Nissan Skyline GT-R R34: what to check before you buy one in Japan
Sources checked 2 October 2026
An R34 GT-R is a big purchase, and you'll probably be choosing one from photos on the other side of the world. So it's worth knowing which parts of the car to ask about before you pay for anything.
To be clear: I haven't owned an R34. I owned an R33, and in my view the R34 rusts in almost the same places. That's what this page covers. The interior is different from the R33's, so I can't tell you what to look for there.
Where an R34 rusts, in my view
I haven't owned an R34, so this list comes in two parts. Why each place matters is on our R33 GT-R page.
Named for the R34 too:
- The strut towers, where they meet the body. In my view they rot on both the R33 and the R34.
- The rear arches and quarter panels (rear fenders). In my view these need watching on the R32, R33 and R34 alike.
Places I'd check on an R33, which in my view rusts in almost the same places as an R34:
- The base of each A-pillar
- The boot (trunk): water leaks, and the spare wheel well underneath the mat
- The jacking points
These last three come from my R33, not from an R34.
On a car at R34 prices, it's worth knowing about these before the car is shipped, not after it arrives.
What I can't tell you
- The interior. It differs from the R33, and I haven't owned an R34, so I won't guess.
- How far rust goes. A photo shows the surface, not what's under it. See what dealer photos miss and rust on the body or a part.
- Anything we can't see from ground level. We don't lift the car or remove anything, so we mark what we couldn't see as Not verified in the report. We don't certify accident or repair history, and we don't tell you whether to buy.
Found an R34 GT-R in Japan? Send us the listing and tell us which of these places you want looked at.
Photos to ask the dealer for
If you can't get someone to the car, ask the dealer for close photos of the same five places: both strut towers where they meet the body, the base of each A-pillar, both rear arches and quarter panels, the boot floor with the mat lifted and the spare wheel well, and each jacking point.
A Remote Check is where we phone the dealer in Japanese and ask for these for you. We mainly cover the Tokai region (Aichi, Gifu and Mie) for viewings in person; for a car elsewhere in Japan, ask us and we'll quote the travel before you pay.
Sources
- Where it rusts: the founder's view from owning an R33 GT-R (BCNR33). He hasn't owned an R34. "In my view" means one owner's opinion, not a survey
- What we look at on a viewing: On-Site Vehicle Viewing, checked 2 October 2026
Before an R34 goes on a ship, it's worth someone looking at the strut towers in person. Send us the listing.