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 First
generation Skyline GT
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1957 - ALSI-1 Series
Marketed as a luxury car, the first Alsi series Skyline, under the Prince marque, was
launched in April 1957 with a 1,484cc 4-cylinder in line OHV engine (G30). It had an
output of 60PS and a top speed of 125km/h.
The front suspension was a double wishbone and coil type, while the rear suspension was
a De Dion and leaf spring type. The car weighed around 1300 kg.
Prince Skylines were produced as four door sedans and five door station wagons.
The standard and deluxe models had different grilles and side trim.
It was the first Japanese car exposed in Europe, making an appearance at the 1957
Paris Motor Show.
1958 - ALSI-2 Series
The ALSI-1 became the ASLI-2 in November '58, with another model change in February
1960. The BLSI-3 Skyline Gloria was added in April 1961, with a bigger 1862cc GB30 83hp
engine, with a Skyline Sport 1900 (S21) added in September 1962. Prince continued the
same basic car through to August 1963.
The car was basically the same as its predecessor, except for a different bonnet emblem
and a single large horizontal bar in the grille. New were also the quad head-lights
instead of the twin lamps featured in the ALSI- 1. This was also the first four
round headlighted car in Japan.
The ALSI2 model was powered by a slightly modified 1.5 L engine known as the GA-4 OHV (1484 cc)
producing about 70 hp @ 4400 rpm and was produced through 1961.
1962 - BLRA-3 Sport Coupe
1961 saw the production of the limited edition, hand-built Skyline Sport BLRA-3 series.
The elegant styling of this car, which is not outdated even today, was designed by
the famous Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti.
It became famous at the 1960 Torino International Motor Show.
Both the engine (in line, GB4 engine, a 1862ccm OHC 4 cylinder pump- ing out 94hp.) and
chassis came straight from the Gloria.
This car had a very beautiful design, but on the other hand was very expensive for its
time. The price tag for the coupe was 1,850,000 yen, while the convertible was 1,950,000 yen.
Approximately 60 units were manufactured. Production was unfortunately dropped in
favor of the following, more cost efficient S50-E series.
Source: Prince - Nissan
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