Yet another victory for the JDM collector car world.
The collector car market remains unpredictable and rather interesting. It has the power to not only make or break a car’s future value but also bring back recognition and significance for some of the four-wheel icons that have been almost forgotten in the past. This theory proves to be true in the case of classic JDM cars, as they continue to skyrocket in value among owners looking to fill that nostalgic void with movie heroes like the Nissan GT-R. And while we’ve all been witnesses to the current craze of R32, R33, and R34 GT-Rs in the U.S., and their eye-watering appreciation on the market, none hold up to the mystery and nearly million-dollar value quite like the Nissan GT-R 400R. The auction specialists at RM Sotheby’s recently shed light on the story behind one of the most exclusive GT-Rs ever made with the $995,000 sale of this 1996 Nissan Skyline GT-R NISMO 400R at its Monterey 2025 event.
For those who aren’t familiar with the NISMO 400R or the roots of the Nissan Skyline GT-R, its “Godzilla” nickname was earned in the early 1990s when the R32 generation dominated Group A racing so badly that rules were rewritten to remove it from the series. By the time the R33 rolled off production lines in Omori, Japan, Nissan set its sights on the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans, where competition from McLaren and Porsche proved too much. Still, Nissan decided to commemorate that era with something truly special, the Skyline GT-R NISMO 400R. The limited-edition road car took the R33 and transformed it into a race-bred monster, one that broke Japan’s agreement on horsepower and made history as one of the rarest Skylines ever created.
At its heart, the 400R packed an upgraded version of Nissan’s legendary RB26 engine, bored and stroked to nearly 2.8 liters and equipped with twin turbos pushing nearly 16 lbs of boost. The result was 400 horsepower, well beyond the official 276 horsepower ceiling that other Japanese sports cars of the era were sticking to. Power was managed by Nissan’s advanced ATTESA all-wheel-drive system and Super-HICAS four-wheel steering, which gives the car balance and control that matches its brute strength. Lightweight carbon fiber and titanium components, Bilstein suspension, a lower ride height, and LM GT1-inspired wheels completed the whole package.
NISMO initially talked about building 100 examples, but Japan’s economic downturn and the car’s $110,000 price meant only 44 were actually completed, with 40 confirmed surviving. That scarcity turned the 400R into a JDM legend almost immediately. To many fans worldwide, its appearance in the original Gran Turismo video game was their first glimpse, cementing its status as a dream car. This recently sold example is particularly desirable. It was first registered in Japan in 1996 before spending time in Hong Kong, later returning to Japan, and eventually making its way to the United States. With just over 7,000 kilometers on the odometer, it remains in factory-fresh condition for its new owner. For enthusiasts and serious collectors, the NISMO 400R is the ultimate expression of Nissan’s motorsport and a crown jewel in the JDM world.
Source: RM Sotheby’s/Robin Adams