Rare Nissan GT-R50 goes up for auction in Japan
When Nissan and Italdesign introduced the GT-R50, it seemed like a concept that would spend its life rotating on exhibition stands. However, this car did go into production, and one of the few examples that were assembled is now being put up for auction in Japan.
Creation history and limited series
The GT-R50 was created as a limited series in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both the GT-R and Italdesign. Initially, 50 examples were planned worldwide, but reality made its adjustments. By the time production was prematurely halted, only 19 cars had been assembled.
The combination of pandemic disruptions and a price tag hovering around the 1 million dollar mark made it difficult to find enough buyers. This is not surprising, given that the standard R35 GT-R Nismo offered performance that could compete with supercars for a quarter of the price, while the excellent base GT-R cost only $115,000.
Technical specifications and design
To be fair, the production GT-R50 was much more than just a body kit and a commemorative badge. Although it retained the base chassis, body structure, and powertrain from the GT-R NISMO, the styling was completely changed. The roofline was lowered, the proportions were reworked, and almost every panel was redesigned. One only has to look at the finishing of the blue-tinted exposed carbon fiber – it is exquisite.
Mechanical upgrades were no less serious. Nismo engineers upgraded the familiar 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 to 710 hp (720 PS), thanks to GT3-derived turbochargers, a larger intercooler, and associated transmission updates. Reinforced gearbox components, special Bilstein suspension, and 21-inch carbon fiber wheels completed the package.
Unregistered and barely used
From a collectible car perspective, this example ticks many boxes. It has covered only 137 miles (221 km) since it was built, remains unregistered, and looks brand new from the factory. Auction house Bingo expects it to sell for a price between 145 and 155 million yen, which is equivalent to $902,000 – $965,000.
This is serious money for any modern Nissan, even one as exotic as this. But rarity matters to collectors. There are countless special edition Ferraris with higher production volumes than the actual number of GT-R50s assembled. Whether this justifies spending almost a million dollars is another question.
Investment appeal
It is also worth noting that these GT-R50s were not great investments from a financial standpoint, even if they still look expensive today. If, in 2020, you had spent the approximately 1 million dollars that this car cost new on an excellent Ferrari F40, you would now own an asset worth 3-4 million dollars. But perhaps those buyers are so wealthy that they already own one of those.
What do you think? Is the GT-R50 by Italdesign a future collectible asset worth every penny, or would you rather keep the money in your pocket and buy a standard GT-R plus something else?
This car is a unique testament to the ambitions of Nissan and Italdesign, who tried to create something truly exclusive. Despite the project not achieving its planned production volumes, each of the 19 existing examples has become a rare artifact. For collectors who value not just technical specifications, but also history and rarity, the GT-R50 could be a true gem. However, given the high starting price and market uncertainty, it is more of a purchase for an enthusiast than for an investor seeking quick returns. Time will tell whether this car will become as iconic as its predecessors or remain an interesting, but little-known experiment.