1972 NISSAN Skyline GT-R (C110) S20 5MT (160 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Nissan produced the second generation of the Skyline GT-R in 197 units before it cut it from the assembly lines due to newer emission standards.

Nissan unveiled the C110 Skyline at the 1972 Tokyo Motor Show, but the sales started next year. It was a big gamble with the Japanese rules and regulations, which the carmaker lost. It was the last GT-R until the 1989 model, the mighty R32.

Unlike its predecessor, the C110 featured a fastback coupe shape. Shinichiro Sakurai designed the car as a sport vehicle. It was no longer a two-door version of a sedan. He took his inspiration from American and European sports cars from those times. The front fascia sported a dual-headlights system, with four headlamps in individual clusters. Nissan didn’t put its name on the mesh-grille and left only the black and red GT-R badge. From its side, the car resembled the fastback shape of the Mustang Mach 1, with a similar window line but scaled down. Its back panel sported only the Skyline nameplate but not the company’s logo.

Inside, the carmaker installed two bucket seats at the front separated by a center console with a storage compartment. In the back, even though there was a bench, it was suitable only for children or small dogs. The instrument cluster featured an aluminum panel and seven clusters for the dials and gauges.

Under the hood, Nissan installed a masterpiece, inline-six engine. Its two-liter displacement provided 160 hp, and it was fed through three double-barrel horizontal carburetors. It was the exact solution adopted by some European racing cars from that era. A five-speed manual sent the power to the rear wheels. The GT-R featured disc brakes in all corners, which was unusual for a Japanese car.