Nissan Silvia s15 Papercraft Model by Crafting Guy

3 Jan, 2022

The History of the Nissan Silvia: The Legend of a Rear-Wheel Drive That Still Exists

Since the boom of drifting in the country, the name Nissan Silvia has indeed skyrocketed at the same time as the magnitude of this sport of driving skills. This is none other than Silvia using the S-Platform. The appearance of the S-Platform was accompanied by the FR (Front Engine Rear Wheel Drive) concept, which originally aimed to present a fun-to-drive element without making the car price exorbitant.

But because of the scarcity and uniqueness and popularity in the drifting world, plus a 2-door or coupe, even if there is "no price" aka it's up to the seller to put the price. It has been observed that the drifting masters of the country have built a car whose name is taken from this Greek goddess, for example, Emmanuel Adwitya Amandio, M. Rully Armando, and many others.

Nissan Silvia has indeed been paved since the 1965 revolution, but this early generation has not used the S-Platform or rear-wheel drive. It was only in the second generation in 1975 until the last generation in the 2000s that the S-Platform was used. Generation S-Platform, especially S13 to S15 is very popular in the drifting arena until now.

Nissan Silvia (S10) 1975-79

Equipped with 2 engine options, 1.8 L18 SOHC I4 and 2.0 L20B SOHC I4, with a basic engine taken from the Datsun B210, the S10 not only has fierce power but is also able to beat corners faster. In some countries, the Nissan Silvia S10 comes with the name Datsun 200SX. Unfortunately, the toughness of the S10's maneuverability is not as popular as its rival compact sports cars from Toyota and Mazda.

Nissan Silvia (S110) 1979-85

The all-box design that became a trend at that time made this 2nd generation S-Platform completely change from the previous model. The Nissan Silvia S110 shares a chassis with the Mazda Cosmo which is the first Japanese car to use a rotary engine. In America and Canada, this car is known as the Datsun 200SX while in Mexico it is known as the Datsun Sakura.

The S110 is available in the form of a 2-door Hardtop Coupe, and a 3-door Hatchback Coupe, and is offered in several powerful new engine options. This 2nd generation of S-Platform uses a Z-series engine and some of them are equipped with turbocharger and injection technology. Not only the Z-series, one of the popular variants of the S110 which uses a 2.4 L DOHC FJ24 I4 engine with a Twin Solex carburetor, the 240RS, made its best performance by finishing in 2nd place at the New Zealand Rally in the range of 1983 to 1985.

Nissan Silvia (S12) 1983-88

The S12 comes in its iconic style using a flip-flop headlight. The 3rd S-Platform body (Nissan Silvia series-4) has 3 model choices, namely, coupe (often called notchback), hatchback, and wide body chassis or Grand Prix which is only produced in 50 units in the world. In the hatchback model, the shape of the S12 and AE86 is very similar, even the S12 looks like the AE86's "big brother" because it is larger.

The machines that are carried by the S12 are 1.8 and 2.0 liters with the CA and FJ engine series. Both engines are equipped with a choice of SOHC and DOHC technologies which are presented with a choice of turbo engines as well. In 1987 Nissan made the S12 with a V6 VG30E engine for the North American market. The engine that is embedded in the 200SX (as the American S12 is called) is known to be the most ferocious among other S12 engines.

Nissan Silvia (S13) 1988-93

The next rear-wheel-drive car is the Nissan Silvia S13. In Indonesia, we often encounter S13 in drifting arenas and it is used by reliable national drifters. The Nissan manufacturer presents the S13 with 3 model choices, including the coupe, hatchback, and convertible which appeared at the end of the decade under the name. The coupe model is very similar to the Nissan Cefiro when viewed from the front, while the hatchback model still retains the flip-flop headlights.

For export is a hatchback model that uses the name 180SX or 200SX depending on the size of the machine. For America, the marketed Silvia is called the 240SX because it has a 2400 cc engine and all body shapes have retractable headlights. In Japan, the S13 Fastback 180SX continued production after the S13 Silvia Coupe was discontinued. The unique model is the Sileighty Fastback which uses the front of the Silvia Coupe with box headlights.

Initially, the S13 was powered by the S12's CA18DE and CA18DET engines which added an intercooler to make it more powerful. But in the following years, Nissan buried the power of the S13 with the SR20DE and SR 20SR20DET engines, while the 240SX was equipped with KA24DE and KA24E engines.

Nissan Silvia (S14) 1993-98

Continuing the superiority of the S13 which has successfully won the hearts of fans of rear-wheel-drive cars, the S14 comes with a refreshed, more modern look with a more rounded design. The maneuverability and handling of the S14 are even better thanks to the extended wheelbase.

In the S14 era, the 1.8 engine has been removed, while the engine used is continuing the glory of the S13 SR series engine but has been updated with the addition of variable valve timing system technology or Nissan calls it VTC and changes to the intake camshaft and turbo T28 are further enlarged. While the 240SX for the American market still gets the same KA24DE engine as the Nissan SUV & Truck engine.

In 1994, Nissan issued a limited series Silvia S14 worked on by the manufacturer's tuner named Nismo 270R. The name 270R comes from the maximum power that this car can produce, which is 270hp. In addition to changing the engine sector, the 270R has a refreshed appearance with the Nismo body kit. Unfortunately, this car only produced 50 units.

Next is the tuner from Autech, named Autech K MF-T. This version underwent significant modifications both exterior, interior and the SR20DET engine was formulated to penetrate 245hp.

Nissan Silvia (S15) 1999-2002

This is the last generation Nissan Silvia which became one of the idols in the movie The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift. The S-Chassis on the S15 is different from before and is only sold in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Taiwan. In Taiwan, the S15 is known as the AREX Elite 951.

The S15 engine is equipped with an SR20DET engine with more enhanced engine capabilities than the previous SR series, namely an upgraded ball-bearing turbocharger that can increase power up to 250hp. Another variant of the S15 uses the SR20DE engine without a turbo that can produce power up to 165hp.

Cars that are thick with the aura of drifting have 2 types that are quite popular today. The variants are the Spec-R and Spec-S. General differences in the gearbox, brake size, and some other features. The debut of the S15 in the racing world is also unquestionable. He has won several world-class drift championships. Not only drifting, in Super GT touring racing, but the S15 has also successfully paired itself with its brother Nissan Skyline on the GT300 and GT500.

In 2002 Nissan stopped production of the Silvia and many reasons were thrown out to the public at that time, ranging from not being profitable for Nissan to being afraid that the S15 would compete for the market with its brother, the 350Z & Infiniti G37.