In 1969, Nissan introduced a car that would go on to become the stuff of legend and (eventually) lead to the development of the modern Nissan GT-R . Called the Skyline GT-R (for Gran Turismo Racer), it was launched in sedan form but later offered as a two-door coupe beginning in 1971.

First generation Skyline GT-Rs, like the car in the video above, were powered by a 2.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, good for 160 horsepower in stock trim. The original drivetrain layout was front-engine, rear drive, and all-wheel-drive didn’t appear in the Skyline GT-R until the third generation, launched in 1989.

Original generation Skyline GT-Rs were built from 1969 until 1972, with a total production of just 1,945 units. The car quickly earned a reputation on the racetrack, racking up some 1,000 race wins during its short production run and adding to the GT-R’s mystique.

If you have a passion for early Japanese sports cars, you probably know about a shop called JDM Legends. Its business is servicing and restoring classic Japanese cars, like the KPGC10 Skyline GT-R coupe seen here.

Watching JDM Legend’s crown jewel lap the race track, and hearing the exhaust song from the triple-carb-fed straight-six, we can’t help wonder why more collectors don’t seek these cars out, They look great, they sound better and they’re far more affordable than vintage iron from Germany or Italy.

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