Nissan produces a line of compact sports vehicles known as the Silvia (Ri Chan shirubia in Japanese, Nissan Shirubia in Hepburn). For export, some Silvia models have been marketed as the 200SX or 240SX, while others have been offered under the Datsun name.
Sylvia, the name of the nymph who served Diana, the Roman goddess of virginity and the hunt, is where the name “Silvia” comes from. The Latin equivalent of the name is “forest.”
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1979-1983 Silvia, Nissan (S110)
Regular two-door hardtop coupes and a brand-new three-door hatchback were also available for this generation. In Mexico, the Silvia was referred to as the “Datsun Sakura,” whereas in the United States and Canada, it was known as the “Datsun 200SX.” At first, a wholly Nissan-designed rotary engine was planned for the Silvia. Before its launch, those intentions were abandoned. Eight traditional inline four-cylinder engines were provided as an alternative.
From a 1770cc engine all the way up to a 2340cc engine found in the 240RS, the engines were available. The S110 was also offered with the same three-speed automatic and five-speed manual transmissions as the previous model.
Nissan included a turbo 1770cc engine among those options to add some spice, and in 1981 the facelift version had new bumpers and a whole new front end. At this time, the 1990 cc FJ20 engine was made available on the RS model.
Every Single Nissan Silvia Generation Is As Cool As Hell
Silvia. Silviaaaa. It was the moniker used by Nissan to describe a line of sport coupes that were constructed using the S platform. They were gorgeous automobiles that later on became the preferred option for drifters. Here is a brief overview of each one.
Here are some further data about the vehicles. Recently, Cars Evolution produced a fantastic little movie that traces the history of the Silvia from 1965 until 1999.
The CSP311 chassis is where the story starts. Due to the fact that Yamaha had to hand-build the body panels before they could be released for the 1965 model year, only 554 were ever made. According to JDM Legends, this made it exceedingly pricey and no two were the same.
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Then the S10 appeared to challenge the Toyota Celica. It had a 2.0-liter engine for the American market and a 1.8-liter engine for the Japanese market. It was around 2,200 lbs. light, which made it a real delight to drive. Just have a peek at it!
Following, the S110 hatchback appeared to welcome the 1980s with a cool and boxy body shape. It was initially intended to feature a rotary engine and was known as the Gazelle in Japan. The rotary, however, never made it to production because it was too unreliable, as Japanese Nostalgic Car notes. Bonus points are given to the S110 for having a Group B rally car version. rear-drive with naturally aspirated engine.
Nissan provided the 2.0-liter engine for the S12, also known as the 200SX in North America. However! The hood bulges on the S12 RS-X models allowed for the installation of turbos. There is nothing superior than a useful hood bulge.
And we Americans will be much more accustomed to the S13, S14, and S15. Here, the S13 made its premiere as the 240SX, available as a hatchback or a coupe (in Japan, the hatchback was the 180SX). Naturally, after the automobiles’ pop-up headlights were gone, people began exchanging faces. Before I realized they were genuine aftermarket upgrades, I assumed the term “Sileighty” was entirely fictitious.
The S14 and S15 generations, thankfully, were a lot simpler. In the US, the S14 remained the 240SX and was only offered as a coupe. It did get a mid-cycle update with new headlights and other things. Although S14 240SXs are available for purchase in this country, it would be difficult to find one that hasn’t been modified and made into a drift car.
How about the S15? We never did sell those here. Sorry. Before purchasing one, you’ll have to wait for that annoying 25-year import ban to end.
Relevant details
The first-generation Silvia CSP311 was unveiled as a Datsun Coupe 1500 at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1964 before being introduced as a Nissan automobile in 1965 under the name Silvia, after the goddess of the same name in Greek mythology. With guidance from then-consultant A. Goertz, Nissan internal designers K. Kimura & F. Yoshida created the exterior and interior. One of the characteristics was the jewel-like design.
Because the Datsun Fairlady 1600 SP311’s beautiful interior and nearly seamless exterior were semi-handmade, only about 550 of them were produced over a four-year period. It was regarded as the first highway police car in Japan and the forerunner of the sports coupe.
FAQs
Japanese sports car with a cult following: Nissan Silvia 15. It is adored by both automobile lovers and racers and is well-known throughout the world for its svelte form and simple handling. A
Americans who want to purchase an S15, however, are out of luck. The cars are currently forbidden to import or own in the United States. Anyone who attempts to import one will face severe consequences, including imprisonment. A
What Nissan Silvia is the most sought-after?
Similar to the S13 and S14, the S15 was also offered with a wide range of options.
Many of you have been enquiring as to what the two primary models, the Spec-S and the Spec-R, vary from one another.
The most sought-after model in the S15 lineup was the Spec-R, which came with either a 6-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The main distinction between the JDM Spec-R and the Spec-S was the former’s 247bhp turbocharged SR20DET engine and the latter’s lackluster 163bhp SR20DE.
The Spec-R has major chassis and suspension strengthening, including larger anti-roll bars and strut braces, in addition to the engine, which wasn’t the only notable upgrade.
The Spec-R had the same 4-pot front brakes as the Z32 300ZX and also had a larger brake booster, whereas the Spec-S chose to use 2-pots for braking.
The Spec-R cars received a helical limited-slip differential in the back. This clearly recognized the S-Chassis drifting heritage and made the Spec-R an amazing package as soon as it left the factory.
A 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual transmission were available for the Spec-S. It had a smaller brake booster and had little chassis bracing.
The Spec-S had the same helical differential, chassis bracing, and 6-speed manual transmission as the Spec-R versions for the Australian market.
Although HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering), four-wheel steering, was an option on many Nissan models at the time, it will be difficult to get the most of it on an S15 and is likely to cause more problems than it will be fun to drive.
Over time, Spec-S have gained popularity, mostly for use in motorsport. You’ll probably be better off starting with a Spec-S rather than a Spec-R if you’re planning on undertaking an engine swap along with a sizable number of extra handling and brake modifications. By doing this, you avoid the possibility of crashing your pricey Spec-R and gain some cash for improvements.
However, the Spec-R is unquestionably the more desirable variant of the two if you’re seeking to go with a more straightforward street build and the SR20 catches your eye.
Will Nissan bring the Silvia back?
According to rumors, Nissan will reintroduce the Silvia, also known as the 200SX and 240SX in the US. Unnamed sources told Japan’s Best Car that the Japanese manufacturer is bringing back the moniker as part of a “Pure EV Silvia Revival” project. If we assume this report to be true, it suggests that the Silvia will make a comeback as an electric car.
The article stated that the Silvia EV rendering from last year served as the catalyst for the entire idea. Vice President of Nissan Design Europe Matthew Weaver came up with the idea for the classic coupe’s reinvented revival.
Has Nissan Silvia been canceled?
Nissan is apparently planning to revive the Silvia nameplate in 2025 as part of a project dubbed the “Pure EV Silvia Revival,” according to Japan’s Best Car Web. Nissan hasn’t confirmed anything of the kind, but the publication asserts that Matthew Weaver, vice president of Nissan Design EuropeSilvia ,’s EV rendering from last September was the catalyst for the concept.
The first Silvia, which was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in September 1964 under the codename CSP311, is heavily referenced in the aforementioned rendering. The car portrayed bears respect to the original with elements like a single line unifying the upper and lower bodies, albeit it is further emphasized by being sliced into the top of the wheel arches.
Weaver was also able to incorporate cleaner surfaces because an electric powertrain requires much less cooling than an internal combustion engine automobile does, therefore there is no need for a grille where radiators are traditionally positioned. Additionally, the CSP311’s circular headlamps, triangular three-quarter windows, and cab rear dimensions are incorporated into the depiction.
The initial Silvia was created on the same platform as the Fairlady at the time and was also known as the Datsun Coupe 1500. Only 554 of these extremely rare Nissan models were produced between 1965 and 1968. Nissan stated in their press statement for Weaver’s rendering that “it’s so uncommon in fact, that even some of Nissan’s most seasoned personnel haven’t seen one.”
The Silvia name was briefly put on hold following the CSP311 before being brought back in 1975 for the S10, which was built on the Nissan S platform. From that point on, the Silvia would always be a part of Nissan’s lineup, with the S110, S12, and the models that most people are familiar with—the S13, S14, and S15—all using the S platform. After S15 production was halted in 2002, the Silvia model series was eventually retired.
The Nissan IDx concept, which was modeled around the Datsun 510, was unveiled during the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show in along to Weaver’s rendering of the Nissan Silvia EV. Although Nissan is now implementing a new product strategy that has already given birth to a new Z car, the Silvia rebirth may have a chance given that the concept was never turned into a production model. Crossing fingers.
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Nissan’s financial issue was brought on by having too many models with identical platforms, so why do they want to make the same error again before they even reach healthy profitability again? Is the new Z insufficient? Why not combine those resources to create a new GTR for us?
Why did Nissan discontinue the Silvia?
Currently, the Nissan Silvia S15 is prohibited from being driven on American roads. Good.
The stated justification for the S15’s exclusion on American roads is our 25-year import law, which prohibits any vehicle that was not first offered for sale in the country and is under 25 years old. The Nissan Silvia is only 16 years old at its oldest and has never been sold in the US, thus it does not meet our safety and emissions rules. Because of this, a man who recently imported one risked 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Safety is the unofficial justification for keeping the S15 from American drivers. protection from lingering horror
Just imagine what would occur if S15s were made legal in the US. That would be insane.
Everywhere, all the time, people would be drifting, including down your street, on their way to school, into school buses carrying students, and into the orphanage down the street staffed by blind nuns. Rival driving gangs would engage in Drift Wars on the public roadways, drifting aggressively and dangerously like in the Fast and the Furious movie but constantly and everywhere.
We appreciate the US government saving us from the Driftpocalypse. May the S15 never be permitted in this wonderful nation.
Silvia deserved to be shared with the entire world as such a renowned automobile. Unfortunately, despite its excellent qualities, it cannot be distributed due to legal restrictions. Despite being nearly 16 years old, the Silvia S15 has never been sold in the US. This is so because there are a few laws in the US that apply to cars from other countries.
the following laws
- Any vehicle that was not manufactured and sold in the US is prohibited.
- Foreign vehicles that are under 25 years old are prohibited.
These laws have a maximum 20-year prison sentence as a punishment. Pretty severe, but safety always comes first. These restrictions were implemented as a result of a period of time during which foreign cars were being utilized to drift throughout the nation. When so many people started becoming entangled in it, it started to pose a safety risk. Therefore, even though the US restrictions on imported vehicles are the legal justification for the Silvia’s ban, the actual reason is because of probable safety hazards.