What the car is and where it came from
The R30 is the sixth-generation Skyline, launched in August 1981 and built on the Laurel platform (C31). Unlike earlier generations, the four- and six-cylinder versions now shared a front end of the same length. It came as a two-door hardtop coupé, a four-door sedan, a five-door Liftback, which only the R30 offered, and a four-door wagon, in 26 variations in all.
How it works, in terms someone would actually use
The coupé was pillarless with roll-down rear quarter windows, while the sedans had framed windows. Most versions had the four round tail lights that had become a Skyline trademark; the wagon had its own lights and looked more like a Nissan Sunny. Engines ranged from the 103 kW SOHC turbo six, the L20ET, down to the Z18S four and the LD28 diesel six. The 16-valve DOHC FJ20 arrived in late 1981. Some top models had suspension dampers adjustable while driving, another first for a mass-produced Japanese car. The August 1983 facelift made four-wheel disc brakes standard, replaced the Z18S with the CA18E and added door-mounted mirrors.
What it gets right
The DR30 chassis code covers every FJ20 model. The 2000RS of October 1981 was the stripped-down one, with a quoted curb weight of 1,130 kg and the naturally aspirated FJ20E making 110 kW. The 2000RS-Turbo of February 1983 raised that to 140 kW, the most powerful Japanese production engine of its era. In 1984 an intercooler lifted the Turbo C to 205 PS.
What it does not
The wagon stayed modest, with no turbo or six-cylinder versions. The Paul Newman Version of 1983 was a top-spec GT-ES turbo with signature embroidery and decals. The August 1983 RS-X added electric windows, air conditioning and power steering and a curb weight of about 1,235 kg, ending the spartan RS interior, although it could still be ordered.
What it changed
That 1983 RS got the Tekkamen front end, “Iron Mask” to fans, with slimmer headlights and a hood sloping to two narrow slits. The FJ20-powered R30 is a cult car at home and abroad, with one-make drag racing events in Japan, and is credited with rejuvenating the Skyline brand. It paved the way for the GT-R badge, missing since the C110 ended in 1973. The DR30 raced in Australian Group A touring cars in 1986 and 1987, and Nissan won the 1986 Australian Manufacturers’ Championship. The Skyline RS Silhouette Formula, with a Nova space frame and a turbo LZ20BT four of about 570 PS, won twice in 1982 and five times in 1983.
Who it is for, and who it is not
It is for readers who want to understand the R30 Skyline, centred on the FJ20 RS. It is not for those looking for a GT-R or a detailed account of the sedans.
Is it worth your time
Yes, if you want to know why a 1981 Skyline built on a Laurel platform became a cult car.
