from Skyline-C10 we could be talking for a long time. But summing up ... You've already seen that the 2000 GT was the first - and perhaps most iconic - fully sporty model in this saga with a 50-year history. For those of us who are lovers of the classics, these stories and qualities literally drive us crazy when it comes to appreciating and enjoying these cars. This is something that also tends to drive another recurring protagonist crazy in our world: the price.
We are not going to fool ourselves either; this car is not extremely affordable. In fact the model that we are showing you It was sold in the US a few days ago for almost 60.000 euros. However ... Within the current market the Skyline is being valued more and more, so those who catch models like this in time could get some performance in a very few years ahead.
A performance that could be higher depending on the state of the car is more original; in this case the truth is that it is not. But ... Let's not always think with the wallet. Okay, the modifications that this 1972 car incorporates have been able to detract from it, or maybe not ... have you seen how those RS Watanabe rims fit? And that silver repaint? It will not be the original condition, but it is capable of transmitting all the emotion of a model that was a before and after for Nissan and Japanese sports cars. I think we're going to start paying more attention to those old Orientals ...
- All photos and video from the car ad in Bring a Trailer.
