Unicorn Spotting: The Legend of the R32 Skyline S&S 4-Door Complete

Unicorn Spotting:
The Legend of the R32 Skyline S&S 4-Door Complete
By Phil Cathcart | Direct Imported Japan

Back in 2017, while walking the auction lanes during a physical inspection day at HAA Kobe, a single silver R32 sedan immediately caught my eye among thousands of vehicles. Sitting quietly in the lot was a vehicle that most casual observers would walk right past without realizing what they were looking at: an authentic R32 Skyline S&S Complete 4-Door built in Japan by S&S Engineering. Spotting that distinct tricolor decal on the corner of the bonnet, the bespoke 3-slat front grille, and those subtly widened metal fenders was an unforgettable moment. Having assessed vehicles on the ground in Japan for over 25 years as a trade-qualified technician, finding a true S&S-built sedan on the auction floor is as rare as it gets. While most JDM enthusiasts know "Godzilla" strictly as the BNR32 GT-R coupe, this machine represents the ultimate four-door sleeper in Skyline history.

The Vision: Shinichiro Sakurai & The S&S Engineering Legacy

To understand why this car exists, you have to look at the man behind it: Shinichiro Sakurai, universally celebrated as the "Father of the Skyline." Having led the engineering of every iconic Skyline generation from the C10 "Hakosuka" through the R31, Sakurai-san founded S&S Engineering (Sakurai & Staff) after serving as president of Autech Japan.

Sakurai always believed that the true spirit of the Skyline was rooted in high-performance four-door sedans—a legacy dating back to the legendary 1965 Prince Skyline 2000GT-B (S54B). When Nissan released the R32 generation in 1989, factory BNR32 GT-Rs were manufactured exclusively as two-door coupes. While Autech offered a factory-backed 4-door R32 Autech Version, it came with a naturally aspirated RB26DE engine mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Sakurai and S&S Engineering stepped in to build what Nissan never gave the public: a true twin-turbocharged, 5-speed manual, all-wheel-drive GT-R sedan in disguise.

How They Were Built: Bespoke Hand-Crafted Engineering

Building an S&S 4-door complete car was a comprehensive, ground-up remanufacturing process overseen by Sakurai’s team of master engineers:

1. Donor Chassis Prep

S&S selected factory HNR32 Skyline GTS-4 4-door sedans as the ideal foundation. Because the GTS-4 chassis shared Nissan’s ATTESA E-TS 4WD floorpan and front differential provisions, it provided the perfect base for a full GT-R mechanical transplant.

2. The Engine: Fine-Tuned RB26DETT

Out went the original 2.0L RB20DET engine, replaced by a hand-assembled, blueprinted RB26DETT 2.6-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six. S&S disassembled and blueprinted each engine, installing upgraded turbochargers, titanium valve retainers, reworked head ports, and a custom-mapped S&S ECU running elevated boost (approx. 1.0 bar). Output was bumped from the factory "gentlemen's agreement" limit of 280 PS up to 350 PS – 380 PS.

3. Drivetrain, Suspension & Braking

Power was delivered through a 5-speed manual transmission mated to Nissan's ATTESA E-TS electro-hydraulic torque-split 4WD system. S&S upgraded the footwork with 16-way dampening adjustable coilovers, NISMO reinforced suspension links, and full BNR32 GT-R Sumitomo 4-piston front and 2-piston rear braking systems with ventilated rotors.

4. Metalwork & Visual Identification

Rather than using fiberglass body kits, S&S took a coachbuilder's approach:

• Metal Flared Fenders: Front and rear fenders were hand-worked in steel to accommodate the wider GT-R track width and wheel fitment.

• Front Styling: Fitted with a BNR32 aluminum bonnet, GT-R front bumper, a custom 3-slat front grille, and the iconic Italian tricolor S&S decal on the corner of the hood.

• Badging & Interior: Exclusive S/S emblem badges were placed on the grille, C-pillars, and trunk lid. Inside, cars featured GT-R instrumentation (including 300 km/h or NISMO speedometers), a GT-R steering wheel, Recaro/GT-R sports seats, and an S&S serial plaque.

Technical Specifications Overview

Production Numbers & Modern Rarity

Unlike mass-produced factory Skylines or even limited-run factory editions (like the 500-unit Autech R32 sedan), S&S 4-Door Complete sedans were built strictly to order.

• Historical records and JDM registry estimates indicate that fewer than 20 to 30 true S&S 4-door complete sedans were ever constructed by S&S Engineering throughout the 1990s.

• Due to their extreme rarity and direct connection to Shinichiro Sakurai, authentic surviving examples almost never hit the open market. When one surfaces at auction or through private collections, it commands top-tier collector valuation.

Assessing Rare JDM Classics on the Ground

When evaluating ultra-rare modified or complete cars at Japanese auctions like HAA Kobe, standard auction sheets don't tell the whole story. Verifying stamped engine codes, inspect-checking body seam welds, confirming genuine S&S plaques, and checking for hidden rust or structural repairs requires a hands-on physical inspection.

At Direct Imported Japan, we inspect cars in person at auction yards across Japan to ensure that when you bid on a rare classic, you know exactly what is sitting in that lot.