Because it is a 4-door car, it makes sense to buy it

At the “Kyushu☆GT-R Meeting 2023” held in Kumamoto Prefecture on October 22, 2023, two of the 4-door Nissan “Skyline GT-R” cars, of which 422 were produced in limited numbers, participated. We asked the owner of one of the cars, Mr. Munetaka Matsumoto, why he chose a 4-door car.　We asked him about his thoughts.

Because he is a genuine sedan lover

The “GT-R” from the Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32 model) introduced in 1989 to the R34 model made in 2002 is called the second generation. Only a 2-door coupe body was available, but a 4-door GT-R was suddenly exhibited at the 32nd Tokyo Motor Show held in 1997. It was produced by Autech, responsible for Nissan’s special purpose vehicles such as the Nismo series and welfare cars, and was officially launched in 1998.

The R33, the fourth generation of the Nissan Skyline GT-R, was sold from 1995 to 1998. The weight also increased, and this led to it being shunned by users who enjoyed driving on mountain passes, etc., and it is undeniable that this generation was derided as a “failed product.”

However, in 1998, at the end of the model year, a 4-door version of the GT-R was released by Autech. As a special car to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Skyline, 422 units were produced under the concept of “the highest performance sports sedan for adults.

Mr. Matsumoto, the owner of this car, acquired this Nissan Skyline GT-R Autec Version 40th ANNIVERSARY about 3 years ago. The reason why he chose this car among many GT-Rs. It had a lot to do with Mr. Matsumoto’s taste in cars.

“I have always loved four-door sedans. I’ve owned Toyota Mark IIs and Nissan Skylines, but I chose the four-door for all of them, even those with a two-door configuration. I wanted to buy one when Autech announced it at the time, but I needed a family car, so I gave up then. Then my wish came true and about three years ago I was able to get this unit!”

The aesthetics of the 4-door GT-R are in the rear doors

“If I wanted a sporty atmosphere, I would definitely go for a 2-door, but I like the attention to detail that only a 4-door can give.”

When we asked Mr. Matsumoto what his favorite part of his car is, he immediately answered, “The rear door area!” As is well known to enthusiasts, the R33 GT-R Autech version has many special features. One of them is the use of blister fenders similar to those on the 2-door GT-R, while using the 4-door body.

The bodies of the R32 and later GT-Rs, known as the second generation, are all blister fenders based on the 2-door coupe. Autech has followed that design for this 4-door version of the GT-R, but everything had to be rebuilt, not only the rear fenders, but also the rear doors and the body parts that are not visible at the openings.

In other words, a mind-boggling amount of work went into this Autech version in order to create a “real 4-door GT-R”. It is not necessary to reiterate that this point attracts Mr. Matsumoto.

Mr. Matsumoto, who opened the rear door to show us the car during our interview, said, “I could drink as many drinks as I want just by looking at this car.”