Skyline at night, CC’s delight. I saw this ‘80s-looking coupé in the dusk and snapped it up quickly, without knowing I was photographing the JDM equivalent of the Dukes of Hazzard’s General Lee. Actually, that show was not exactly a police procedural, so that’s the wrong car. This Skyline is more like the JDM equivalent of a red 1976 Ford Gran Torino with a white vector stripe, a maroon Mark 2 with a vinyl top or a ragged gray Peugeot 403 cabriolet.
Cop show car legends seem to fall into two categories: scruffy classics and spiced-up coupés
The show in question is called Seibu Keisatsu (“Western Police”). It ran from 1979 to 1984 and prominently featured a triplet of red and black Skyline RS-Turbo coupés in its last couple of seasons. This one is doubtless a recreation, just like those unfortunate DeLoreans that get Back-to-the-Futurized. But in the case of this Skyline, the modifications are pretty tame. The hardest part, as with the DeLorean example, is finding the car itself.
Not that this 6th generation Skyline is as rare as a DMC-12. But in RS-Turbo coupé form, perhaps things get a little tricky. This precise version was produced for about six months, after which the RS-Turbo got a new grille and noticeably thinner headlights, earning it the nickname Tekkamen (Iron Mask). Our CC is a pre-Iron Mask model, so I’m guessing it’s fairly rare (if genuine).
Although this specific model is associated with this Japanese TV show, the 6th generation as a whole is usually referred to as the “Newman Skyline” due to its promotion being made on TV by Paul Newman. These adverts are fun to watch. They kind of remind me of Bill Murray doing those Suntory whisky ads in Lost in Translation. Before we hit the bottle though, let’s review background of this Newman (no, not Paul).
The 1981-85 Skyline’s four body variants, including the Iron Mask (1983-85) RS hardtop
The R30 Skyline appeared in August 1981. The platform was offered as a saloon, wagon and coupé like its ‘70s predecessors, but this time Nissan added a five-door hatchback to the mix. In Japan, the Skyline was available in 26 variations, with three different 4-cyl. engines (1.8 to 2 litres), one 2-litre 6-cyl and a 2.8 litre Diesel six.
More broadly, the range was divided between the lower-spec TI, the 6-cyl. 2000GT and the sporty RS. Not all body variants were spread across these three denominations: wagons were only available as TIs and kept the old live axle; the RS was only available with in notchback saloon and coupé variations.
Unlike previous generations, the high-performance RS model, which arrived in late 1981, had the FJ20 engine – a DOHC 2-litre 4-cyl., as opposed to a 6-cyl. This allegedly explains why it was called “RS” and not “GT-R,” as Nissan felt that name was only fitting for 6-cyl. cars. The RS-Turbo arrived in February 1983, just prior to a range-wide facelift. For some reason, Nissan felt the Turbo needed its own special model code, which is DR30. “D” for dangerous?
The RS-Turbo was lighter than the standard hardtop coupé and the addition of the turbocharger gave the 5-speed transmission 188 hp to send over to the semi-trailing arm IRS. Later Iron Mask versions were heavier, but also more powerful (with an intercooler), at just over 200 hp. So not only was this Skyline something of a TV star, it also went like a bullet train.
Compared to the previous generations, the Newman Skyline does look a tad more anonymous-looking. The preceding three Skylines always had a distinctive oblique crease (dubbed the “Surf line” by Skyline enthusiasts) over the rear wheelarch. Shinichiro Sakurai, head designer of all Skylines since the Prince days, felt that the Surf line, which he had introduced by pressing a coat hanger on a clay model of the C10, had had its day. The quad round taillamps, however, remained – though camouflaged within a rectangular housing.
Inside, the ‘80s had also arrived. There was no way I could take a decent photo of the interior given the diminishing light, so here’s a Nissan-made photo instead. The interior is quite Spartan, in these early RS-Turbos, as well it should be. Later cars had A/C, radio / tape deck, electric windows and many other luxuries, which explains how they gained about 100 kg.
Truth be told, this is one of those CCs that impresses more after the fact than when you’re out there taking the photos. To me, this was just another ‘80s Nissan. It looked pretty sporty and all that, but I had no idea I was in the presence of automotive royalty. Well, maybe not royalty, more like glitterati, but still – any Japanese person 40 and over would instantly recognize this car. I’ve shown it to a few, and it does seem to be the case.
In its class and in its day, this was the fastest and most powerful car on the JDM. For that reason alone, it deserves a modicum of respect. Then you factor in the Starsky & Hutch factor, the quirky rear window wiper, the genuine hardtop – top it all off with a very cool “I’ve got a 2-litre” license plate number and you get a pretty damn perfect CC subject. Still, it’s not as exciting a design as the C10 or the old Prince Skyline – too ‘80s for my taste. But I’m sure I’ll be in a minority.
George Fury and Mark Skaife raced a turbo coupe in Aussie touring car series but it was a turbo 2.4 litre Skyline,it was fairly quick too for what it was back in the day, this holy grail model is very rare but shitbox Skyline sedans on stretched tyres and slowered into the ground are fairly common here another old guy I work with on the milk has a 2.8 diesel version still going strong.
Great article! Thanks for catching it and educating us on another famous TV show car.
In low light and at certain angles, the featured Nissan Skyline reminds me of a Fox Mustang.
I also see this. Maybe I’m thinking of some of the “Mustang III” styling proposals I remember having seen, but it’s definitely there.
Wow, great find, I instantly recognized it from my ’80’s scale modeling days, seems like multiple Japanese brands had one in the same colors. I didn’t realize its significance at the time but it’s such a perfect blend of cool and outrageous. The sparse cabin is so neat and tidy with no extraneous frills or flourishes and the square body ticks all the boxes for me. Love it!
I may be wrong but my observation when visiting Japan in the 80s was that every large car manufacturer used the same colors. All of them used the same red, the same dark blue, dark green. It was usually smaller independent car companies that varied a tiny bit. Isuzu and occasionally Suzuki would offer an olive green or a orange. And now that I remember it, Honda was also one of those manufacturers that varied colors a bit.
Oh, that’s interesting! I actually meant every large Japanese model manufacturer, i.e. Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi etc I think had this in their 1/24 line-up. I could of course be mistaken but that was my impression at the time. Sorry for being unclear with my comment in the first place.
Love the Paul Newman ads – terrific. Japanese car-porn Who knew !
Great find, there aren’t a lot of these around anymore, even in Japan, I suspect. Quite a rapid car, as I recall they clocked 0-100 in somewhere around the 6 second mark, which must’ve been crazy fast back in the day.
Just a couple of notes, firstly :
“….4-cyl., as opposed to a 6-cyl. This allegedly explains why it was called “RS” and not “GT-R,” as Nissan felt that name was only fitting for 6-cyl. cars.”
I couldn’t comment as to what Nissan’s motivation was to drop the GT-R badge, but this seems like conjecture to me. The preceding model’s (C210) top-specification grade which had a turbocharged six cylinder (L20ET) was badged GT-EX. Incidentally that same engine was available in the R30 too. Likewise the following R31 model’s top spec had an RB20DET six cylinder, and was badged GTS.
Secondly:
“For some reason, Nissan felt the Turbo needed its own special model code, which is DR30. “D” for dangerous?”
The “D” in DR 30 is not a special model codes, in Nissan JDM chassis numbers each major variant in drivetrain gets it’s own model pre-fix. So in R30 there were an array, but as just a few examples:
HR30 – L20 engine
ER30 – LD28 engine
FJR30 – CA18 engine, rigid axle rear suspension
VSJR30 – “Van” body, LD20 engine, rigid axle rear suspension
And a whole bunch more. This type of coding is common on all Nissans, so for example there is an FN14 Pulsar, 2wd GA15DE engine, A HNU13 Bluebird, 4wd, SR20 engine and so on.
The R30 and 31 are sort of the in-betweeners for me, sitting as they do after the Kenmeri and just before the R32 – the two best-looking of the Skylines. Still seeing quite a few sedans, but can’t remember the last two-door I saw. I am starting to warm to this shape, however.
The 2-door is a lot nicer, though I never saw a non-racing one in the day. And yeah, I think it’s the cleanliness of the shape that has made it come out of the design doldrums for me too.
Father Time has smiled upon the R30’s. A bit dull new, they’re not bad at all now, (with one exception).
Unlike old TV police procedurals, which, until Hill street Blues and The (original) Bill moved the game on generally, are even more soporific now than when new, and when new, dentists used them as anesthetic.
We got Skyline as a 2.4 injected 6 with IRS and 5 speed, which sounds enticing. But I drove one in about 1990, and too much about it wasn’t right. Poor, bouncy seats, and under-damped ride, but worst was the awful Japanese recirculating-ball steering. They took forever to quit these horrid systems. The local Mitsubishi Magna, with good seats, rack steering, and a Euro-style tune in suspension, was leagues ahead. The Datsun didn’t rev with much refinement either, though I’ll concede it was 1990-quick.
The exception as regards looks is the hatchback, which we also got. It was atrocious. It is still. On seeing one in the street, the urge could be overwhelming to rub out the angle from roof to boot edge that some kid with a crayon surely drew.
The first time I ever travelled at over 200km/h (as a passenger!) was in a Paul Newman Skyline coupe. I was 16 and it was in 1990/91 in my childhood country town in New Zealand. A group of classmates were at a party, where the entertainment consisted of roof-rides around the block
inon a Datsun 120Y. But then a mate’s older sister turned up with her boyfriend in his bright red ’84 Skyline. As a car geek I was intrigued by it – used JDM cars were becoming more common in NZ, but I hadn’t seen a Skyline as sporty looking as that before. It even had a ranch dressing brand written on the front, sides and back! (Just kidding, I knew Paul Newman was more than mayonnaise!)Later that evening, the Skyline owner offered to take us for a ride in the Skyline. I’d ridden in my Uncle’s Jag XJS-HE and Audi 200T and they were quick, but the Skyline…oh the Skyline…! The turbo boost was quick and savage, the noise awesome, my inability to do up the non-inertia-reel rear belt alarming. And on a short straight out of town the needle wound well past the 180 mark on the speedo and just past where 200 would have been. So exciting, so invigorating, so dangerous… But nothing happened and we made it back to the party safe and sound. As a 16-year-old I no doubt felt I was 10 feet tall and bulletproof, but looking back I realise how foolhardy it was. Thankfully I made it through my teenage years (relatively!) unscathed.
Now, almost 30 years later, R30 Skylines are rare in New Zealand, and the Paul Newman version even more so, often destroyed by young and inexperienced drivers unused to the raw (Roar!) power. Occasionally they pop up though – although, like Don, I vastly prefer the Kenmeri and R32 shapes. Very nice find Tatra 87!