An Australian Nissan dealer has briefly shocked car enthusiasts after claiming a customer traded in one of the world’s most desirable Japanese performance cars for a basic electric hatchback.
According to a social media post shared by Eagers Nissan, a man named Barry allegedly traded in an ultra-rare R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R V Spec II for a Nissan Leaf electric car in 2022. The post included a photo showing Barry standing in his new Leaf with the iconic Skyline parked in the showroom behind him.
This statement immediately attracted people’s attention. The R34 Skyline GT-R, and especially the V Spec II, is widely considered to be one of the most important sports cars of all time and holds huge value in the global collectors market. In contrast, the Nissan Leaf is designed to be an affordable, efficiency-focused electric car without any pursuit of performance.
Dealers said the motivation behind the deal was rising fuel costs and said Barry could no longer afford gas in the Skyline and opted to switch to electric vehicles. The post further claimed that the exchange was a direct one, adding to fans’ suspicions.
The R34 pictured here is finished in Wangan Blue and looks to be a very desirable example. The story quickly went viral on Facebook, sparking heated discussion and questions. Many questioned the legality of the deal, pointing to the huge gap in market value between the two vehicles. Others speculated the situation was a publicity stunt to draw attention to the dealership.
Those suspicions turned out to be correct. It was later revealed that the Skyline was not privately owned, but rather owned by Street FX Motorsport. The alleged deal was staged as a joke, with the car owner admitting to the prank and publicly playing along. The R34 is temporarily on display in the showroom and is probably the most valuable vehicle on site.
Market data underscores why this story is getting so much attention. Sales records show that R34 Skylines usually sell for a high price, with the average price exceeding $180,000. Even the lowest recorded sales are well above the Leaf’s typical price, with rare variants approaching $700,000.
Although the deal never actually happened, the stunt managed to attract widespread attention. This episode highlights the R34 Skyline GT-R’s enduring cultural status and the power of viral automotive storytelling in the age of social media.
