Quick Highlights:
- The last GT-R R35 rolls out in Midnight Purple T-Spec, marking the end of an era.
- About 48,000 cars were built over its 18-year life, each one a piece of history.
- It smashed lap records at Nürburgring and grabbed multiple wins in motorsport events.
- Nissan promises the GT-R isn’t done yet—the legend will come back in the next generation (Here’s hoping the legend lives on).
With its engines silenced, the legendary GT-R R35 now lives on in memory and speed dreams. After 18 years, the final R35 has quietly reached the end of its road. Known as “Godzilla” for its unstoppable presence, the R35 earned its place among the world’s top supercars while still being a ride you could use every day. Nearly 48,000 units were built over its long run, and the last one—a Midnight Purple Premium edition T-Spec—is now headed to a proud owner in Japan. Its engines, evolved from earlier Skyline powerplants, helped define its performance and legendary status.
A Supercar Built by Hand
The reason why the GT-R R35 was exceptional was that it was accomplished with legendary craftsmanship and precision. All the twin-turbo V6 engines are manufactured by only nine Takumi (the Japanese masters of craft), employed at the Nissan factory in Yokohama. Even each of the engines has a plaque on it with the name of the craftsman who devoted so much effort into it- another little but effective reminder of how much effort is put into every single car.
Over the years, power kept on increasing. The first generation model came with 480 hp (353 kW / 480 PS), the next models had 570 hp (419 kW / 570 PS, +18.8%), and the NISMO derivatives made 600 hp (447 kW / 608 PS, +5.3%). However, the GT-R R35 was not an out-and-out paper car. It was an ideal combination of raw speed with comfort, luxury, and practicality, making it widely referred to as a multi-performance sports car, one which could be used to dominate the road and the track.
Records, Racing, and Rivalries
The GT-R R35 wasn’t only built for the streets—it spent plenty of time on the track too, earning its place among underrated street racing cars. In Japan, it dominated the Super GT series, winning five GT500 championships and three GT300 titles. It also made waves internationally, taking the Blancpain GT Series Pro-Am trophy in 2013, the Bathurst 12-hour in 2015, and several endurance races across Japan.
The Nürburgring Nordschleife became its testing ground. When it first went there in 2007, it set a lap time of 7 minutes 38 seconds. Over the years, with continual updates and the NISMO version, that was reduced to an astonishing 7 minutes 8.679 seconds—firmly establishing the R35’s place in production-car history.
The GT-R NISMO kept breaking records closer to home at Japan’s Tsukuba Circuit, setting new production-car lap times in 2020 and again in 2024. And if you thought it couldn’t slide, think again—in 2016, the R35 set a Guinness World Record for the fastest drift, reaching 304.96 km/h. The GT-R R35 was truly at home on the road, the track, and even when drifting sideways.
End of the Line, Not the Legend
Nissan’s CEO Ivan Espinosa reflected on the R35’s final roll off the Tochigi assembly line:
“After 18 remarkable years, the R35 GT-R has left an enduring mark on automotive history. Its legacy is a testament to the passion of our team and the loyalty of our customers worldwide. This isn’t goodbye forever—the GT-R will return one day.”
While Nissan hasn’t finalized details on the next-generation R36 GT-R, speculation includes hybrid or fully electric powertrains. What’s certain is that lessons learned from the R35—handcrafted engines, NISMO performance, aerodynamic precision, and multi-performance engineering—will shape the future GT-R, continuing a lineage that has defined Japanese performance cars for decades.
A Fitting Farewell
The final T-Spec in Midnight Purple is a perfect mix between the regular GT-R and the track-focused NISMO. It packs 565 hp (419 kW / 570 PS), lightweight alloys, and colors that pay tribute to past GT-Rs. As the last R35 rolls out of the factory, it’s clear this car isn’t just ending—it’s leaving a mark. Nissan may have closed this chapter, but the GT-R’s spirit is alive, and the story of “Godzilla” will roar again in the next generation.
For enthusiasts who want to feel the legend firsthand, now is the time to explore the remaining R35s and experience what made this generation truly unforgettable.
Source: Nissan
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