Bring a Trailer Bargain of the Week: 1995 Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R
With more beloved JDM cars finally becoming old enough to import, auction prices are naturally going up. That’s how you get R34 Skyline GT-Rs edging close to half a million dollars. However, not every Skyline commands a sky-high premium—even some limited-edition models are still reasonably priced. And this week on Bring a Trailer, there’s one up for grabs: a 1995 Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R.
It’s not a GT-R, but a Nissan Skyline R33 GTS-25t still offers a lot for enthusiasts
Although the terms seem synonymous for some, not every Nissan Skyline is a GT-R. The 2003-2007 Infiniti G35, for example, is technically a Skyline, just not a GT-R. But that doesn’t mean the non-GT-R models have nothing to offer. Nor does it mean they don’t borrow anything from their more iconic brethren. Case in point, the R33 Nissan Skyline GTS-25t.
Admittedly, the Nissan Skyline GTS-25t doesn’t get all of the R33 GT-R’s performance features. For one, unlike the GT-R, it has RWD, rather than AWD, Hagerty reports. And it doesn’t have the GT-R’s 276-hp 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six ‘RB26DETT’ engine. Instead, it has a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-six ‘RB25DET’ engine rated at 247 hp and 217 lb-ft, Silodrome reports. Hence the ‘25t’ in the name.
However, the R33 Nissan Skyline GTS-25t does have several enthusiast-friendly features. Like the GT-R, it has Nissan’s ‘HICAS’ all-wheel steering, Toprank Importers reports. It also has four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and a standard limited-slip differential. Plus, GTS-25t buyers could order their cars with the optional active LSD from the R33 GT-R, Sunrise Cars reports. And while an automatic was available, the standard transmission was a five-speed manual.
As a result, although it weighed more than its R32 GTS-t predecessor, the R33 Nissan Skyline GTS-25t is still a fun car to drive, JBSkyline reports. It’s well-balanced and more stable than the R32. It also has better brakes and an improved suspension setup, Road & Track points out. And unlike the R32, it’s available in sedan form.
The 1995 Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R on Bring a Trailer
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However, for some, the standard R33 Skyline GTS-25t wasn’t quite special enough. This brings us to the 1995 Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R currently listed on Bring a Trailer.
Impul is a Japanese tuner founded by Nissan factory driver Kazuyoshi Hoshino, CarThrottle explains. Impul is to Nissan what Mugen is to Honda: an independent tuner that only works on one brand’s cars. That makes the Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R roughly the equivalent of the Mugen Civic Si. Except instead of a Civic, it’s a Skyline GTS-25t.
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As a Skyline GTS-25t, this 1995 sedan has power windows and locks, A/C, a rear wiper, and a rear spoiler. And as a Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R, it has a body kit, BBS wheels, sportier seats, and stiffer sway bars. It also has an Impul stainless-steel exhaust, an Impul aluminum shift knob and pedals, slotted front brake rotors, and a front strut-tower brace.
This 1995 Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R isn’t stock, though. It has aftermarket coil-over suspension, an aftermarket Bluetooth touchscreen stereo with Bose speakers, a turbo timer, an R34-spec ignition coil, rear-window tinting, a Momo steering wheel, and carbon-fiber wrap on the B-pillars. And it has a few imperfections, including exterior scratches, some clear-coat failure, a tear in the driver’s seat, and some cub rash and rust on the wheels.
| Bring a Trailer
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On the plus side, this 1995 Nissan Skyline Impul R33-R has only done approximately 124,000 miles. And Bring a Trailer notes the seller recently changed the oil as well as the transmission and differential fluids. They also replaced the fuel filter, spark plugs, and suspension ball joints.
It’s a limited-edition JDM bargain
As of this writing, this 1995 Skyline Impul R33-R is listed on Bring a Trailer at $11,050 with three days left in the auction. That’s a rather low price for any R33 Skyline, including the GTS-25t. In comparison, the cheapest GTS-25t Japanese Classics sold cost $13,995. And the most expensive example, a modified Type M, cost $26,495.
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Plus, the R33-R is a rare model. Impul only made 200 Impul R33-Rs; this 1995 car is #75. That makes it not just an affordable Skyline, but a fairly unique one, too.
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