Thanks to games like Gran Turismo, the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 was one of the most coveted cars among gearheads throughout the mid-90s. Back then, U.S. fans could only dream about owning one since Nissan never sold the car in the American market. Today, things have changed.

If someone is willing to jump through a few hoops, they can buy and own an R33 Skyline GT-R in America. However, it is not cheap to do so. Especially true for rare, limited versions of the R33 Skyline. One of which has just sold for a tremendous price at a recent RM Sotheby’s auction in Monterey.

How the Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 gained popularity

The R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R came at a formative moment in modern car culture. The R32 Skyline GT-R was positively received among fans and critics alike. The R33 Skyline GT-R was poised to capture the momentum of its predecessor. Furthermore, the timing of the R33’s release came at just the right moment.

The racing game Gran Turismo was released in 1997, just two years after the R33 Nissan Skyline GT-R came to market. Because Gran Turismo featured a wide breadth of cars from all over the world and was a globally released game, the audience of gamers learned about vehicles they had previously never seen nor heard of. Gran Turismo caused the R33 Skyline to gain millions of new fans nearly overnight. From that moment, it became one of the most coveted modern performance cars ever.

Why the “Midnight Purple” Nissan Skyline GT-R is special

Many would argue that the Nissan Skyline GT-R is already an exceptional vehicle. What could make a GT-R more sought after than it would be otherwise? That is when we get into the wonderful world of limited edition colors.

The easiest way to make your GT-R stand out if you do not have the will (or cash) to modify it is to get it in a color that you know will not be seen very much on the street. Nissan’s marketing department is well aware of this, which is why a limited amount of R33 GT-Rs received “Midnight Purple” paint. The particular paint is unique because its color can “shift” to different hues depending on the lighting and angle it is observed. There are hints of blue and even green when looking closely.

How much did the Nissan Skyline GT-R sell for at auction?

As previously mentioned, a pristine 1995 Nissan Skyline GT-R recently became available during an RM Sotheby’s auction. The auction took place in Monterey, California, as part of the Monterey Car Week festivities. With much more expensive and rare cars on the block, some thought that this GT-R might end up becoming a “hidden gem.” Projections were that the vehicle would fetch $90,000 on the high end.

Eventually, word got out that this pristine, 28,650 mile, limited-colored GT-R was up for grabs, and the bidding war commenced. By the time the gavel dropped, the GT-R was sold to a buyer to the tune of $235,200. That is more than double the original projections. If this sale is any indication, the market on 90s Nissan GT-Rs is about to see a significant bump.