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Buyer's guide

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Nissan Skyline R31

Buyer's guide & specs

By Christopher Weydert Updated Reviewed by Robert Munteanu Fact-checked
Production
1985-1989
Engine
RB20DET / RB20DET-R
1998cc

Quick answer

The R31 Skyline, introduced in 1985, introduced the RB engine family to the Skyline lineup — Hagerty describes RB-series inline-six engines that would go on to power the later R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs — and was the first Skyline fitted with Nissan's HICAS four-wheel steering. R31 body styles included sedans, hardtop sedans, coupes and station wagons. Its halo model is the GTS-R (KHR31) homologation special: Nissan's heritage materials rate the RB20DET-R-powered road car at 210 PS, and Nissan describes the road-going GTS-R as an 800-unit limited edition built to qualify it for Group A touring-car racing. Like its predecessor, the R31 never wore a GT-R badge — Top Gear notes it "was never honoured with the hardcore GT-R badging."

Background

Overview

The R31 (1985-1989) is the eighth-generation Skyline and the first to use the RB engine family. Two sedan and coupe body styles were offered across multiple grades; the GTS-R homologation special (HR31, 800 units) used the RB20DET-R inline-six and set the engineering template that the R32 BNR32 GT-R would build on three years later. No standard GT-R variant was offered in the R31 line.

R31 cars are less collected than their R30 predecessors or R32 successors, which keeps prices accessible for buyers interested in the pre-RB26 RB-engine era. The GTS-R homologation special is the exception — its 800-unit production count and direct RB20DET-R link to motorsport make it sought after by serious collectors. Standard R31 Passage and Excel grades are sometimes available as project cars.

Editorial notes

Key Takeaways

  • RB engine family debut — Hagerty says the R31 "debuted a number of firsts for the Skyline," most importantly RB-series inline-six engines that would go on to power the later R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs
  • First Skyline with HICAS — Hagerty identifies the R31 as the first Skyline fitted with Nissan's HICAS four-wheel-steering system.
  • GTS-R (KHR31) homologation special — Nissan's heritage materials rate the road-going GTS-R at 210 PS; Nissan describes the road-going GTS-R as an 800-unit limited edition built to homologate it for Group A racing
  • No GT-R badge — Top Gear: the R31 "was never honoured with the hardcore GT-R badging," though "it was far from a lemon"
  • GTS-R race pedigree — Nissan's heritage materials record a GTS-R entered by Nissan Motorsports Europe in the 1988 European Touring Car Championship that finished 6th overall at the Spa 24 Hours
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Technical Specifications

Engine Options

Chassis Engine Displacement Power — JDM Notes
r31 RB20DET / RB20DET-R 1998cc 190-210 PS @ 6400 rpm DOHC 24V turbo I6; RB engine debut on Skyline; GTS-R received uprated -R variant

Livability

Headroom
37.2" (coupe, varies by gen)
Adequate front; rear coupe headroom tight
Rear Seats
2 adults short-trip
Coupes are 2+2; sedans more usable
Cargo
10-12 cu ft (coupe)
Sedan trunks larger; spare tire well intrudes

Variants & Trims

Generation Trim Engine Key Features
R31 (1985-1989, eighth gen) Skyline GTS-R (HR31) RB20DET-R 2.0L DOHC turbo I6 Homologation special; 800 units; bridge between R30 and R32 GT-R revival
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Should You Buy a Nissan Skyline R31?

Why You'll Love It

  • RB engines arrive in the Skyline The R31 introduced RB-series engines to the Skyline range.
  • First Skyline with HICAS four-wheel steering Hagerty and Top Gear both confirm the R31 was the first Skyline fitted with Nissan's HICAS four-wheel-steering system.
  • GTS-R homologation pedigree Nissan built the RB20DET-R-powered GTS-R coupe, rated at 210 PS, as what its own heritage materials call the "base model for Group A touring cars"; Nissan's materials also record a GTS-R entered by Nissan Motorsports Europe in the 1988 European Touring Car Championship that finished 6th overall at the Spa 24 Hours.

Why You Might Not

  • No GT-R badge — verify any listing that claims one Top Gear: the R31 "was never honoured with the hardcore GT-R badging." Treat any "GT-R" claim on an R31 listing as a red flag.
  • GTS-R race-spec figures don't apply to the road car Nissan's own heritage materials list 400 PS (294 kW) for the RB20DET-R in its heritage-collection GTS-R, but that figure is explicitly noted as a "race specification" for the car's 1988 European Touring Car Championship entry — the road-going GTS-R was rated 210 PS.
  • Check the fitted transmission Hagerty described an automatic GTS-X; verify the transmission fitted to the individual car.

Who Should NOT Buy This

  • Buyers expecting a GT-R-badged car — Top Gear confirms the R31 "was never honoured with the hardcore GT-R badging"
  • Buyers who assume any RB20DET-R-badged car makes race-spec power — Nissan's own materials show the 400 PS figure applies specifically to the 1988 European Touring Car Championship race car, not the 210 PS road-going GTS-R
  • Buyers who haven't confirmed grade and transmission (GTS-X vs. GTS-R; manual vs. automatic) before paying a sporting-spec premium
  • Buyers planning a US import who haven't verified the individual car's manufacture date and EPA eligibility — NHTSA permits a vehicle at least 25 years old to be imported without meeting the FMVSS, entered under Box 1 of the HS-7 Declaration form, with the 25-year period running from the vehicle's manufacture date, not its model year; EPA emission-standards requirements are separate and still apply

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Critical Priority

High Priority

Medium Priority

Generation History

Seventh generation R31 (1985-1989)

  • RB engine family debut on Skyline (RB20DET)
  • GTS-R homologation special (HR31) — 800 units
  • Both sedan and 'GTS' coupe body styles
  • Last Skyline before GT-R revival

Twelfth generation V35 / GT-R R35 (2001-2007 (V35 sedan); 2007-2025 (R35 GT-R))

  • V35 Skyline (2001-2007) sold globally as Infiniti G35; no GT-R
  • R35 GT-R (2007-2025) marketed as 'Nissan GT-R'; catalogued here as the R35 Skyline generation
  • VR38DETT 3.8L twin-turbo V6; GR6 dual-clutch transaxle
  • Skyline nameplate continues as Infiniti G37 / Q50 sedan in V36 / V37
  • R34 was the last car to wear the 'Skyline GT-R' badge; the R35 carried the GT-R bloodline forward as the 'Nissan GT-R'
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The Buyer's Read

R31 body styles included sedans, hardtop sedans, coupes and station wagons. Confirm the individual car's grade and chassis code in person rather than trusting the listing title.

Hagerty credits the R31 with debuting RB-series inline-six engines in the Skyline lineup that went on to power the later R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs — along with Nissan's first HICAS four-wheel-steering system. The halo model is the GTS-R (KHR31): Nissan's own heritage materials rate the road-going, RB20DET-R-powered car at 210 PS, and Nissan describes the road-going GTS-R as an 800-unit limited edition built to homologate it for Group A racing. Distinguish the road-car rating from the race specification — Nissan's heritage materials also list 400 PS for the GTS-R's engine, but that figure is explicitly the Group A race specification used in the car's 1988 European Touring Car Championship entry (which finished 6th overall at the Spa 24 Hours), not the road car.

No R31 ever carried a GT-R badge. Top Gear confirms it "was never honoured with the hardcore GT-R badging" even though, in its words, "it was far from a lemon." Treat any R31 advertised as a "GT-R" as a red flag. Hagerty described an automatic GTS-X; verify the transmission fitted to the individual car.

If you're importing an R31, NHTSA permits a vehicle at least 25 years old to be imported without meeting the FMVSS, entered under Box 1 of the HS-7 Declaration form — the 25-year period runs from the vehicle's manufacture date, not its model year, so establish documentation of the individual car's build date. EPA emission-standards requirements are separate and still apply; verify the specific car's EPA eligibility. Browse what's currently available across the R31 range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did the R31 Skyline come as a GT-R?
No. Top Gear confirms the R31 "was never honoured with the hardcore GT-R badging" — the GT-R nameplate returned to the Skyline in 1989.
What made the R31 significant to later GT-Rs?
Hagerty credits the R31 with introducing RB-series inline-six engines that went on to power the later R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs, plus Nissan's first HICAS four-wheel-steering system.
What is the GTS-R?
The GTS-R (KHR31) is the R31's homologation special, built with the Group A-based RB20DET-R engine. Nissan's own heritage materials rate the road car at 210 PS; Nissan describes the road-going GTS-R as an 800-unit limited edition.
Did the R31 GTS-R race?
Yes — Nissan's heritage materials record a GTS-R entered by Nissan Motorsports Europe in the 1988 European Touring Car Championship that finished 6th overall at the Spa 24 Hours.

12 sources cited below

Sources & References

Sources (12)
  1. JDMBUYSELL — Nissan Skyline: The Ultimate Guide (2026) — JDMBUYSELL Verified
  2. Nissan USA — Evolution from Skyline to GT-R — Nissan USA Verified
  3. Silodrome — Nissan Skyline GT-R History — Silodrome Verified
  4. Road & Track — The History of the Nissan GT-R — Road & Track Verified
  5. Wikipedia — Nissan Skyline (model line overview) — Wikipedia Verified
  6. Wikipedia — Nissan Skyline GT-R — Wikipedia Verified
  7. Wikipedia — Prince Skyline (1957 origin) — Wikipedia Verified
  8. Wikipedia — Nissan Skyline (R32) — Wikipedia Verified
  9. Wikipedia — Nissan Skyline (R33) — Wikipedia Verified
  10. Wikipedia — Nissan Skyline (R34) — Wikipedia Verified
  11. Wikipedia — Nissan GT-R (R35 standalone model) — Wikipedia Verified
  12. Hagerty — Definitive Nissan R32 GT-R Buyers Guide — Hagerty Verified

Sources last verified:

Market & demand on JDMBUYSELL

Reported sold prices and buyer-inquiry trend for the Nissan Skyline R31 on the JDMBUYSELL marketplace.

Source: /api/market-data/nissan/skyline/r31.json · Sold prices aggregated from listings marked sold by private-party sellers on JDMBUYSELL — seller-reported, not verified hammer prices. Inquiry counts are distinct buyer-to-seller conversations referencing at least one listing for this chassis.

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