Check out a few lists of reliable engines, and you're going to see plenty of Toyota powerplants on there. Still, there are sure also to be a fair representation of Subarus, Fords, and, of course, Nissans. One of the most dependable motors Nissan ever built, unfortunately, never made it to the United States in any official capacity.We're specifically focusing on the brand's RB26DETT twin-turbo straight-six. Emissions guidelines and limited market potential kept the US from ever getting our hands on this engine back in the day (even though Nissan did consider it). However, it powered what some consider to be the crown jewel of Nissan's long history, the Skyline GT-R. A Look At The Nissan RB26DETT The Cultivated Collector via Bring A Trailer The RB26DETT was developed specifically for use in the 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R. Nissan also built a naturally aspirated RB26DE for the 1992 Skyline Autech Version GTS-4 sedan, but the twin-turbocharged version came first.The first iteration of the RB26DETT, a part of the Nissan RB family of inline-six powerplants, produced 276 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The last factory-equipped variants made 316 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque.That increase in rated power has been attributed to mechanical upgrades over the years, but also to the mid-2000s expiration of Japan's "Gentlemen's Agreement," which saw automakers agreeing to limit advertised horsepower to 276 hp. With that arrangement off the table, Nissan was able to be more forthcoming about the power output.The engine's durability owes to a number of factors. To list a few: The RB26DETT is built on a sturdy cast-iron block, allowing for high-stress performance without blowing the thing in half The turbos are water-cooled and lubricated using oil pressure Piston oil squirters keep the cylinders well-lubricated The engine uses sodium-filled exhaust valves, ensuring higher heat tolerance The pistons have cooling channels under the crowns to provide extra oil cooling, keeping piston temperatures relatively low With the engine's next-level oil system and rigid construction, it's not unheard of for tuners to get upwards of 1,000 hp out of these blocks. The Nissan RB26DETT CouldLast A Million MIles, But It Likely Won't Nissan The Nissan RB26DETT was only factory-equipped in a few models. There were the third- (widely known by its R32 internal code), fourth- (R33), and fifth-gen (R34) Skyline GT-Rs. It was also available on sporty trims of the Nissan Stagea, a sporty Japan-only station wagon positioned against the Subaru Legacy, and the Tommykaira ZZII, a mid-engined concept car. These were all performance-oriented models.What this means is that, while the RB26DETT could last 500,000 or even 1,000,000 miles with proper care, the chances of that happening were always pretty slim. The Skyline Doesn't Fit The High-Mileage Profile Bring A TrailerWhen you read about high-mileage trucks, cars, and SUVs, it's almost always the same story. The owner was mostly putting highway miles on the car. The person kept the vehicle stock and never missed an oil change. The driver also probably made a living doing long-distance deliveries.These factors don't describe someone who buys a Nissan Skyline GT-R. Ask typical GT-R owners, and they might tell you there's no point in buying one if you're going to leave it stock. We've seen some really cool Skyline mods, including a 525-hp Safari build that transformed the car into a Porsche 911 Dakar-like all-terrain rally racer.We've noted this tendency with Jeeps, as well. Some people think Jeeps are unreliable, but Wranglers and Cherokees have packed some of the most dependable engines ever built, like the legendary 4.0-liter straight-six. However, Jeeps are for climbing over rocks and tree stumps, and sliding around in the mud. Just like Jeep's straight-six, the Skyline's twin-turbo is a potential million-miler that you can almost guarantee would see its first rebuild before 250,000 miles. 1990s Skyline GT-Rs Are Well Past The 25-Year Rule By Now Bring A Trailer If you wanted to buy a Nissan Skyline GT-R of your own when they were brand-new, you could wish in one hand and, well, you know the rest. Nowadays, these cars are not only road-legal in the US. Some of them, specifically the early third-gen R32 models, are surprisingly affordable.The easiest way to get a Nissan Skyline GT-R is to check with sites that specialize in imports. To list some of the third-gen Skylines available for sale at the time of this writing. A 7,955-mile 1993 model is selling for $61,768. A 1991 18,645-mile model is selling for $32,649. A 26,849-mile 1993 model is selling for $59,537. A 73,337-mile 1992 model is selling for $34,293. A 100,062-mile 1990 model is selling for $33,817. These prices include the cost of purchase and freight charges. All listings ship to Baltimore, Maryland, so you can either hire a delivery service to get the car into your driveway or bring a friend along for a really fun road trip. Late Models Are A Bit Pricier Bring a Trailer Nissan produced 43,937 third-generation Skyline GT-Rs from 1989 to 1994. The fourth generation (R33) consisted of 16,668 units produced from 1995 to 1998. The fifth generation (R34) consists of just 11,578 units from 1999 to 2002. Newer models are rarer and more expensive than early-1990s Skyline GT-Rs.You can buy an R32 GT-R on a working person's salary, but the R33s are now into six-figure territory when it comes to the price, and R34s may be prohibitively expensive for many buyers. Here's what we could turn up. A 35,426-mile 1998 model is selling for $72,625. A 30,454-mile 1998 model is selling for $136,061. A 72,716-mile 1996 model is selling for $114,459. A 39,775-mile 2002 model is selling for $357,540. An 88,254-mile model is selling for $264,481. A 41,641-mile 2002 model is selling for $219,246. A 49,099-mile 2000 model is selling for $181,829. Again, these listings are only provided as an example. There's no telling what will be available when you're ready to go shopping for a Skyline GT--R of your own, so you'll want to run your own search from whatever importer you prefer to use, and see what you turn up. These Cars Pop Up On American Auction Sites Now And Then Bring a Trailer If you'd rather buy a car and drive it home without waiting for it to ship, Skyline GT-Rs do pop up on auction sites every once in a while. One of the more recent examples we could find was a 1999 model with 50,000 miles on the odometer, which sold for just $86,934 in 2024.Of course, these auctions don't go up all that often, meaning that you'd probably spend less time playing the waiting game if you just buy yourself an import, rather than sitting around with your fingers crossed, hoping someone's bored with driving their own imported Nissan by now.
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