Home / Social media / News / To Nissan fans, Godzilla is more than a large fictional lizard - here's why.

TO NISSAN FANS, GODZILLA IS MORE THAN A LARGE FICTIONAL LIZARD - HERE'S WHY.

Published: 2024-12-27 12:03:13 Last Updated: 2024-12-27 12:16:49

Car guys are sticklers for details, and if you happen to post something online or mention something in an actual face-to-face conversation with a human that’s not right, you’ll very quickly be educated. This happens with all of the automotive brands, they all have a story where facts matter. On the Nissan front, a very easy way to get the purists up in arms is to call any GT-R a Godzilla. There are plenty of R35 GT-Rs around with personalised licence plates that are variations of the word Godzilla, and while it does look cool, the Godzilla reference, those who know will scoff at it and assume the driver doesn’t know his Aussie-based JDM history. To get you up to speed (see what I did there?) with the Godzilla moniker, here’s where the name originates and why it ruffles the feathers of true GT-R fanatics. It’s actually an old nickname for the GT-R, but in particular, the R32 GT-R. Godzilla traces its roots back to the late 80s and early 90s when the R32 GT-R made its mark as a dominant force in motorsport. The GT-R badge was revived in 1989 after a 16-year hiatus, with the R32 generation of the Nissan Skyline. Nissan designed it as a high-performance car with cutting-edge technology, featuring that now iconic RB26 DETT powerplant, the twin-turbocharged 2.6-litre inline-six twin-turbo powerhouse capable of producing only 276 hp due to Japan's "gentleman's agreement". Quick one on that, the Japanese "gentleman's agreement" was an informal agreement among Japanese automakers in the late 1980s, designed to limit the advertised power output of their vehicles to no more than 206 kW to discourage an arms race in performance that could lead to increasingly dangerous speeds on public roads. Japan has strict traffic laws, and the agreement was seen as a way to promote road safety.

Most cars could make more power, especially with a few choice mods. By the early 2000s, the agreement began to dissolve and in 2004, Honda broke ranks by releasing the Acura RL with a 296 hp engine, officially signalling the end of the agreement. In 2007, the R35 launched with 473 hp. Back to Godzilla. The R32 GT-R also featured a brilliant all-wheel-drive system and Super-HICAS 4-wheel steering which led to amazing handling and in turn, track dominance. In the Japanese Touring Car Championship (JTCC), the R32 won every race it entered from 1990 to 1993, securing 29 consecutive victories. In the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), it won the Bathurst 1000 twice, in 1991 and 1992, cementing its reputation as a track monster. In 1989, Australian car magazine Wheels coined the nickname Godzilla for the R32 GT-R, a nod to the car’s Japanese origins and its ferocious dominance in motorsport, much like the fictional monster that wreaked havoc. The original Godzilla monster from Japanese cinema was a force of nature - unstoppable, awe-inspiring, and larger than life. The R32 GT-R earned this comparison not only for its racing dominance but also for how it disrupted the status quo in the performance car world, much like the fictional creature did on screen. The term stuck and became synonymous with the GT-R's image as a powerful and almost unstoppable force. While subsequent generations of the GT-R have carried the Godzilla nickname, it’s the R32 that’s the true monster. The Godzilla nickname has transcended its Australian origins, becoming a global symbol of the GT-R’s prowess. It represents a blend of Japanese engineering excellence, motorsport heritage, and cultural impact, making the GT-R one of the most iconic cars in automotive history. While the rest can be dubbed as Godzilla, purists will be quick to remind people about the above details.

Take a look at the YouTube video that helps explain the reason the iconic R32 GT-R is referred to a Godzilla, explained by the chaps who would know better than anyone else - Nissan Australia: Making a monster: How the Nissan GT-R’s Godzilla legend was forged at Mount Panorama | Nissan Australia

Be sure to check out our YouTube channel here for more exciting and exclusive SXdrv content! And don't forget to smash that subscribe button!

Article Tags: News Origins Nickname Godzilla SXdrv R35 R34 R33 R32 GT-R Nissan