How to Import a Nissan Skyline R34 from Japan

The Nissan Skyline has been a popular enthusiast choice for years, offering a fun sports car that is still practical enough to use every day. Demand for the R34 generation in particular is as high as it has ever been, and Japan is still where most of the good examples are.

Below we go through the different R34 models, what comes up at Japanese auctions, which ones suit P-platers, and what to check before you bid.

There is more to the R34 than the GT-R

In the Japanese market, “R34” covers a whole family of cars. The best known is the BNR34, the R34 GT-R, which has become an icon of Japanese engineering and JDM culture and now sells for hundreds of thousands of dollars around the world. The rest of the range is far more attainable, and each version has its own character.

BNR34: the R34 GT-R

The GT-R uses the RB26DETT 2.6-litre twin-turbo straight six with a six-speed manual and all-wheel drive. Beyond the standard car there were the V-Spec, V-Spec II and M-Spec, plus the limited-production V-Spec II Nür (718 built) and M-Spec Nür (285 built), which carry the biggest premiums. The BNR34 is listed on the SEV register, and the earliest cars are now also past 25 years old. Our R34 GT-R catalogue entry covers each version in more detail.

ER34, HR34 and ENR34: the rest of the range

The turbocharged ER34, sold as the 25GT Turbo, was rated at 280 PS and is the version most people picture. The naturally aspirated ER34 came in 25GT, the better-equipped 25GT-X and the 25GT-V, which added 17-inch wheels, bigger brakes, Super HICAS four-wheel steering and a limited-slip differential without the turbo. The ENR34, sold as the 25GT FOUR, pairs the naturally aspirated 2.5-litre with Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive. Our ER34 catalogue entry and ENR34 catalogue entry break the grades down further.

Can you import an R34 into Australia?

Yes. The whole R34 line-up can now be imported from Japan. The ER34, HR34 and ENR34 were built between 1998 and 2001, so they all qualify under the 25 years or older scheme. The GT-R can come in under SEVS as well. Whichever one you choose, there is an R34 to suit most needs and budgets. Our guide to what it costs to import a car from Japan walks through every cost from the auction to compliance.

What comes up at Japanese auctions

Turbo coupes command the highest prices outside the GT-R, especially since R34s turned 25 and became eligible for import into countries like the United States. They remain a great enthusiast car and a solid collector’s piece, and prices have kept climbing year after year.

The extract above is a sample of recent ER34 listings and results from our search portal, not a complete picture of the market. It does not cover every auction house, USS among them, so treat it as an indication of what comes up rather than a price guide. The auction price is also only part of the total cost, and our cost guide linked above covers the rest.

Low-kilometre manual turbo coupes are the cars most buyers are after, and good ones do come up. This 1998 25GT Turbo five-speed coupe was offered at JU Ibaraki in July 2026 with 57,000 km, an auction grade of 4 and Nismo aero parts. It went unsold on the day, but it is a good example of the kind of car that appears at auction, and of how much the auction sheet tells you before you bid.

R34 sedans and P-plate drivers

Sedans are imported often, and good examples are still at the more affordable end of the range. The naturally aspirated ER34 sedan in particular has become a popular choice for P-platers.

Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia stop P-plate drivers from driving vehicles with more than 130 kW per tonne. A standard naturally aspirated ER34 makes 147 kW (200 PS) from its RB25DE, which in a sedan works out at roughly 110 kW per tonne, under that limit. The turbo cars are over it, and Queensland and South Australia also restrict turbocharged vehicles built before 2010 for P-platers. Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory have no power-based restriction. Engine modifications can make an otherwise eligible car prohibited, so check the exact car with your state’s licensing authority before you buy.

What to look for when buying an R34

The two things that matter most are finding a car with minimal modifications and as little rust as possible. Like most Nissans from the late 1990s, the R34 is known for rust, so it pays to be extra careful. Japanese auctions now include underbody scans for many cars, and they are one of the first things we check. The four examples below show the range you will see:

1. Clean underbody. Original factory finish with only light surface marks. This is what you want to see.
2. Painted underbody. A fresh coat of paint or underseal looks tidy, but it can hide rust underneath. Be very careful with these and ask what was done before the paint went on.
3. Visible rust. Corrosion on the floor, rails or exhaust. Depending on where it is and how deep it goes, it can mean expensive repairs.
4. Rusty, modified and damaged. Aftermarket parts, rust, and chassis rails crushed from the car being driven extremely low. These are best avoided.

Beyond rust and modifications, it is worth confirming the factory grade and original transmission, since a factory manual car is worth noticeably more than one converted later. The auction sheet’s notes and panel diagram, like the example above, tell you a lot about a car’s history once you know how to read them.

Where to start

If you are considering importing an R34 Skyline from Japan, the best place to start is our $250 car search. It gives you access to the latest auction and dealer listings and past sales results, and we go through the cars that suit you in much more detail over WhatsApp. You can also read how the whole import process works, or call us on +61 404 312 508.