In short
- BNR32, BCNR33 and BNR34 are different chassis codes, bodies and drawings.
- The front lamps, grille shape and lower bumper provide a useful first check.
- All three use the RB26DETT name, so an engine description alone does not identify the generation.
- A modified front end can defeat a visual check, which is when the chassis record must decide.
I have now prepared all three front drawings. Put them beside one another and the family resemblance is obvious, but none of them can stand in for another. The lamps, grille, bonnet and lower bumper all move. A generation badge is the start of the check, not the end.
What is the difference between an R32, R33 and R34?
R32, R33 and R34 identify successive Skyline GT-R bodies. The R32 is the squarest, the R33 is broader and rounder, and the R34 returns to a sharper, more rectangular front. Check the complete chassis code when modifications make the body clues uncertain.
This is an identification guide, not a ranking. The usual claim that one generation is better tells you nothing about which drawing belongs to the car in a photograph. The existing R33 buyer's guide deals with condition and inspection. This page only answers which generation you are looking at.
Which front-end details separate the three generations?
Compare the lamp outline first, then the grille and lower openings. Those shapes move together on a standard car and provide a better check than paint, wheels or a GT-R badge.
| Generation | Headlamps and indicators | Grille and lower bumper |
|---|---|---|
| R32 | Rectangular lamps with amber outer sections | Slim grille and simple lower openings |
| R33 | Broader lamps with a softer outline | Central mesh grille and wide lower opening |
| R34 | Sharper lamps with angled inner edges | Rectangular grille and blockier openings |
Paint is no help because all three can be repainted. Wheels are easy to change, and a badge is easier still. The body structure around the lights and openings is harder to disguise unless somebody has deliberately converted the front.
Which chassis code and years belong to each Skyline GT-R?
BNR32 identifies the R32 GT-R, BCNR33 identifies the R33 GT-R and BNR34 identifies the R34 GT-R. Nissan dates their launches to 1989, 1995 and 1999 respectively.
| Generation | GT-R code | Nissan launch | Catalogue drawing range |
|---|---|---|---|
| R32 | BNR32 | 1989 | 1989 to 1994 |
| R33 | BCNR33 | 1995 | 1995 to 1999 |
| R34 | BNR34 | 1999 | 1999 to 2002 |
The R33 catalogue range includes 1999 because Jonathan's finished portrait records a 1999 car, which can be an ordinary later UK registration even though R33 production ended earlier. That is why a registration year can support identification without proving a production date on its own.
Does the RB26DETT name identify the generation?
No. R32, R33 and R34 GT-R records all use the RB26DETT name, so the engine family cannot choose between them. The complete chassis code and body evidence still have to identify the generation.
This is where a technically correct advert can still be useless for artwork. “2.6 litre RB26DETT” fits all three drawings. A power figure is not a safe shortcut either, because market labels, conversions and modifications can change what an advert prints. The separate artwork guide explains why visible body changes decide the drawing.
What if the Skyline has a modified front end?
Treat the chassis and the fitted body parts as two separate facts. The chassis record identifies the underlying generation, while current photographs establish what the car now looks like.
I would not turn a modified R33 into an R34 because its bumper resembles one. I would record BCNR33, then check every visible lamp, grille, vent and badge against the actual car. If the requested drawing is not already in the catalogue, the photographs belong in a custom drawing request rather than being forced onto the nearest standard model.
Where do the Skyline generation facts come from?
Nissan's Heritage Collection supplies the chassis codes, launch dates, dimensions and RB26DETT records. Jonathan's finished R32, R33 and R34 portraits supply the exact front shapes and catalogue wording used here.
Nissan's official records cover the 1989 BNR32, 1997 BCNR33 V-Spec and BNR34 M-Spec Nür. Those examples establish the generation facts, but their individual specifications do not describe every trim or modified car.
When the generation is settled, compare the reviewed drawings in the catalogue.
Questions people actually ask
- What is the main difference between an R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-R?
- They are three different Skyline GT-R generations with different bodies. The R32 has a square front with separate outer indicators, the R33 is wider and rounder, and the R34 uses sharper lamps with a more rectangular grille and bumper layout.
- What do BNR32, BCNR33 and BNR34 mean?
- They are the GT-R chassis codes for the R32, R33 and R34 generations. A document or chassis record carrying the complete code is firmer identification than an R badge, bumper or engine description that may have been changed.
- Do the R32, R33 and R34 GT-R use the same engine?
- They share the RB26DETT engine name, a 2.6 litre twin-turbo inline six, but that does not make the cars or every specification identical. Use the chassis code and exact version when checking figures or ordering parts.
- Can a photograph always identify a Skyline generation?
- No. A clear standard front view often narrows it quickly, but replacement lamps, bumpers and body conversions can remove the usual clues. When the visible evidence conflicts, use the chassis record rather than choosing the closest-looking generation.
Written by Jonathan in Derby. Last updated .