Most people who see this 1996 Nissan GT-R probably think of it as the typical R33 model, but for Nissan JDM fans, it’s a 90s supercar. According to Top Rank Imports, it is also the most expensive GT-R in the world and the only one in North America.
What sets it apart is its history. In 1996 Nissan teamed up with Nismo, its in-house tuner, to build the GT-R Nismo 400R. Nismo upgraded the RB26DETT engine to produce 400 horsepower, a figure that was astonishing 27 years ago. To overcome this power, Nismo upgraded the brakes and suspension. The result is an armored version of the R33 GT-R that outperforms the Ferrari F40 in terms of performance.
It also compares favorably with the F40 in terms of value. Brian Jannusch, sales director of Top Rated Imports, was unclear about the price of the Nissan GT-R Nismo 400R. He mentioned a recent auction where it fetched over 100 million yen, or about $757,000, before going into private bidding. Later in the video, he talks about someone he saw in Japan driving a 400R on the highway. The owner of the car thought it cost around $300,000 and didn’t believe Jannusch when he told the owner it was four times that amount.
Jannusch says the part that makes judgment difficult is the 400R’s scarcity. According to the Nissan GTR-Registry, there are only 40 cars, and they are rarely for sale. The one in the video is one of four silver cars and has only 30,000 km or less than 20,000 miles. Top Rated Imports acquired this car from a collector in Canada, and to Jannusch’s knowledge it is the only 400R in North America.
Acquiring a Nissan GT-R Nismo R400 requires deep pockets and a lot of patience. Jannusch said the silver car had just been sold to a customer, who he hopes will enjoy it and not hide it somewhere. However, if you’re looking for a Nissan Skyline at a fraction of the price, you’re in luck. Nissan Skylines are among JDM’s most popular imports, and judging by the videos, the Top Rated Imports have at least a dozen.
