The Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R is a legend. But beyond the famous V-Spec and Nür models, there are rare and mysterious versions that most enthusiasts have never even heard of. Let’s uncover some of the most elusive R34 GT-Rs ever built—models that remain hidden gems in the world of JDM legends.
- The Skyline R34 GT-R Police Car — The Fastest Ride of The Law
Yup, Nissan really made an R34 GT-R as a cop car! But for a lot of people, they don’t realize the GT-R was once a patrol car for law enforcement. Cheaper variant was used by the Japanese police force to pursue illegal street racers. It had an external siren roof-mounted, a police livery, and a specially tuned RB26DETT engine. Picture yourself as a street racer, like the R34 that had flashing lights in its rearview mirror, there was no way to escape.
2. The M-Spec Nür – The Definitive Luxury GT-R
Everyone has a lot to say about the Nür models, but did you know the M-Spec Nür models were only built in 285 units? The M in M-Spec expands to Mizuno, Nissan’s chief engineer at the time, and this GT-R was made for comfort and performance in equal parts. The M-Spec Nür featured heated leather seats, softer suspension than the hardcore V-Spec Nür, and a Nür-optimized RB26 engine. It was the best balance of luxury and unbridled power—a literal unicorn among R34s.
3. The Forgotten UK Version – This Is A GT-R Born & Bred
Like many people, you might think the R34 GT-R was a purely Japanese-market affair, but a handful of special V-Spec models were sold in the UK, courtesy of Middlehurst Nissan — 81 in total. What made them special? UK models were even more exotic than their Japanese counterparts, featuring three extra oil coolers, a higher speed limiter, and an ECU reprogrammed to tighten the rev range, along with a complete Connolly leather interior. This was the GT-R designed for British roads—quicker and more polished than its JDM relation.
4. And the Ultra-Rare V-Spec N1 – A Race Car for the Street
Even the most die-hard R34 fans know about the V-Spec, but did you know that out of the factory 38 N1 models were built with V-Spec specification? These were homologation specials for racing teams, stripped of weight—no air conditioning, no audio system, no rear wiper—just performance. These super-lightweight GT-Rs became the weapon of choice for Japanese race teams and are amongst the rarest R34s in circulation today.
5. Z-Tune.
The R34 GT-R Nismo Z-Tune is the most powerful and rarest R34 GT-R ever built. Unlike other models, Nismo cherry-picked 19 used R34 GT-Rs of perfect condition and entirely reworked them into Z-Tune beasts. It was the most extreme R34 ever built, complete with a 2.8L RB28DETT engine that put out 500 hp. If the R34 GT-R is the holy grail of JDM cars, the Z-Tune is the holy remnant at the peak of the mountain.
The Skyline legacy continues
The Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R is a legend, there is no way around it, but these ultra-rare models take things a step further with them. Whether it was a police chase GT-R, a luxury Nür version, or the N1 in a race-prepped state, the R34 was a performance car with so much engineering genius and secrets that it was almost better not to ask.
