Overview of the Nissan Skyline
Originally known as the Prince Skyline before Prince and Nissan merged in 1967, this is a badge that covers a mix of body styles and was introduced locally in 1964.
Four-door Nissan Skylines were built in Australia between 1978 and 1990, though the Skyline name these days is most closely associated with the sportier versions that were imported privately - and the GT-R supercar that no longer uses the Skyline name.
In more recent years, Nissan Skyline models have been rebadged for Nissan's luxury division Infiniti for countries that include North America and Australia. The Infiniti Q50 sedan, for example, is called the Nissan Skyline in Japan.
RUNNING COSTS
Fuel Consumption
= Highly economical.
= Good economy.
= Average fuel use.
= Heavy consumption.
Servicing
Servicing costs not available. Nissan Skyline parts and equipment can be found on Gumtree.
SIMILAR MODELS TO NISSAN SKYLINE (COUPE MODELS)
Audi A5
BMW 3 Series Coupe
Mazda RX-8
Mercedes-Benz CLK
WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: NISSAN SKYLINE (1992 ONWARDS)
If the Nissan Skyline you're looking at was made after 1992, then it's a version of the car that was not imported by Nissan Australia.
And even if the build date is prior to 1992, it could still be a private - or 'grey' - import as many were imported by enthusiasts hankering for this cult car.
So the first thing to check is whether the car in question actually complies with all the relevant Australia Standards and design rules. Some cars had to be inspected by an engineer (depending on State and build-date) so this is a murky area in some cases. It's also worth checking that your insurer will cover a private import like the Skyline.
The next thing to work out is exactly what variant the car is. Some were all-wheel drive, some were turbocharged, and some had all-wheel steering. Some had all of this, others had none, so values vary wildly. Don't accidentally pay GT-R money for a GTS, for example.
It's also handy to find out from where the car was originally imported. A Hong Kong-delivered car, for instance, will have spent the first part of its life idling in traffic. Even Japan has regions of harsh climate that can be hard on cars.
Finally, be wary of heavily modified cars as they bring too many unknowns in terms of roadworthiness, not to mention legality.
