Courtesy RM Sotheby’s
Among the pantheon of iconic 1990s Japanese performance cars, few hold the same mythical allure as the 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R NISMO 400R.
Built in celebration of Nissan’s 1995 Le Mans campaign, this hand-crafted masterpiece was limited to just 44 units, making it one of the rarest and most coveted Skylines ever produced.
Developed by Nissan’s motorsport arm, NISMO, the 400R shattered Japan’s informal 280PS “gentlemen’s agreement,” delivering an astonishing 400PS from the bespoke RB-X GT2 engine. The twin-turbo 2.8-liter straight-six represented a significant evolution of the legendary RB26DETT, pushing the R33 GT-R beyond its racing roots and into a new realm of performance.
Lightweight carbon-fiber panels, a titanium strut brace, Bilstein dampers, and a 30mm-lowered ride height further enhanced handling precision, while the LM GT1-inspired 18-inch wheels reinforced its motorsport pedigree. The 400R was not just faster—it was sharper, rarer, and more focused than any GT-R that came before it.
Priced at nearly three times the cost of a standard GT-R and released during Japan’s economic stagnation, only 44 cars were ever built—far fewer than the intended 100. Yet its digital immortality was secured when it became one of the standout stars of the original Gran Turismo video game for Sony PlayStation, which sold nearly 11 million copies worldwide.
In August 2025, a pristine example showing just 7,093 kilometers sold for $995,000 USD at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction, underscoring its elite status in the collector car world.
The NISMO 400R is more than a performance machine—it is a symbol of Japan’s golden age of engineering and a timeless expression of the Skyline legacy.
A car born for the track, immortalized in pixels, and forever revered in the hearts of enthusiasts.
