Hi Guys,
Firstly I would like to say great site!, Now I know you have some threads on this topic already, but I believe the one I threw together has the most information yet. So maybe this could become a sticky? Anyway here it is
The History of the Nissan Skyline
Credit To: http://users.pandora.be/theskylinesundergr...ground/history/
1955-1957 ALSI-1
In the mid-60's the Japanese Government suggested a number of mergers of Japanese companies to create larger companies that would be better equipped to handle any hostile takeover attempts by foreign companies. Nissan and Prince took the government's advice, and in 1966 they merged. Most of the Prince models were kept in production, but from 1967 on they were sold as Nissans or Datsuns. The ALSI-1 was powered by a 1484cc 60hp OHV 4cyl GA-4 engine with a top speed of 125km/hr. It was available in 4 door sedan and 5 door wagon.
1957-1961 ALSI-2
The ALSI-2 was basically the same as the previous model. The most noticeable differences are the quad headlights replacing the twin lamps of the ALSI-1, different bonnet emblem and the single large horizontal bar in the grille was replaced with 2 curved bars. It retained the 1484cc 60hp OHV 4cyl GA-4 engine.
1961 Sport BLRA-3
The BLRA-3 was designed by the Italian designer Michelotti. Only a small number of them were ever built, there bodies were hand built. The BLRA-3 was available as a coupe and a convertible. They were powered by the 1862cc 83hp OHV GB-30 engine. The design was dropped in favour of the S50-E series due to its cost effectiveness to produce, and retailability.
1961 - 1967 S50-E
The S50-E second generation Skyline had a new 1484cc 70hp OHV 4cyl G-1 engine. Early models, like the one pictured above, have a pressed steel grille, later models have cast alloy grilles. The first of the cast grilles have a series of vertical bars, after the merger with Nissan the cars had a grille with one large horizontal bar. Most models have large round stop lights with smaller round indicators beside them; later cars have a rather odd looking 3 piece tail light lens. The base model cars have a chrome strip along the side of the car that ends half way along the front door, with the emblems mounted on the front door. The deluxe models have a full length chrome strip. They had either a 3 speed column change gearbox or a 4 speed floor change gearbox. Cars with the 4 speed had bucket seats. Available in 4 door sedan (S50) or 5 door wagon (W50).
1965 - 1968 GT S54
When Prince wanted to go racing with the Skyline someone had the bright idea of taking out the 4cyl engine and replacing it with the 6cyl from the S40 Gloria. At first a small number were built to homologate the cars for racing, when these proved so popular they decided to put the GT into full production. There was no way the 6cyl engine would fit in the S50, so what they did was they cut the car in front of the fire wall and inserted an extra 8 inches of panel work into the nose of the car to give the extra room needed.
When you look inside the engine bay this modification is clearly visible. This gave the car a very dramatic appearance with its long bonnet and short boot. It was available in two versions; the "B" model had the 1988cc 6cyl 127hp OHC G7 engine. It had triple 40DCOE-18 Weber carbs, 5 speed close ratio gearbox, 99 litre fuel tank, full instrumentation, limited slip diff, power brake booster and a higher compression engine. The "A" model had a 106hp single carb version of the G7 with a lower compression ratio. Both models had disc front brakes with twin piston calipers and alloy finned drums at the rear. Later models had flow through ventilation with small eye ball vents added to the dashboard. Later cars were sold as either a Prince A200GT or Nissan A200GT.In 1966, under pressure from by economic and government forces, Prince Motor Co. merged with Nissan, so that both companies will have better chances in survival. The S54-series Skyline was sold as a Prince A200GT or a Nissan A200GT. Production of the S54 continued until 1968.
1968 – 1972 Nissan Skyline 1500
This car replaced the Prince Skyline S50E series. It was powered by the new 1483cc 94hp OHC cross-flow 4cyl G15 engine. Available in 4 door sedan and 5 door wagon.
1969 – 1972 Nissan Skyline GT GC10
As with the previous Prince Skyline GT, the new Skyline was available in a long wheel base GT model. One of the great things is that the development team decided to go with a 6 cylinder engine. It was powered by the 1988cc 106hp OHC 6cyl G7 series engine and later the 1973cc 109hp OHC 6cyl L20 engine. It was available in a 2 door sedan (KGC10), 4 door sedan (GC10) and 5 door wagon.
But best of all was the Skyline GT-R, Which featured the new 1998cc 160hp double over head cam 6cyl S20 engine. This was available as a 2 door (KPGC10) and a 4 door (PGC10).
1972 – 1977 C110 Series
Late 1972 to early 1977 gave us the C110 series: 1600GT, the 1800GT, 2000GT-X, and the 2000GT-R. The 2000GT-X was powered by the L20 2.0L OHC Inline-6 engine with 130HP. The 1800 was powered by the G18 engine, and the 1600 by the G16.The 2000GT-R had the powerful S20 2.0L DOHC Inline-6 engine with 160HP. The PGC110 denotes the 4-door configuration, and the KPGC110 was the 2-door version.
1997 – 1980 1600TI
After a four year hiatus the new 5th generation was released in August of 1977. Again a full range was released ranging from the 1600TI which was obviously powered by a 1.6 litre engine through the 1800TI-e.x, 2000GT up to the 2000 GT-e.x in April of 1980 packing a 140HP L20ET OHC Inline-6 Turbocharged engine. This was the first point that a turbo had been introduced and the 2000 GT was the top performer so far how ever there was no GT-R released in this generation.
The 6th generation onwards begins to look familiar for those who had never seen the previous generations. This is the point in design that the Skyline adopted its length. There were basically 5 models released in this series. The 1800TI, 2000GT-e.x. and 2000GT-e.x turbo, the 2800GT, the R30 2000 RS and the R30 RS Turbo which were powered by the FJ20 2.0L DOHC 16V Inline-4. The DR30 RS had a normally aspirated FJ20 giving 145HP, and the RS Turbo version's turbocharged FJ20 had 190HP. 2000GT and 2800GT were powered by Inline-6 engines. With the obvious popularity of the R30's, the design structure remained consistent. The 7th generation features the R31's from the 1800I to the GTS-X turbo. They were first released in August 1985. The GTS-X came equipped with Nissan's HICAS All-Wheel-Steering system.
1989 – 1994 R32 Nissan Skyline
This is where the legend we all know today merged from. Nissan brought out the GXI (CA18I, 67kW), GTE (RB20E, 92kW), GTS, GTS25 (RB20DE with external PTU, 132kW), GTS-t, GTS-4 (both had RB20DET, 160kW) and the Godzilla GT-R (RB26DETT, 206kW). Well known for its performance and power, there is a model to suit everyone from families to full blown enthusiasts. The R32's power ranges from around 67KW's up, the engine capacities range from 1.8 litre up to 2.6 litres (RB26DETT) in the GT-R. The GT-R also introduced the ATTESA system (Advanced Total Traction Engineering System for All), which controls the car's all wheel drive capabilities. ATTESA is Nissan's AWD on-demand system, and it diverts torque from the rear wheels to the front wheels as required, increasing traction with inputs from sensors in the car. The VSpec (also known as 'Victory Specification') version of the GT-R had a better suspension and Brembo brakes as stock. The R32 was produced up until late 1993, which saw another change in design. The R32 Skyline is still considered by many to be the best looking Skyline ever, bringing back that real heritage, balance and handling that the early model GT-Rs were known for.