Introduced to the US market in October 1969, the Datsun 240Z stickered around $3,526 with an inline-six L24 capable of putting a European GT car on its backfoot. Yutaka Katayama — Mr. K, then heading Nissan Motor Corporation USA — championed the 240Z against more cautious voices in Tokyo. The legacy continued two decades later with another legendary car, the BNR32 Skyline GT-R featuring all-wheel drive and twin-turbocharged inline-six power, along with touring car racing trophies. The Z-car established Nissan’s legacy in terms of performance and engineering, while the Skyline solidified the image even further. Collector interest is gradually catching up, superseding even domestic muscle cars in terms of collectability.
The Z-Car Revolution: How the 240Z Made Speed Accessible
Production on the S30-chassis Z-series spanned 1969-1978 (specifically, 240Z/L24 (1969-1973), 260Z/L26 (1974), 280Z/L28 with EFI (1975)). Total production exceeded 520,000 units for the entire run across the three iterations. Relatively few of those cars were spared from normal usage, and as a result, clean examples can command $50,000 – $100,000 on Bring a Trailer. Some of the most well-maintained and matching-numbers 240Zs have already sold in excess of $300,000 in major auctions, according to the Hagerty Valuation Tools data. Original L24 engines had a specific stamp on the fuel pump mount boss matching the serial number from the radiator support. Nissan’s first US turbo, the L28ET, arrived in the S130 280ZX (1979-1983) and ended the affordable-GT era. This marked the beginning of their journey from affordable performance to highly sought-after collectibles.
The Godzilla Mythos: ATTESA, RB26DETT, and Why Skylines Were Unbeatable
The R32 GT-R (chassis code BNR32, produced in 1989-1994) received the infamous “Godzilla” name from Wheels Magazine back in 1989. There are a couple of features responsible for that. One is the twin-turbocharged DOHC RB26DETT inline-six engine and the second is the ATTESA E-TS torque split AWD system with an active rear differential. Third, the touring car program helped the Skyline GT-R secure the Australian Touring Car Championship titles for three consecutive seasons (1990-1992), until it was banned due to regulation changes.
Official power output was limited by the Japanese gentlemen’s agreement to 280 PS only, but the potential was enormous. The R33 GT-R / BCNR33 was the next model year range (produced 1995-1998; total units manufactured: ~16,300). Finally, the R34 GT-R / BNR34 (produced 1999-2002; ~11,500 units) marked the end of the Skyline era. Six-speed Getrag manual transmission and multi-function display made it particularly desirable, although no Skyline successors appeared to use the platform anymore.
Navigating the ’25-year rule’ in the US has become a rite of passage for Skyline enthusiasts. As of May 2026, the R32 and R33 are fully legal to roam American roads, and the gates are now wide open for the legendary R34. Since eligibility is determined by the specific month of production, any R34 built up to May 2001 can now be legally imported and registered. If you’re chasing a late-production 2002 model — like the elusive M-Spec Nür — you’ll have to wait just a few more months until the calendar hits 2027. It’s a rolling window of opportunity, making the dream of owning ‘Godzilla’ more attainable with every passing month
Verifying the Legend: Why Every Collector Buy Starts with a Vehicle History Report
Having a clear title and history of ownership account for at least half the price of an expensive collector car, as replicas and modified vehicles will likely hide that info in the listing. Indeed, we’re recently been apprised of fraudulent condition sheets from unscrupulous exporters in Japan. A 240Z with a donor engine may be impossible to tell from the original engine car just by looking at it. Similarly, an R32 GT-S can be passed off as a GT-R without obvious clues.
Therefore, before any deposit moves, get a full vehicle history report on the candidate VIN. EpicVIN’s NMVTIS-approved database covers 1981-2025 across all 50 states with a 99% plate-to-VIN match rate, surfacing title brands, accident records, salvage flags, registration history across states, and open NHTSA recalls. The only caveat here is that some pre-1981 vehicles, like the 240Z or the Hakosuka PGC10 Skyline do not have a 17-digit VIN and require actual physical confirmation based on factory-issued plates. JDM cars start reporting their history from the date of US registration after being imported. Nevertheless, the report remains helpful in verifying other details of your vehicle’s history.
The 90s Rad Era Classics: Why a Vehicle History Report Matters More Than Ever
Silvia (models S13 (1989-1994), S14 (1995-1998), S15 (1999-2002)), as well as the Z32 300ZX coupe (USDM model range, 1990-1996, VG30DE / VG30DETT) gained significant recognition in the import scene and are gradually entering the collector realm. Specifically, the JDM-only 25-year-old Spec-R version of the S15 Silvia has recently sold between $50,000-$80,000 on Mecum and Bring a Trailer. At the same time, 240SX coupes featuring original KA24DE engine have been fetching prices starting at $25,000-$45,000. However, there are several risks associated with this purchase. These include engine swaps common to many of the cars mentioned as well as modifications which have not been fully reverted to original condition. A vehicle history report sorts the survivors from the salvage-yard refugees in seconds.