Produced from September 1996 to October 2001, the WC34 Stagea shares its front and rear suspension geometry, brakes and much of its drivetrain catalogue with the R33 Skyline — a genuine sleeper wagon that's become one of the more sought-after practical JDM imports for exactly that reason.
Overview
Regular Stagea grades ranged from the 2.0L RB20E/RB20DE up through the 2.5L RB25DET, offered in RS (rear-drive) and RS Four (ATTESA E-TS all-wheel drive) form, with 1998's NEO update lifting the turbo engine to 260PS. At the top of the range sits the Autech Version 260RS, a limited run of 1,734 cars built 1997–98 by Nissan's in-house Autech division, dropping in the RB26DETT twin-turbo straight-six and ATTESA AWD system lifted directly from the R33 GT-R, along with Brembo brakes and a 5-speed manual — effectively an R33 GT-R running gear in a five-door wagon body.
RS / RS Four / Autech 260RS
RS Four adds ATTESA AWD to the standard RB25DET turbo six; the Autech 260RS is the rare, GT-R-engined halo grade — only 1,734 were built.
RB25DET / RB26DETT (260RS)
Standard turbo grades run the 2.5L RB25DET; the Autech 260RS swaps in the R33 GT-R's 2.6L twin-turbo RB26DETT.
Auction Pricing
Japanese market data puts clean RS Four values broadly between ¥900,000 and ¥1,800,000 depending on grade and mileage — one of the more affordable ways into a genuine turbo AWD Skyline drivetrain. The rare Autech 260RS sits in an entirely different bracket, with well-conditioned examples now commonly exceeding ¥8,000,000 given its 1,734-unit production run and direct GT-R engine connection. Given how easily a standard Stagea can be dressed up to look like a 260RS, we verify chassis and engine numbers on every car ourselves before you commit to a bid.
What to Check
On any turbo Stagea, timing and general maintenance checks mirror the R33 Skyline it shares its drivetrain with — confirm turbo condition and boost-control history, and check the ATTESA AWD transfer case and viscous coupling on RS Four and 260RS cars. On the Autech 260RS specifically, verifying genuine chassis and engine numbers against Autech's build records is essential, since it's a car with real incentive to fake given the price gap to a standard RS Four. As a wagon that's often seen genuine family or load-carrying use, check for accident history and uneven tyre wear from towing, alongside the usual rust checks around the rear arches and sills.
Import Eligibility
Because production runs to October 2001, the WC34 is right at the 25-year line as of this year in the age-based markets — but the practical effect is minimal, since Australia has a separate route regardless of build date.
SEVS-Eligible Now
The Stagea, including the Autech 260RS, is listed on the SEVS register — meaning eligible builds can be imported now regardless of build date. We'll confirm your exact build against the current register.
Nearly Fully Eligible
Almost the entire production run has now cleared the federal 25-year exemption — only the final months of 2001-build cars are still clearing, through late 2026. See our Import page.
MOT Only
No age-based import ban and every WC34 is now past the 10-year IVA threshold — a standard MOT is all that's needed, available now regardless of build date.
FAQ
Is the Autech 260RS really just an R33 GT-R in a wagon body?
Mechanically, very close — the same RB26DETT twin-turbo engine and ATTESA AWD system, plus Brembo brakes, in a five-door wagon shell. It's rare enough, and different enough in character, to be its own dedicated collector car rather than simply a GT-R wagon conversion.
How do I know a 260RS is genuine and not a re-badged RS Four?
Given the price gap, verifying chassis and engine numbers against Autech's original build records is essential before committing to any 260RS — exactly the kind of check we carry out as part of sourcing and inspecting your car.