The Skyline
C-series, consisting of three distinct
generations (C10, C110, and C211), replaced the previous
Prince Skyline S50 series in 1968, starting with the new Skyline
1500. Similar to the previous
Princes, the new
Nissan Skylines came as a four-door
saloon car and a
station wagon. Both used the 1.5-
liter four-cylinder
engine, unchanged from the S57. An optional
package was the Skyline 1800, which packaged a 1.8-liter engine. A
racing model again was found in the form of the 2000GT, entering the
lineup two months after the
rollout of the 1500 (a
coupe model was added in 1970). The 2000GT was pretty much the same as the GT-A that preceded it, using the two-liter
inline-six engine producing 105
hp.
But the replacement for the GT-B? None other than the very first Nissan Skyline GT-R, the 2000GT-R, meeting an anxiously awaiting market in February of `69. A new, DOHC I6 called the S20, cranked out an impressive 160 horses, putting the GT-R on par with a Porsche 911. It retained the triple Weber carburetor setup before, being retired for a fuel injection system in October 1969. Built with racing in mind right off the assembly line, the car was lacking in amenities (such as a heater and even a radio). Still, there was no doubt that the GT-R was certainly fast -- with 50 victories on the racetrack, including a 2000GT-R sweep of the 1971 Grand Prix of Japan.
The fourth, C110 generation began in 1972. Except for alterations in body styling, there was nothing spectacular to speak of -- the Skyline 1600GT and 1800GT (using 1.6 and 1.8 liters displacement four-cylinder engines, respectively) were your base models; the 2000GT-X was the new 2000GT, now outputting 130 horsepower over the 2000GT's 109; and the 2000GT-R, retaining its S20 engine and 160 horse rating. Strangely, the GT-R was not found on the racetrack at all through the C110 generation's 5-year run of production, despite the victories of the C10 GT-R. This was to be the last GT-R until the R32.
1977 marked the C211 Skylines. Emissions regulations, the fuel crisis, and a myriad of other problems put the GT-R out of the lineup. The 1600TI and 1800TI replaced the 1600GT and 1800GT, but were more or less the same as their predecessors. The 2000GT-X (back to using the 2000GT moniker) also made a return with no major changes. The top of the line was now marked by the 2000GT-ES, the first Skyline to utilize a turbocharger, and producing 140 hp -- nowhere near the GT-Rs of days gone by, but rather impressive nonetheless.
The C-series came to a conclusion in 1981, and gave way to the new "R3x" generations.
Back to Prince Skyline - Forward to Nissan Skyline R30 & R31.