Do the R33 and R34 GT-R share the same engine?

Yes. Both use the 2.6-litre RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six, officially rated at 280 PS. The R34 refined it with twin ball-bearing turbos in place of the R33's ceramic units and a larger intercooler, but the block, displacement, and layout are the same.

Can I import an R33 GT-R to the US right now?

Yes. The R33 GT-R was built from January 1995 to November 1998, so every car is now more than 25 years old and clears the federal safety exemption. Any R33 GT-R is fully importable today, with no Registered Importer or compliance bond needed.

Is the R34 GT-R legal to import yet?

Partly. The R34 GT-R was built from 1999 to 2002, so it opens in stages 25 years after each car's build month. 1999 cars became eligible in 2024 and 2000 cars in 2025, while 2001 and 2002 builds follow through 2026 and 2027.

Which is more valuable, the R33 or the R34?

The R34 commands a large premium — often two to three times a comparable R33 — because of its styling, the MFD screen, and pop-culture fame. The R33 is the most attainable way into a genuine RB26 twin-turbo GT-R, which is a large part of its appeal.

R33 vs R34 Skyline GT-R: Which Should You Import?

The R33 and R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R are back-to-back generations of the same legend, built on the same twin-turbo formula, yet they sit far apart on price and on import timing. If you are choosing between them, the differences that matter are the chassis, the engine details, the interior, what you can legally bring in right now, and how much you will pay. This guide walks through each.

The short version: both cars run the RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six and ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive. The R34 is shorter, stiffer, and adds the famous 5.8-inch multifunction display. Every R33 GT-R is already US-legal; the R34 is still opening year by year through 2027. The R34 costs far more — the R33 is the value entry into a real GT-R.

What is the real difference between the R33 and R34 GT-R?

They are consecutive generations of one car: the R33 GT-R was built from 1995 to 1998, the R34 from 1999 to 2002. Both share the RB26DETT engine and ATTESA all-wheel drive, so the differences are evolutionary — a shorter, stiffer R34 body, sharper styling, a digital dashboard display, and a much bigger reputation.

Nissan did not reinvent the GT-R between these two cars. The R34 (chassis code BNR34) is a focused revision of the R33 (BCNR33): the same core mechanicals, refined and packaged more tightly. Where the R32 had established the modern GT-R and the R33 grew larger and more grand-touring, the R34 pulled the formula back in — physically smaller and more hard-edged. That progression is why the two feel related but distinct from behind the wheel.

Is the RB26DETT the same engine in both?

Yes — both cars use the 2.6-litre RB26DETT twin-turbo 24-valve inline-six, officially rated at 280 PS (about 276 hp) under Japan's gentlemen's agreement, with more available in reality. The R34 refined it rather than replacing it: twin ball-bearing turbos, a larger intercooler, and freer-flowing exhaust plumbing.

The R33 already ran ceramic turbine wheels; the R34 switched to twin ball-bearing turbochargers to cut friction and improve throttle response, paired with a bigger intercooler and larger-diameter exhaust piping to reduce back pressure. Peak torque rose slightly, to 40.0 kgm, and it arrived a touch more eagerly. Both engines share the same enormous tuning headroom that made the RB26 a legend, which is why a numbers-matching, unmolested engine matters so much on either car — and why it also protects the EPA import path, whose 21-year emissions exclusion only holds when the engine is original or factory-equivalent.

How do the chassis, size, and interior differ?

The R34 is the smaller, stiffer car. Its wheelbase is 2,665 mm, 55 mm shorter than the R33's 2,720 mm, and the overall body is roughly 75 mm shorter while barely any wider. Nissan also roughly doubled torsional rigidity, and added the R34's signature 5.8-inch LCD multifunction display.

Wheelbase and size. The R33 grew into a larger, more grand-touring GT-R; the R34 tightened everything back up. The shorter wheelbase and stiffer shell make the R34 feel more alert and responsive, while the R33's longer platform gives it a more planted, high-speed-stable character.
Weight. They are close. An R34 V-Spec came in around 1,560 kg, roughly 20 kg heavier than the equivalent R33 V-Spec, the extra mass going into stiffening, the active rear differential, and underbody aerodynamics.
The interior and MFD. The R34 introduced a 5.8-inch color multifunction display on the center stack, showing live readings such as turbo boost, oil and water temperature, and throttle position — a factory data screen that predated similar supercar systems by years. The R33 has a more conventional cabin with no such screen, and that digital display is one of the R34's most recognizable signatures.

Both V-Spec cars carry the ATTESA E-TS Pro all-wheel-drive system and an active rear limited-slip differential; standard cars use the non-Pro system. The mechanical bones are shared, so the driving difference comes mostly from the R34's tighter, stiffer packaging.

Which one can you import to the US today?

Every R33 GT-R is importable right now; the R34 is still opening in stages. The R33 was built from January 1995 to November 1998, so all cars are past 25 years old and clear the federal safety exemption. The R34 (1999–2002) becomes eligible 25 years after each car's individual build month.

Under the US 25-year rule, a vehicle at least 25 years old is exempt from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and can be imported permanently, with no Registered Importer or DOT compliance bond — see 49 CFR 591.5(i). Because the entire R33 GT-R production run ended in 1998, there is no waiting: any R33 GT-R is legal to import in 2026.

The R34 is different. Its build years clear one at a time: 1999 cars became eligible across 2024, 2000 cars across 2025, and 2001 plus the early 2002 Nür editions follow through 2026 and 2027. Eligibility is counted from the build month stamped on the door-jamb plate, not the model year, so always confirm the plate before you commit. For the full mechanics, see the 25-year import rule and our dedicated R34 buyer's guide.

How big is the price gap?

Large. The R34 trades at a substantial premium over the R33 — commonly two to three times the price of a comparable car — driven by its styling, the MFD, its pop-culture fame, and the fact that supply is still opening up. The R33 is by a wide margin the more affordable way into a genuine RB26 twin-turbo GT-R.

Clean R34 GT-Rs sit firmly in six figures, with N1 and Nür editions climbing to multiples of that. The R33, while it has appreciated sharply as a 25-year-old collectible, remains the value entry point of the twin-turbo Skyline family. Condition, originality, mileage, and a clean auction sheet swing prices on either car more than almost anything else, so treat any single headline figure cautiously and check it against current listings. The market moves quickly, and specialists who read Japanese auction sheets daily are the ones tracking where prices actually sit this month.

Which should you buy — R33 or R34?

Buy the R34 if the specific car — the styling, the MFD, the badge — is the point and the budget allows it. Buy the R33 if you want the same RB26 twin-turbo, all-wheel-drive GT-R experience for a fraction of the money and can bring one home today with zero eligibility wait.

Choose the R34 if you want the definitive, most sought-after modern Skyline and are prepared to pay for it, and if you are willing to match your target car's build month to its eligibility date. It is the halo car of the lineage, and values reflect that.
Choose the R33 if value and immediacy matter most. Every R33 GT-R is already legal to import, the RB26 and ATTESA hardware deliver most of what makes a GT-R special, and you are buying an underrated car that has long lived in the R34's shadow. For many buyers that gap in price buys a lot of driving.

Either way, work with a vetted Skyline & GT-R specialist who verifies the auction sheet, confirms the RB26 is matching-numbers, and checks the build plate before you bid. See how we vet the importers in this directory.

Browse importable models: see live listings for the R33 Skyline GT-R and the R34 Skyline GT-R, or browse every model in the directory.

Official references

NHTSA: Importing a Vehicle (HS-7 Declaration, 25-year FMVSS exemption)
eCFR: 49 CFR 591.5(i) (25-year exemption text)
EPA: Importing Vehicles and Engines (Form 3520-1, 21-year emissions exclusion)

This guide is general information and does not constitute buying, legal, or customs advice. Specifications, values, and import rules change, so verify condition, each car's build month, and current requirements before purchasing.