Real Road Test: Nissan Skyline DR30 RS-X Turbo C "Iron Mask"

That name's a mouthful, but in short, this is a 2-litre, turbocharged 202bhp powerhouse with some silly toys and a whole heap of JDM cool points. It is quite seriously fast! Join us as we take a look around and unleash that performance.
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[@fugawiaus]

For a guy that lives by the mantra “power, less is more”, it always amazes me the maniacal giggle when he flattens a v8 or turbo. Welcome to the dark side darth hubnut.

[@jeremybelcher1727]

I laughed at the nearly scared reaction he had when flooring an E65 BMW 760 V12 lol! His reaction to the Holden Ute was really funny too!

[@robbrady4649]

I remember when the Sierra Cosworth was launched the British motoring press made a big fuss of it's 100bhp per litre. It seems Nissan achieved that several years before. Excellent review Ian.

[@piearm1271]

I’ve always felt car engines are unduly slated for power output per litre, Japanese bike engines were over 100 bhp per litre from normally aspirated, but as the old adage you don’t plow at a gallop, longevity and low down pulling power don’t tend to sit well with big power outputs. If memory serves 200 bhp per litre was achieved by MZ in the 70’s but that’s two strokes.

[@OsellaSquadraCorse]

Even at the launch of the E36 M3, BMW were advertising "you wait years for an engine to break 100hp per litre, then two come along together" featuring the M3 alongside the (BMW-engined) McLaren F1, as a big deal in 1992!

[@musguelha14]

@@OsellaSquadraCorse Those are N/A.

[@tomcole020]

The fact that these haven’t been affected too much by the JDM fanboys makes it so much cooler. The R32/3/4 are too common now but the R30 is a really cool sight

[@chappy2121]

These will be next. I bought a Toyota Crown Athlete VX last year, as they're really cool and I always wanted a 1jz. Now it's gone up in value £3-4k. It is mental. Get one while you can

[@TassieLorenzo]

The HR31 is lovely too! The 2.0 RB20DET is a bit of a screamer, and is what Jim Richards drove for most of his 1990 championship winning season in the Australia touring cars -- the R32 only appeared for the last races.

[@possibly8180]

​@@TassieLorenzo I hope it stays that way, let the general public have the R30s instead lol

[@Just_A_Name14]

That’s bc these cars are like 150k

[@nigelh4617]

That aerial angle adjuster could be handy when entering an automatic car wash.

[@volvo480]

You still have to push it down using a strip with suction cups on each end.

[@TheShinyShow]

Now we're talking. This is the kind of car design I love

[@Simon-ui6db]

Bet that golf driver thought WTF was that!! As power less is more just owned him.

[@frothe42]

I thought the same exact thing!

[@trevdean540]

I think Nissan made some of their best & most interesting cars in the 80s. Wish i still had my 1984 Silvia 1.8 turbo S12.

[@benzobrimzs]

This is a thing of beauty. Even more so given that if u live in the UK . I'm not a big Nissan guy but I'm loving this.

[@CauliflowerMcPugg]

This 81 Skyline really shows, that cars from the plug hole of despair company were so far behind right up until the end. Nice to see that the camera didn't shake at the words blow off 😄

[@kay110]

My 200SX has a rear wiper and pillarless doors. I really love it and had it from new in 2001 - its only done 40k miles as well!

[@CaptHollister]

Canada allows the importation of pretty much any vehicle that is more than 15 years old, so JDM cars suddenly had a big surge in popularity about 10-15 years ago, with the Skyline appearing to be the most popular, nonetheless this particular generation is almost never seen. Thank you for showing it to us.

[@siraff4461]

Can you imagine if they released this to compete with the Capri? Thats not even competition. Thats just taking the mick.

[@heikkiremes5661]

The prettiest Skyline imo. Something about boxes, that tickle my fancy.

[@davekp6773]

Absolutely appreciate these Japanese reviews. I grew up in Dubai in the 80s and virtually everything on the road was Japanese although US land yachts were also popular with the locals. Our family owned various Mazda 929s, 626s, and Mitsubishi Lancers and I learned to drive in a late 80s Corolla.

[@grayfool]

"Power, les is, , , oh sod it". Weeeeeeeeee!!!

[@Stephenb033]

Loving these reviews with you and your camera lady. The camaraderie is heart warming.

[@peterriggall8409]

👍

[@sr20trx]

I have had many an FJ20T back in the early 90s but never in the original vehicles, what a beast of an engine, it just blew every thing away that came before it, it really was a game changer. Put some boost in them and they become super peaky savagely breaking traction as they come on boost which all added to the theatre of it all. A++++ would buy again.

[@mashedpot8er]

Dream car. Thanks for that. Really Enjoyed seeing a legend being pushed by a real person. :)

[@MINIMOTOMADNESS]

being a jdm fan,i thought this looks heavenly!!

[@andrewhofler]

Beautiful! I've always loved DR30 and HR31 Skyline coupes. Another car I wish I'd bought 20 years ago, when import ones were cheap!

[@PurityVendetta]

Car wise the Skyline isn't exactly my thing but fascinating never the less. I'm just loving the Hubnut style of presentation and the Ms Hubnut camera lady combination is fab. I look forward to every new video. Speaking of slightly odd Japanese branding conventions there's the unforgettable Yamaha 'We Love Wind' range of helmets. I can't imagine why they didn't sell very well 🤭

[@Mike.Howard]

4:27 - SANDAL'S ALERT!!! Great car & review, Ian. 👍👍 . . . . The toes... MY GOD, THE TOES!!!!!!!!

[@426baron]

Love an 80s Japanese spaceship.

[@kossak007]

Having owned a C32 Laurel, these 80s Japanese cars make me very emotional. I absolutely love them! My dad had a C31 Laurel when I was a kid and I can clearly see how similar this Skyline is to the C31. Same switches and buttons , similar dash, pedals and even under the bonnet they look the same.

[@tinniswood2577]

I wish they made cars just like this now. Wonderful example of a Japanese classic.

[@frothe42]

We never received this as well. Because of their age, they can be legally imported into the US. I like that the power is tractable, and could be used as a summer daily driver. I also love a rear wiper on a coupé or saloon (sedan). I laughed when you blew past that modern VW that looked like a GTI Golf! A most brilliant review, thank you very much!

[@scottishcarenthusiastsandtrain]

In this video.... I become a hooligan driving a Skyline, great car, great review as always.

[@Jay1330]

Beautiful car, I love the engine sound. Your video quality has gone up incredibly, I really enjoy your videos

[@martinneumann7783]

Changing the angle of the aerial is for scratching lines in the sky... Extra class road test of another exotic car. Thanks, Miss and Mister HubNut! 😃

[@paulwatts2192]

Power is less, then you get your hands on a Skyline, big smiles, now hand it back.

[@daviemaclean61]

For way too many years I hadn't seen one of these in the flesh. As soon as I did I realised what all the fuss was about!

[@MarkieC1990]

Sandals alert! Brilliant review Ian, R30’s are a lovely car and very underrated!

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I remember lots of these in New Zealand in the late 80s when import licenses were removed on used cars. Sadly they were mostly brought by people who were both incapable of either maintaining a car properly or driving one properly (many owners died). The silly thing is that people including myself did not appreciate just how good these were at the time as they did not cost much more money than anything else as a used import. Never judge any car by what it costs to buy...

[@turnip5359]

Did the owners die of natural causes? 😉

[@reddermot]

You had me at DR30. Worthy of a like before even watching the video. A friend back in NZ had one for a while. Not a RS but still very cool. Had the auto drop-down front spoiler with obligatory OBRUT script.

[@Strike86]

Utterly amazing video guys - I had no idea there were any R30s in the UK, let alone an RS Turbo. Probably the most HubNut of the fast Skylines, although the R31 GTS-R is equally cool. If this car had been publicised in Europe the established manufacturers would have crapped their pants. Sadly we had to wait until the R32 GTR for that to happen.

[@WillieJu]

We only got the 2.8 Gtx in South Africa - normal aspirated 2.8 inline 6 with just 12 valves.

[@stewbayldon6582]

I think Ian you have just changed my mind on my dream car! What an absolutely beautiful car. It's just perfect. The owner is really lucky to own this amazing car!

[@thomash2806]

Japanese roadworks (and so I’m guessing other hazards like a breakdown) are often signalled by flares to this day. Unless my memory serves me badly; I know I’ve seen that somewhere and it feels like it was Japan… 😝

[@lewishart9698]

Hubnut likes his basic humble cars, yet every video I've ever watch with him driving a car with a blow off valve, his smile beams like a kid in a sweet shop 🤣

[@maxrockatanksyOG]

Had one of these years ago for my first car (1996). Later sold it for an R31 Silhouette that had been converted to turbo thanks to a wrecked VL Turbo with Jatco 4 speed auto. Later shoved all the parts into a Skyline wagon as the amount of rust in the Silhouette wouldn't pass inspection; had chrome roof racks, 4 stud 15" rims from a SAAB and an early Haltech fuel computer. Good times

[@owensteele1274]

I enjoyed this video, Mr HubNut. She totally obliterated that Golf GTi (other versions are available) @ 16:00 to 16:03!

[@alan_cc1213]

Awesome video and thanks for showing all the details of the DR30. I will use your video as reference to build my 1/24 iron mask model. Cheers!

[@cme2cau]

My boss in the 80s had an R30. It was the hatchback with the smooth as silk RB24 6 cylinder engine. Lovely car. "Wheels" magazine (Australia) described the R30 as a "Japanese BMW".

[@garethbird4259]

That dash looks like the one in my Bluebird ZX turbo I used to have back in the day

[@carlreading9916]

I believe Honda also had multi valve engines in the early eighties, 12 valve Preludes and Civics. Also with the introduction of the the 16 valve V-tec engine in the CRX 100 bhp per litre without turbochrging.

[@jareknowak8712]

Yes. I drove this 1.8 12V Prelude. It had double carbs. One of my favorites cars, best FWD i have ever drove.

[@craigmclean8260]

Yep; my 1984 Accord had a 12-valve 1.8 liter...actually, there was a fourth valve (suction-operated, I think) for the extra-rich mixture third carburetor choke/barrel; the Prelude had a third carburetor for this function (this was the last of the CVCC variants, I think).

[@CaptHollister]

Honda started using multi-valve heads in their motorcycles in the late 1970s along with the other Japanese motorcycle manufacturers. In fact, by 1984 Yamaha was using 5-valve heads many years before Ferrari claimed to have invented them, although that's a story for another day.

[@Shane-zx4ps]

@@CaptHollister Honda Cbx 6 cylinder had a 24 valve engine

[@BungleBare]

12 valve Honda engines even found their way into the Triumph Acclaim and Rover 213. Great little engines, and far more powerful and economical than the 1.3 engines that most of the big European based marques were churning out at the time. They could even run happily on two star petrol, despite their performance, for even less cost per mile.

[@steven-vn9ui]

Magnificent car, a real Japanese engineering showpiece that Ian. I had a ride in a friends 6cyl Skyline once (don't know the specs) but it literally grabbed the horizon and threw it at your face. Amazing.

[@stuarthall2180]

Better late than never with the sandal alert 😯

[@eefjuh5533]

One cannot ignore a car equipped with Van Halen!:)

[@julianowens4071]

Your videos are definitely getting better, great camera work from Mrs Hubnut too

[@micheltebraake7915]

It's great that Ian can and may drive with these beautiful and special jewels to show us.

[@Hasdac]

Sandals, skyline = Hubnut.

[@SharkoonBln]

I´m still waiting for the caption ( one frame duration ) "Not my sandals" Some 76k subscribers: "Wait a moment..." :)

[@TheOracle65]

One minute in and the sandals emerge….the visual mismatch with a Skyline DR30 Turbo (with Intercooler) in the background is frankly brilliant. Well played Ms HubNut 😂

[@FastAsFunk]

Great review Ian, thank you. Never seen one of these running before so it was a real treat. So sad we didn't get this in the UK. The way it delivers reminds me of my RS500 recently reviewed by Jonny Smith on TLBS. Remember also the R31 Skyline GTS-R with the turbo six in it. That was the stepping stone to the crazy R32. Again, well done, sir. Really enjoyed this.

[@WarriorRazor]

I'm sure someone has already said it but flares were a necessary safety device, in the event of an accident the flare could be lit to warn other motorists. Modern Japanese cars have electric flares with a flashing light on them. Just like the warning triangles in Europe.

[@waynetetley584]

Enjoyed that flashback to 1980. I was 18 then and unaware of these. Great to catch up now😁

[@barryshackson4005]

What a lovely car, plenty of power and great looking too 🙂👍👍

[@slammed66]

This might just be my favourite hubnut review of all time

[@johndilloway9762]

I agree enough power is there to be enjoyed, to much power is just wasted when you cannot get to use it.

[@markonmotoring]

The 80s and 90s was a great time for coupes and sports cars of all sizes. Sadly consumer choice is somewhat limited in this sector for today's cars

[@TassieLorenzo]

Buyers love crossover SUVs these days! :)

[@gazzertrn]

Fair play mrs hubnut does a great job of filming , Ian youre a lucky man .

[@marknelson5929]

Great review and love the new camera work courtesy of the 'camera lady', lovely looking coupe indeed.

[@bondbug73]

I can only imagine the DR30 RX-X Turbo must be a very satisfying foot-to-floor driving experience with a Blow Off Valve under the bonnet?

[@goosegog]

It's great fun! 1300 kgs and 250 bhp

[@bunter6]

Gotta love a two tone car, I had an S12 Silvia about 20 years ago that was similarly two tone although it's CA18ET had nowhere near as much punch as that beauty!

[@krissteel4074]

DR30 RS-X is a rarity that was only sold in Japan I think, we got 4 doors and hatchbacks but no coupe in Australia and if I remember correctly only got the 6cyl ones By itself the FJ20 engine is also quite a block, one of the first if not first engines out of Japan that had more than 2 valves in each head and sort of ended up being a race engine here for a lot of stuff over the years, hence they got very rare because people blew them up. A friend imported a DR30 RS-X privately into the country but it more or less stalled out as we couldn't get enough parts for the FJ which was a real pity. The Nissan Leopards from this era and the R31 generation are also well worth a look in too as they're a little bit more civilised but they'd be a rare cat now

[@phillipevans9414]

Kris Steel. I think you're right, my grandfather had an R30 sedan, auto with the 2.4 I6 and all the bells and whistles - it seemed to be miles ahead in term of equipment, refinement and performance than anything in a similar price bracket. Great car, that made a big impression on a teenage me (dad had an XD Falcon with the 4.1 I6 auto, and the Skyline seemed like it was from the future in comparison).

[@krissteel4074]

@@phillipevans9414 The 2.4's were a very refined engine, they ran super smooth, didn't have many problems, decent power for what it was and very economical compared to the old 6cyl Holden and Ford engines- of which I owned or drove a bit of both by the mid 80's. Parents a mid 80's XF with the 4.1 and was quite glad they owned a petrol station lets put it that way. Nice thing about the Skylines from 1980-81 people also forget is that they came here fully loaded with aircon as standard and just a great set of problem free electricals. Tight arses at Ford and Holden would charge you extra for factory aircon and did so until the 90's. So for that alone they should be loved!

[@roberts6035]

I love that valve sound.

[@philipdodd2836]

The aerial thing may be so it can be laid flat when using a car wash. What a car though!

[@MrFlyingguy]

Brilliant review Ian, love it when you feature the occasional 'super car'

[@Hell-Hound1]

OK, it's clear to see that Fergus is a man of great taste. I'm some what envious, it has to be said.

[@matthewbrittain2919]

Haha he was gunning for that black golf from halfway round that roundabout 😂😂

[@M6GOF]

Cor, it's like a very angry 910 Nissan Bluebird coupe that has been down the gym and done couch to 5k. Brilliant!

[@dreamofstorms]

Yes, I did enjoy that! Thanks again for another great road test.

[@Turnbull50]

It was certainly very advanced for the day, amazing

[@simonfoote6453]

"...here's the blow off valve, something you won't hear very often on this channel..." Ian's honest, sandal-shorn understatement is why I'm still watching a few years on.

[@southendparaquest]

Miss hubnut is definitely rocking (not literally lol) that camera!

[@seancooke4127]

Cool looking ship this. I can remember in very early 80s that the Mazda RX7 started to break into Australian Touring Cars but it was just a bit to slow to defeat the Ford and Holden V8s. However, a few years later Nissan started to break in with these Skylines and they were very fast. They were very exciting to watch because they looked like they were out of control most of the time time. They did eventually conquer the V8s at Bathurst in 1991.

[@graemew7001]

That runnung gear in an estate Skyline would be the ideal car for me. This car though is wonderful, smart and sympathetically updated, such a shame they didn't sell them in the UK.

[@dlittlester]

The 510 and 240Z also came from the Prince side of the family.

[@HubNut]

Wasn't sure the 240Z did, though they could be had with a twin cam multivalve engine that was pure Prince.

[@dlittlester]

@@HubNut 240 was that 1600 engine with two more cylinders. 1600 divided by four, multiplied by six. It was the same bore and stroke. I worked for a Datsun dealer in the early 70s, and saw how the progression went in the Z line. The 240s had twin carbs you would swear were SUs, but they were made by Hitachi. The 260s converted them to something stranger, and they cut out when turning left or right, can't remember. Then the 280s, with fuel injection that copied Bosch's put the end to all that trouble. And they did it better than Bosch. They were all single OHC at that time.

[@MegaBreadvan]

Oooh I love that bus-like chuff sound on the gear change... :-)

[@cscape1973]

I had a 1987 B11 Coupe, loved that car, and I am recognising quite a few components on this!!

[@samuraifool912]

I had a really nice Skyline in the late 80's it was reliable, comfortable & economical if you didn't drive like a Nutter..!! (Guilty on Occasion.) I Loved it, until my Brother in Law Drove into it, while it was Parked up my Driveway..! Destroying the Rear of it and Shunting the Front of the Car into the Tree it Was Parked under..! ( for Shade ) A Story of "One Too Many at The Pub and Driving Home..!" He Bought me a Car a Few Days later with Apologies too many to mention. But while I had it, all was nice in the World. Thx Again for the Memories Mr HubNut. It was however not as nice as that Wee Beastie..!! Gr8 work Mr and Miss Hubnut. Cheers 😎

[@andrew1479]

An aerial angle adjuster is also handy when boarding the Channel Tunnel train too!

[@workonesabs]

i always wanted one of these, my dad bought the Nissan Sylvia in the late 80's and it was really powerful. 1.8 Turbo and CD player as standard. Later on he bought the Nissan 300ZX, one he still has today. I will ask him if he would consider you to drive it, as it's fully on the road and uses it in the summer.

[@SuperGinkgo]

Now that is a Car! A glorious trailblazer; we had a 180B Bluebird estate back in the early 80's and looked at a Laurel or two. Sweet noise and epic shove, and Van Halen as well, perfection! 👍🖖

[@Jay-B1750]

What a fantastic car, love the cool details! Have to say you and Miss H make a fantastic team 👍👌👍

[@angusnz7910]

Haven’t seen one in years. My younger brother had one here in NZ when Japanese imports first started coming in. I remember in the day thinking it was stupid fast

[@thibaudvissouarn127]

Best looking rear lights ever, done =)

[@gryfandjane]

That one’s a treat for sure. Thanks! By the way, if it wasn’t for your channel I’d never have known that my Fiesta’s wipers leave a Triangle of Doom directly in my line of sight. Now I can’t un-see it. :-(

[@HubNut]

Mk6? Awful design. They pretty much fixed it for the Mk7.

[@niklaswejedal463]

Great to see that you are getting to do more roadtests again - very enjoyable to watch, especially when you drive oddball cars like this!

[@rwd323]

The R32 coupe has the same proportions just with rounded edges, it hadn’t struck me until watching this how similar they are

[@buggs9950]

Shock absorbers? You're British man! They're dampers by George! Great video thanks.

[@davidcoleman7674]

Excellent, thanks for bringing us this car. It seems to have been well ahead of it's time and was much more interesting than expected!

[@RideCamVids]

You can see the "Laurel platform" rear panel staring at you when you had the truck lid open.

[@davidrumming4734]

It’s brilliant! And yes Japanese cars did have an image problem over in U.K. at the time, prob because we didn’t get the top of the range models like that one.

[@jefferysmith3930]

Sounds great. Many wipers! Gonzo styling! Red velour! What’s not to love?

[@dreamopeth]

That blow off valve would make me want to hoon it all the time. Like its hissing at you egging you on.

[@67tomcat]

Simply awesome!

[@macaulayholland3516]

Nice love it

[@-sargntclashroyaleandmore-491]

Lucky man! test driving one of my dream cars 😍

[@leonardotaylhardat96]

Aww the main protagonist of Shuto Expressway Trial original movie.. a classic car

[@rudydehaan5313]

I never really liked Japanese cars, I always thought they were a little bit boring. But thanks to this chanel I start to apreciate them more and more. This Skyline looks great and seems to be a very exiting car.

[@jonp5641]

That car is the absolute dawg's bollox! Awesome.