1968 Prince Skyline: The Humble Beginning of a Monster Legend
Performance
Sports Cars
Classics
Asian
Most American enthusiasts are samiliar with the Nissan Skyline—especially the world-beating GT-R models. Not many, however, know that the Skyline wasn’t originally a Nissan product. But that’s what was recently offered on eBay: a 1968 Prince Skyline.
That’s right. The Prince company originated the Skyline name for a series of sedans, coupes, and wagons in the 1950s. This model, known as the C10 chassis, was the third generation. And it was the first to wear the Nissan badge.
The Prince Motor Company and Nissan merged in 1966, soon after introducing the Skyline. This 1968 model, from the first year of C10 production, wears both a Nissan and a Prince badge on the tail.
Proto-Godzilla
There was another more familiar chapter of Nissan history when two brand names were affixed to its cars. After a couple decades of using the Datsun brand, Nissan cars in North America started to shed the nameplate in the early 1980s. It was entirely gone by 1985.
This early Skyline isn’t the fire-breathing all-wheel-drive turbocharged monster that rightfully earned the nickname Godzilla. The ’68 version never tore up racetracks and predates video game consoles. This demure sports sedan delivers less than 100 horsepower from its four-cylinder powerplant.
The transmission looks to be a three-speed manual—with a column shifter! The setup is not nearly as sporting as the four-on-the-floor fitted to other trim levels.
Beautiful Brown
The aftermarket alloy wheels fitted here look like a five-spoke version of the legendary RS Watanabe eight-spoke wheels - opens in new window or tab.. Or some aficionados might see a resemblance to a classic American Racing Torq-Thrust - opens in new window or tab. finished in black. Either way, these wheels look phenomenal.
We love the two-tone brown finish with a pewter roof, though grudgingly admit not everyone is a fan of brown paint.
It’s hard to tell if the brown-and-tan vinyl seat covers are original or replacements. They are a bit loose and baggy. However, the rest of the interior looks well-preserved. The spindly steering wheel and shift lever look like Bakelite, a design touch straight from the 1950s.
We Want This One for Ourselves
Prince styling looks authentic from the era. A classic three-box silhouette reminds us of the contemporary BMW Neue Klasse - opens in new window or tab. (2002) and Nissan’s Bluebird (sold here as the Datsun 510 - opens in new window or tab.).
A right-hand-drive - opens in new window or tab. recent import from Japan stands out on our shores. Heck, the column shift lever is on the right-hand side of the steering wheel. So it might be a relatively easy way for a driver to get used to a right-hand drive car, rather than fumbling with a floor-mount shifter with the left hand.
We love cars of all shapes and sizes at eBay Motors, from classic muscle cars to trucks to minicars. Still, every once in a while, we find one that has us digging in the couch cushions for a spare few thousand dollars and maybe an extra garage space. This 1968 Prince Skyline is definitely one of those that has us dreaming. It’s one of the very few we’ve ever seen.
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