Following up on its widely celebrated R32 predecessor, timing of the arrival of the new Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 on the world scene in 1995 played a big part in the eventual long-term success of this iteration of the Japanese performance car. No easy task when amid spiraling performance and top speeds achieved by the new generation of Japanese sports cars, a panic-induced “gentlemen’s agreement” was struck between Japanese car manufacturers and government officials to limit new model performance rating figures not to exceed 276 brake horsepower.

The R33 nevertheless debuted at an optimal moment in popular culture. Video games such as Gran Turismo popularized the Skyline and other performance cars from Japan of the era, even in the United States and other envious markets where the GT-R could not be sold. The R33 would perpetuate the Skyline GT-R’s nickname—“Godzilla, the monster from Japan”—earned by the R32 after stellar performances in early-1990s Australian motorsport, as car enthusiasts embraced Nissan’s performance marque as a force to be reckoned with. Indeed, the R33 would make appearances in the first few Fast and the Furious films of the 2000s; with its R34 successor notably driven by the late Paul Walker, making an even greater impression for the Skyline GT-R name throughout the film franchise.

Delivered new to its first owner Japan, this Skyline GT-R—like all examples, a right-hand drive car equipped with ATTESA all-wheel drive—is presented in its desirable factory original finish of Midnight Purple over two-tone gray interior. Beneath the hood sits a 2.6-liter, twin-turbocharged, twin-cam, 24-valve inline-six mated to a five-speed manual transmission, with all the original Japanese safety stickers and decals still attached and preserved in remarkable condition. The Nissan shows just over 46,100 kilometers (~28,650 miles) at time of cataloguing and wears Continental Extreme Contact tires on alloy wheels shaped by five double-spokes, through which black Brembo brake calipers installed by the factory can be seen. Notably, while the GT-R has always been a popular target for customizers to add performance enhancements and body modifications, this R33 desirably retains all of its original stock configuration and factory finishes.

Though the Skyline GT-R had grown to amass fans around the globe, collectors in the United States were not able to lay claim to their own R33 until recently. Only now—through the 25-year historic import rule—can the R33 be imported legally. Having arrived from Japan last year, this 1995 Nissan Skyline GT-R has received exceptional care from new and is a prime example of a factory original R33 ready to reward dedicated enthusiasts for their patience.