Nissan Silvia Spec-R (S15) | Spotted
S15s are now eligible for import in the US. Better grab one before it's too late...
It’s 2024, in case you hadn’t noticed, and that can only mean one thing: a new bunch of previously forbidden cars will now become legal to import in the USA. Clearly, we don’t live in America, but what happens across the pond tends to send ripples in our direction. Annoyingly, that hasn’t resulted in us getting an endless supply of muscle cars and giant pickup trucks. Nope, instead we have to deal with a law preventing cars that were never sold in the US from being imported until they’re at least 25 years old. And because our chums in America missed out on so many Japanese gems, it sends their values skyward once said gems hit the big two-five.
So what’s joining the 25 club in ’24, then? Well, there’s a bunch of cars that are unlikely to move the needle drastically, such as the TVR Tuscan, the original Audi S3 and the Pagani Zonda (it’s already worth zillions, anyway). The big hitter, though, will be the Nissan Skyline GT-R R34. Values have been sky-high for several years now, likely in anticipation of this very moment, and there’s a good chance they’ll rise to even greater heights once flocks of wealthy American collectors swoop in. There is, however, another Nissan of the same vintage with (almost) the same level of Fast and Furious appeal that hasn’t seen the same degree of appreciation as its R34 sibling. Not yet, anyway.
Admittedly, to pin the Silvia S15’s popularity (and the R34’s, for that matter) down to a movie franchise is doing it a major disservice. The S15 was the final generation of Nissan’s four-cylinder, rear-wheel drive sports coupe; a series of cars that proved easily to slide and, therefore, incredibly popular with tuners and drifters. We’d get several iterations of Silvia in the UK - named the 200SX over here - though the S15 would be reserved for the Japanese, Australian and New Zealand markets. Of course, our import laws aren’t as strict as those in the US, meaning brand new examples were on their way to Southampton docks moments after the first batch of S15s hit the forecourts in Japan.
Given that they were relatively affordable (it was downsized to squeeze into Japan’s compact class), Nissan shifted tens of thousands of them, many of which have been modified beyond recognition or smashed to bits on a drift course. They’re a surprisingly rare sight in the UK, rarer still in stock form, which makes this 2002 Silvia a real unicorn. Just look at it. Stock wheels, standard lights and an interior devoid of purple switchgear and stick-on dials. Granted, the exhaust looks a little larger than standard and the body kit looks aftermarket (though the ad claims it’s factory fit), they’re all bits that can easily be reversed if you want to go all original.
This is no ordinary Silvia, either. It’s the even more sought-after Spec-R, which improved on the standard car with beefier anti-roll bars, extra bracing and a helical limited-slip differential. The 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbo engine (that’s SR20DET to Nissan buffs) was left unchanged over the base car, with 250hp and 203lb ft of torque accessed through a six-speed manual or four-speed auto (don’t worry, this car’s the former). Plenty of poke for a car weighing 1,250kg, though it only takes a little bit of work to extract silly amounts of power for never-ending sideways action.
Anyhoo, the appeal of this example is how well it’s been preserved, as reflected by its 4.5-grade import rating (which is very high) and supposedly rust-free undersides. All the importing faff has been taken care of, so the only thing you need to do is find £29,995 down the back of the sofa. However, if Bride buckets, a Nardi steering wheel and HKS dog ‘box are more your thing, then this 458hp example is probably more your thing. It’s £20k more, but will it be £20k more fun? Possibly. Either way, you better jump on one of them now before the Americans do.
SPECIFICATION | NISSAN SILVIA SPEC-R (S15)
Engine: 1,998cc four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 250@6,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 203@4,800rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2002
Recorded mileage: 39,000
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £29,995
Ready to be barried to modern day "TikTok standards"
There's a good video on YT of a red Silvia doing some skiddies around the Nürburgring from '23 if any of you fancy a gander at them in action, beautiful bit of kit!
I liked how these were running the same bhp as standard to what I tuned the 200SX up to(250bhp), and the 200 is still the most favourite performance car I've had(just). So much fun, and you just couldn't resist going sideways pretty much everywhere in it I thought. Great times for sure, and I have such fond memories of it.
Price is strong, but US demand is no-doubt behind that. I reckon most of these will end up in the USA, along with R34s.
At least it hasnt got an 8 foot high exhaust and wheel wheels arent at 25 degrees from normal.
as it is, USA already has access to the car this should have been - a Nissan 350Z.
as it is, USA already has access to the car this should have been - a Nissan 350Z.
I personally preferred the smaller, lighter S-body, it was just more immediate and fun to drive. The S-body is almost more like a hot hatch in how light and narrow it is, just with the power going to the rear wheels.
?Always wanted an S15 but £30k is very strong money. Having driven an S14 I always thought they were far too over hyped. An E36 328i of the same vintage was a much better driver.
At least it hasnt got an 8 foot high exhaust and wheel wheels arent at 25 degrees from normal.
I'd love one of these(or another 200), but I'm definitely not sure if I could part with the money they ask for them now though. At least I had 4 years/40k miles of great memories I'm the 200 in fairness, so I'm grateful for that.
as it is, USA already has access to the car this should have been - a Nissan 350Z.
I personally preferred the smaller, lighter S-body, it was just more immediate and fun to drive. The S-body is almost more like a hot hatch in how light and narrow it is, just with the power going to the rear wheels.
I love the bigger engines like the ones in the 350Z/370Z, but obviously they always add a stack of weight to the car though. It isn't easy to get the balance right I think, although I wouldn't say no to a V8 engine in a 200SX to be fair! However I guess my Cerbera was that answer really?
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