Nissan Silvia 1996

The Nissan Silvia is easy to fall in love with, especially if you’re into drifting, because its front-engine, rear-drive layout and extremely lightweight body with long wheelbase and near 50:50 weight distribution make it perfect for the sport. Moreover, there are myriad available parts for tuning Silvias, including two-way differentials for drifting (that lock during acceleration and braking) and countless options for raising horsepower well beyond 300 hp.

Silvias are among the most popular vehicles for street racing in countries like Japan, Australia and Malaysia. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift has millions of Americans dying to get their hands on a Silvia S15, but they must wait until the model is at least 25 years old, or settle for older models like the S12 and early S13. In a famous case of “can’t wait” syndrome, an American was slapped with a huge fine for smuggling his dream S15. So be sure to follow the rules!

Silvias were also quite successful in motorsports over the years. This includes the World Rally Championship in the late 1980s, IMSA GT (GTU class) in the 1990s, the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship, and drift car competition in the 2000s — in which Silvias won seven D1 Grand Prix championships! As of late 2015, a modified Silvia S15 also holds the record for the fastest lap time at Tsukuba Circuit.

The Nissan Silvia was produced between 1964 and 2002. Most models were coupes, but there were also a couple of convertibles and hatchback variations. The very first model was an expensive hand-built coupe, based on the Fairlady convertible, that sold only in Japan. Its name was derived from the warbler (small bird) genus, sylvia. Numerous variations followed between 1974 and 2002, when the final Silvia was produced. These included the S10, S110, Gazelle, 240RS, S12, S13, S14 and S15 in Spec-S, Spec-R and other variations.

The great looking 1996 Silvia S14 in the accompanying photos has an attractive low, wide body with beautiful lines, aggressive headlights and a large rear wing for increased downforce. The interior is comfortable and functional, with sporty meters. The car is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo engine with N-VCT variable cam timing for the intake valves and a 4-speed automatic / 5-speed manual transmission. As you can see, it’s in beautiful condition with minimal modifications, making it a dream for those seeking to tune a Silvia themselves.

It’s fair to say the best deals on Nissan Silvias are right here in Japan where you can find the best JDM models in excellent condition at reasonable prices. Shop around internationally, compare for yourself, and we’re confident you’ll agree. At Japan Car Direct, our dedicated team can keep you informed of suitable vehicles on auction each week in Japan, arrange for professional third-party inspections, ensure all of your questions are answered, place bids on your behalf, inform you of every detail after successful bids, and arrange for the vehicle’s transportation to your nearest port. We are here for you every step of the way, and aim to make the entire process easy and enjoyable.