Where the legend started
The RB story most people know begins in August 1989, when Nissan revived the Skyline GT-R name after a 16-year break. The R32 GT-R was a technology showcase: multilink suspension, HICAS four-wheel steering and ATTESA all-wheel drive. The star, though, was the RB26DETT, a 2.6 liter twin-turbo straight six.
Stock, it was rated at 276 hp and 260 lb-ft, enough for 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds and a 13.9 second quarter mile. That was quick for 1989, but it was the racing that made the car famous. In Group A touring cars the R32 was dominant in Japan, where the blue Calsonic car became an icon, and in Australia, where it beat the local Fords and Holdens so badly that the press called it Godzilla.
Three generations of GT-R
| Model | Highlights |
|---|---|
| R32 GT-R (1989) | RB26DETT debut, Group A dominance, the Godzilla nickname |
| R33 GT-R (shown 1993, on sale January 1995) | Raced at Le Mans in 1995 and finished 10th overall, 5th in class. The Nismo 400R, rated at 400 hp and built in a run of just 50 cars, is its most prized version |
| R34 GT-R | The last RB26 GT-R. Officially 280 bhp, though plenty of examples made nearer 330 hp. Less lag, more torque, a 6-speed in place of the 5-speed, a stiffer body, better aero and weight savings like a carbon rear diffuser. The Pennzoil Nismo GT-R won the 1999 Japanese GT championship |
The R34's appearances in the Fast and Furious films gave it cult status in the US long before most Americans could legally import one.
Not just GT-Rs
The RB family went far beyond the flagship. Skylines from the R31 through the R34, sedans and coupes, rear- and all-wheel drive, used RB engines. So did the Stagea, Laurel, Cefiro and even some Patrols. In Australia, the VL Commodore used the single-cam RB30, and the turbo version's 201 hp out-muscled the Holden V8s of the day. Police highway patrol units ran them too.
Should you build one?
If the RB sound and character appeal to you, absolutely. They look at home in Silvias and Skylines and are a favorite swap into early Datsun 240Z and 260Z bodies. Aftermarket support is deep: cranks, rods, pistons, cams, head studs and gaskets are all off-the-shelf items.
Which RB?
Honestly, the best one is the one you can get at a fair price. Here's how we think about them:
- RB20: the smallest at 2.0 liters. Revs happily, but gives up torque to its bigger siblings.
- RB25: the common single-turbo 2.5, a solid street base with good parts support.
- RB26: the twin-turbo GT-R engine with individual throttles, the one people want for high-rpm, high-power builds.
- RB30: the 3.0 liter single cam, and the basis for many big-capacity hybrid builds.
The real decisions are single cam or twin cam, one throttle or six, which displacement, and whether you want a responsive street turbo or a big dyno-queen setup. That range of choices is exactly why the RB is such a good all-rounder.
For engine-specific details, see our RB20/25/26 engine, RB30 engine and RB30 trigger articles.
Running an RB on Haltech
Haltech was one of the early aftermarket ECU makers to support RBs, and Haltech-managed RBs have won in drag, drift, time attack and circuit racing. Your options come down to how much wiring you want to do.
| Your build | What we'd look at |
|---|---|
| Custom race wiring, any RB | A universal wire-in kit or a terminated harness, such as the Elite 2500 RB twin cam harness, the RB30 single cam kit or the Nexus R3 RB harness |
| R31 with an RB30 | A terminated engine harness kit |
| R32, R33 and R34 GT-R | A plug-in ECU or a plug'n'play adaptor kit, such as the Nexus plug-in for GT-R or the Elite 2500 GT-R kit |
| R32 GTS-T, R33 GTS-T and R34 GT-T | Plug-in and plug'n'play adaptor options exist for each, such as the Elite 2500 R34 GT-T kit |
A plug-in keeps the factory loom and is the quickest route on a mostly stock car. Once the engine has changed a lot, or it's going into a different chassis, a terminated harness is usually cleaner. Not sure which fits? Our which ECU is right for you guide helps, or book a free 30-minute consultation and we'll talk through your RB.
