Skyline: A history in 12 generations: Gen 6, “Newman”
1981 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-EX HR30
That’s not Newman as in muffin tops, that’s Newman as in Paul. The 1981 R30 was a watershed for the Skyline, emerging from the dark Seventies with a wedgy new design, lighter chassis and a series of increasingly powerful engines, in both four and six cylinders, the sixes turbocharged up to 205hp by the mid-Eighties. There was still no GT-R, and no accompanying DOHC engine, but Skyline was very definitely back.
1981 Nissan Skyline 2000RS KDR30
1981 Skyline Turbo 2000GT-ES KHR30
The sixth-generation Skyline Type R30 was launched in August 1981. For the advertising campaign, Nissan hired Paul Newman – a familiar face in Datsun racing circles – and the catchphrase “New Love Skyline” attracted much attention. The six-cylinder and four-cylinder models used bodies with the same nose length, where earlier the sixes had longer hoods. A five-door hatchback was also launched, while the six-cylinder estate wagon was discontinued.
1981 Nissan Skyline hatchback 2000 Turbo GT-EX RHR30. Eighties turbo hatchbackery–does it get any better? NO IT DOES NOT shut up.
1983 Nissan Skyline 2000 Turbo RS-X KDR30
Skyline dudes tend to think the R30 was a step back stylistically, but I sure don’t think so. There was even a Paul Newman signature edition, not to mention an ad campaign.
1983 Nissan Skyline 2000GT-ES Paul Newman KHR30
1983 Nissan Skyline 2000RS Turbo KDR30
1983 Nissan Skyline Estate 1800DX VR30
With the ever hotter turbos, Skyline started racking up racetrack victories again. In the Super Silhouette races Masahiro Hasemi competed in the 1982 and 1983 seasons driving the Skyline Super Silhouette KDR30. The category allowed heavy modifications and this monster, although it uses production car sheetmetal, is the equivalent of a Formula racing car. Its dynamic performance won many fans. The engine is a LZ20B turbo making 562hp. Its race debut was in May 1982 and it did extremely well, chalking up two wins in 1982 and five wins in 1983.
1983 Skyline Super Silhouette KDR30
1981 Skyline Turbo 2000GT-ES KHR30
SPECS
Overall length / width / height | 180.9/65.55/53.54 inches |
| Wheelbase | 102.95 inches |
| Tread (front/rear) | 55.51/55.12 inches |
| Curb weight | 2,557 pounds |
| Engine | OHC L20ET straight-six, 1,998CC |
| Max. power, Hp@RPM | 143.5@5,600 |
| Max. torque, lbs.ft.@RPM | 152@3,200 |
| Suspension (front, rear) | Strut, semi trailing-arm |
| Brakes | Disc (front & rear) |
| Tires | 185/70HR14 |
1983 Skyline Super Silhouette KDR30
SPECS (Group 5 spec)
| Overall length / width / height | 199.4/77.95/44.78 inches |
| Wheelbase | 102.95 inches |
| Tread | 58.54 inches (front & rear) |
| Curb weight | 2216.5 pounds |
| Engine | DOHC LZ20B inline-four, 2,082CC |
| Max. power, Hp@RPM | c. 562@7,600 |
| Max. torque, lbs.ft.@RPM | c. 398@6,400 |
| Clutch | B& B triple plate |
| Transmission | Doug Nash five-speed |
| Brakes | Lockheed four-piston (front & rear) |
| Tires (front, rear) | 270/590-16, 350/700-19 |
For more Skylinery, visit the JBCar pages and Skyliner Owners Forum (home of over 1.2 million posts. Yikes.)