Few cars are held in such high regard by Millennials and Gen Z as the Nissan Skyline GT-R. While almost all of its iterations since 1969 are popular, the R34, built between 1999 and 2002, remains the holy grail for most enthusiasts. This timelessly elegant and wonderfully muscular classic coupe was built at the exact sweet spot between the analog old world and performance-enhancing high tech. Furthermore, its twin-turbocharged "RB26DETT" inline-six offers immense tuning potential.

This right-hand-drive legend enjoys pop culture icon status like few other cars from the Y2K era. This reputation was cemented not only by the "Fast & Furious" films and "Need for Speed" video games, but also by countless music videos and Japanese car culture compilations on social media. On May 16, Broad Arrow Auctions will bring five examples under the hammer. Interestingly, they will do so not at a tuning mecca like SEMA or the Daikoku JDM car meet, but at their auction during the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.

The fact that Japanese sports cars from the 90s and 2000s are now shining on the grounds of the Lake Como estate alongside European gems like Ferrari or Bugatti symbolizes the meteoric rise JDM heroes have experienced in recent years. Among the cars on offer is number 2 of only 14 Skyline GT-Rs officially upgraded with the "S-Tune" package, which optimized "Godzilla" for road use and boosted its performance to 400 hp. While original R34 GT-Rs have long since reached six-figure price tags, the estimate of 500,000 to 700,000 euros still feels somewhat surreal.