1990 Nissan Nismo Skyline R32 GT-R: Show or Display Approval and 25 Year Update

Nismo R32 GT-R number 500. The Show or Display story did not end with an approval letter. The car was imported, used, developed and driven.

Important 2026 update

The 1990 Nismo R32 GT-R no longer needs Show or Display

I originally published this story in 2012 after NHTSA approved the 1990 Nissan Nismo Skyline R32 GT-R for importation under Show or Display. That approval was a big deal at the time. Today, every genuine 1990 Nismo R32 is more than 25 years old, so it is exempt from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards based on age. It can now be imported under the normal federal 25 year exemption without applying for Show or Display.

The approval still matters. It documents what the Nismo R32 was before the broader R32 GT-R market became legal by age, and it shows how a rare Japanese homologation model earned recognition from the federal government for its historical and technological significance.

1990 Nismo R32 GT-R production year

560 Total Nismo homologation cars produced

2012 NHTSA approval received and this story first published

What Show or Display did for the R32 Nismo

Show or Display is a federal exemption created for vehicles with exceptional historical or technological significance that were never certified for normal sale in the United States. An approved vehicle could be permanently imported before it reached 25 years old, subject to NHTSA conditions. Limited road use could be authorized, normally with a maximum of 2,500 miles in a 12 month period, and EPA requirements still applied separately.

In 2011, a normal 1989 or 1990 R32 GT-R was not yet old enough for the federal 25 year exemption. The Nismo was different. Nissan launched it on February 22, 1990 as the homologation base for Group A and N1 competition. Nissan produced 560 Nismo R32 GT-Rs. You will often see the claim that 500 were sold to the public and Nissan retained 60 for racing, but the chassis history we have been able to document does not support that story. It appears Nissan retained the first six cars. Chassis number 7 is, as far as we can determine, the first car sold. It was sold to a Nissan executive and is now in the United States. The model's limited production, specific configuration and direct connection to the R32 GT-R racing program made it a serious Show or Display candidate.

Nismo R32 GT-R number 500 in Japan.

The application and the approval

I submitted the application to NHTSA in March 2011. The package included a cover letter, photographs, production documentation and a copy of the FIA homologation papers for the R32 GT-R. Then I waited. I followed up, spoke with officials and left enough messages that eventually I assumed the application had disappeared into Washington.

In September 2012, a letter from NHTSA arrived in my mailbox. I opened it, scanned the page and found the word that mattered:

Granted.

The NHTSA letter approving the 1990 Nismo Skyline R32 GT-R for Show or Display.

NHTSA had officially recognized the model. The letter lists the chassis range as ending at 562, but that was not an additional two cars. In my application, I placed a footnote reference number 2 immediately after the 560 chassis range. That reference number was mistakenly read as part of the range and carried into the approval letter. The accepted production total is 560, and the approved vehicle was clear: the 1990 Nissan Nismo Skyline R32 GT-R.

Finding Nismo R32 GT-R number 500

Approval was only the first part. The next job was finding a real Nismo at a price that made sense while the exchange rate was working against us. R International located two cars, number 383 and number 500. Number 500 was the one.

BNR32-100500: Nismo number 500.

That car eventually came to the United States and became much more than a display piece. It has been driven on track, tested, changed and improved. That is the best part of the story. The petition was about preserving and recognizing an important model, but cars make their history by being used.

Best Motoring compares a regular R32 GT-R with the Nismo R32 GT-R.

What made the Nismo R32 different?

The Nismo model was not a normal GT-R with a badge package. It was built to homologate changes for competition. The specification included aerodynamic changes such as the small hood lip, front bumper ducts and rear spats, along with the deletion of equipment that was not needed for its intended purpose. The car also used steel wheel turbochargers rather than the ceramic turbine wheels found in the regular road car, a choice better suited to sustained competition use.

500 and 383 in 2012

More important than any single part was its purpose. The Nismo helped form the foundation for the Group A R32 GT-R, a car that became dominant in touring car racing and built the modern Godzilla reputation.

Looking for an R32 GT-R today?

The federal age question is no longer the hard part. Condition, history, rust, repairs, originality and the quality of the import paperwork matter far more. Toprank imports, inspects, services and sells R32 Skyline GT-Rs in the United States, with current inventory and incoming cars collected on one page.

See current R32 GT-R inventory Visit Toprank Importers

Nismo number 500 in the United States

Frequently asked questions

Does a 1990 Nismo R32 GT-R still need Show or Display approval?

No. A genuine 1990 car is now more than 25 years old and qualifies for the federal age exemption from FMVSS. Its exact date of manufacture and paperwork still need to be verified.

Was every R32 GT-R approved for Show or Display?

No. The 2012 approval was specifically for the 1990 Nissan Nismo Skyline R32 GT-R. A petition for the normal 1989 to 1994 R32 GT-R was not approved. That distinction no longer controls import eligibility because all R32 GT-Rs are now over 25 years old.

Does the 25 year rule also solve EPA requirements?

No. NHTSA and EPA are separate. The federal safety exemption applies at 25 years. EPA has its own exemption for vehicles at least 21 years old when the original engine and configuration requirements are satisfied.

Can an R32 GT-R be registered in California?

Federal import eligibility does not automatically make a vehicle California compliant. California emissions certification and registration are separate from federal importation. Work with an importer that understands the complete California process before buying the car.

How many Nismo R32 GT-Rs were built?

Nissan produced 560 Nismo R32 GT-R homologation cars. The often repeated claim that Nissan sold 500 and retained 60 for racing does not match the chassis history we have been able to document. It appears Nissan retained the first six cars, while chassis number 7 is the earliest known sold example. That car was sold to a Nissan executive and is now in the United States. The approval letter's 562 figure came from a footnote reference number 2 being mistakenly added to the end of the 560 chassis range.

R32 GT-R import and buying resources

Rules change with the age and configuration of the specific vehicle. Start with the current federal source, then look at the car itself, its manufacture date and its documents.

NHTSA vehicle import information Current Show or Display vehicle list R32 GT-Rs for sale R32 GT-R technical articles

Originally published in 2012. Updated in 2026 to reflect the federal 25 year exemption and the current import status of the R32 Skyline GT-R. This article is general information, not legal advice.