1987 Nissan Skyline GTS-R

The 1987 Skyline GTS-R is the R31's clearly bounded Group A special: Nissan records an 800-car limited edition, powered by the RB20DET-R. It sits between the earlier GT-R era and the later all-wheel-drive R32, while retaining its own rear-wheel-drive, two-litre turbo identity. A genuine road GTS-R should not inherit the output of a related race car simply because both carry the same badge. The road specification and 800-car scope are the basis of this profile.

An R31 with a specific competition purpose

The R31 Skyline arrived in 1985, followed by the GTS coupe in 1986. Nissan dates the GTS-R to August 1987, following a minor model change, and connects its specification to Group A racing. The edition was not a generic GTS with a later aftermarket package. Its factory identity, model code and dedicated engine specification establish why it deserves a separate record within a much larger Skyline range.

Nissan Heritage: road Skyline GTS-R

The RB20DET-R road specification

The collection lists a 1,998 cc straight-six with double overhead camshafts and turbocharging, rated at 210 PS and 245 Nm. It gives a five-speed manual gearbox, a 1,345 kg curb-weight reference and 205/60R15 tyres. Those figures describe the road homologation model. They should not be replaced by the 400 PS figure in Nissan's separate racing GTS-R entry, which documents a prepared competition car rather than the customer edition.

What the 800-car figure means

Nissan explicitly calls the GTS-R an 800-unit limited edition. That makes the count unusually useful compared with ordinary production-by-year rows. The boundary is the GTS-R road special, not every R31 coupe and not the number of Group A race chassis prepared by NISMO or overseas teams. The figure is also not a census of cars still surviving in factory specification. Each of those questions needs evidence different from a launch or model-history statement.

Nissan Heritage: road Skyline GTS-R

A road car and its racing relatives

The family relationship with Group A provides context, but a road example does not acquire the race car's event record or engineering state. Competition preparation can change engine output, suspension, brakes and body details substantially. A collector profile should retain the original factory specification as a reference, then record later modifications as the individual car's history. That approach makes both an original survivor and a genuinely used competition derivative easier to understand.

Nissan Heritage: separate racing GTS-R

Identifying a genuine GTS-R

The model and engine identity should be supported by period documents and the vehicle's original markings. Exterior pieces can be reproduced, while engines and trim can move between cars. A persuasive file therefore connects build information, registration history and dated photographs instead of relying on a badge or dark paint alone. The primary road specification gives a useful comparison point, while the actual condition and originality of any offered example remain separate inspection questions.

Specifications and identity reference

Rarity and production scope

Manufacturer-described limited edition of 800 road GTS-Rs. This is not a count of all R31 Skylines or separate Group A chassis. Race-car output and race results remain outside the standard road specification.

What the photograph represents

1987 Skyline GTS-R road model photographed at a later event; no individual competition history is inferred.

Related Nissan heritage profiles

• 1990 Nissan Skyline GT-R NISMO
• 1993 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec (R32)

Frequently asked questions

How many road GTS-Rs were made?

Nissan describes the model as an 800-unit limited edition.

Did the road car have 400 PS?

The road entry lists 210 PS. A separate competition GTS-R entry gives racing output and must not be substituted.

What is the production-count boundary for this profile?

Manufacturer-described limited edition of 800 road GTS-Rs. This is not a count of all R31 Skylines or separate Group A chassis. Race-car output and race results remain outside the standard road specification.

Sources and further reading

1. Nissan Heritage: road Skyline GTS-R
2. Nissan Heritage: separate racing GTS-R

Research checked 16 October 2026. Manufacturer records support identity and the specifically attributed historical figures. Photographic descriptions identify the illustrated subject. Design analysis and suggested authentication steps are editorial interpretation.