A Highly Sought-After JDM Tuner Car That Can Finally Be Imported Into The United States

Summary

• The 25-year ban on importing the Nissan Silvia S15 has been lifted in the US, allowing North American enthusiasts to finally get behind the wheel of this iconic JDM car.
• The Silvia S15 is highly sought-after due to its impact on pop culture, excellent performance abilities, and versatility in tuning and customization.
• The Silvia S15 is still earning accolades in motorsports today, thanks to its powerful engines, nimble handling, and potential for upgrades.

For decades, the Nissan Silvia S15, as well as many of its past generations, has been a pillar of JDM culture and a forerunner for tuners in motorsports. While it has definitely been fun to admire from a distance, North American enthusiasts have been aching to get behind the wheel of a Silvia stateside. My friends, the time is upon us, and as the 25-year ban restricting the S15 U.S. citizenship has been lifted, we rejoice. Hallelujah!

The ban in question not only restricted the import of the Silvia, but many other iconic foreign vehicles made in 1999. And just to be clear, their bans have also been lifted. Among the most sought-after of the newly-available imports is definitely the Nissan Silvia S15, as its impact on pop culture as well as its stellar ability in modern motorsports have caused its popularity to skyrocket in recent years.

The last of Nissan’s S-chassis masterpieces has earned a world-wide reputation for being tuner-friendly, good-looking, and absolutely brilliant on any racetrack. This is thanks to the Japanese automaker’s passion for engineering excellence and deliberate designing prowess, allowing the Silvia incredible versatility. In fact, the S15 still holds a candle to modern performance vehicles, racking up titles to this day. Industry experts predict an influx of a few JDM icons, including the R34 Skyline GT-R and the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI, to name a few.

We here in the States say “Bring ‘Em On!”.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Drifted.com, Classics.com, and MotorTrend.

The Silvia S15 Can Now Be Legally Imported

As stated before, North American enthusiasts have only been able to watch the S15 tear up tires from a distance. For instance, watching Sean wreck Han’s ‘Mona Lisa’ in Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, or tricking out virtual drift weapons in Need For Speed has long been a way to scratch the Silvia itch, so to speak. No longer.

As the 25-year ban expires on 1999 models, the gates are opening to many iconic rides, many of which are considered classics today (looking at you, Porsche 911 996.1 GT3). This not only means more diversity and competition among collectors to grab one of these vintage beauties, but more diverse ways to tune and customize, as the cultural divides have been bridged -literally.

The North American Market’s Muzzled Versions

We couldn’t speak about the previously illegal Silvia without mentioning the legal ADM variants. North American members of the Nissan S-chassis family, most notably the Datsun 200SX and Nissan 240SX, gained a respectable reputation among U.S. enthusiasts as reliable sports cars with tuning abilities.

However, they were often detuned and redesigned to comply with local regulations. This made them ultimately lackluster in comparison to their purebred JDM brethren. Though today these special tuners are hailed as pioneers in American tuner culture, nothing compares to a true Silvia.

The S15 Silvia’s Performance Ability Still Earns Motorsport Accolades More Than Two Decades After Production

The S15 Silvia featured the iconic SR20 engines and offered both a turbocharged and naturally aspirated variant, though the more sought-after S15s have the turbo variant. The turbocharged SR20DET pushed out 247 BHP and 203 pound-feet of torque, earning it the title of most powerful SR20 engine to date. The optional six-speed manual and standard rear-wheel drive cemented the S15 as the go-to vehicle for a nimble, and engaging, driving experience.

The S15 Silvia offered a 163 horsepower SR20DE variant, which still boasted superb versatility in terms of tuning and customizing, as the components were interchangeable with its turbocharged variant. This allowed tuners and engineers to cherry-pick upgrades that suited their lifestyle, or race style. The versatility of the Silvia family is a top contributor to their superb performance across various motorsport disciplines.

Power Meets Handling In The Spec-R

The S-chassis is widely regarded as the best drift chassis money can buy. This is thanks to the lego-like foundation it provides. Like the rest of the vehicle, the handling and suspension options are interchangeable and highly customizable, making for an endless way to outfit the S15 Silvia. From drifter, to circuit speeder, to dragster, the S15 wears many hats in the automotive world thanks to the ever-evolving approach instilled in its design by the expert engineers at Nissan.

Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-R Aero Performance

(Source: Nissan)

The highly sought-after Silvia S15 Spec-R came outfitted with an extremely strengthened chassis and suspension setup, which included larger anti-roll bars and strut braces. The Spec-R also features four-piston front brakes and larger brake boosters as opposed to the lesser Spec-S. The Spec-S featured the before-mentioned 163 horse SR20DE engine, two-pot brakes, and an optional five-speed manual transmission.

The Spec-R also boasted a more refined helical limited slip differential, whereas the Spec-S had a less productive viscous LSD. A four-speed auto trans is available for both the S15 Silvia Spec-R and Spec-S, though driving purists bemoan the thought of abandoning the manual gearbox in the S15. Four-wheel steering is also an option, though that feature often falls under the same category as the four-speed automatic transmission; nobody wants it.

The Silvia S15’s Modern Achievements

Drivers across different race disciplines look to the Silvia S15 for a highly customizable race car that can seamlessly incorporate powerful engine upgrades and extensive handling tweaks. Most of what a racer yearns for is included in the Silvia S15 from the factory floor, making upgrades completely optional and easy to integrate thanks to that versatile S-chassis. From the design and dimensions to the performance and tuning capabilities, the S15 was built to accommodate the driving purist.

This has allowed it to earn laurels in the Formula Drift series as well as the D1GP series. The S15 won the GT300 series in 2001, while its previous generation, the S14, won the GT300 in 1997. There’s even a 1,000 horsepower Silvia S15 devouring drag strips. The Silvia S15 shows no signs of slowing down, literally, and advancing automotive breakthroughs only yield more ways to enhance the S15 for future generations.

Brief History Of The Nissan Silvia

Modeled after the Fairlady convertible, the Silvia was introduced in 1964 at the Tokyo Motor Show under the name Datsun 1500. Originally designed by German innovator, Albrecht von Wrisberg, the Datsun 1500 would later go on to be named the Silvia CSP311. Poor sales and high price points plagued the early Silvia sales, forcing Nissan to retire the Silvia briefly from 1968 to 1974.

Returning for 1975, the newly-dubbed Nissan Silvia S10 was the first to feature the iconic S-chassis. This was the first model year to be mass-produced, making the S10 a more common sight than the previous CSP311. Featuring a 1.8-liter inline-four and rear-wheel drive, the new Silvia compact coupe began to capture an audience with its economic, sporty attitude.

The First Turbocharged Silvia

The Silvia S110 came in 1979 and featured a turbocharged Z18ET engine. The original design called for Nissan’s very own rotary engine, but the Japanese automaker failed to produce a reliable enough model for mass production. This ultimately bolstered the Silvia’s demand, as nearly every generation following the S110 featured a turbo engine option.

Birth Of The Silvia As We Know It

The S13 was introduced in 1989 and was marketed as the 240SX in North America. This is where the legend of the Silvia and Nissan’s S-chassis begins to pique major international interest. The drift culture had been strong in the Land of the Rising Sun, yet it was only just gaining real traction in the States. Tuning culture and small, sporty vehicles began to gain favor over the bland, gas-guzzling American sports cars.

In 1991, the game-changing SR20DET and SR20DE engines were introduced, solidifying the Silvia as a mainstream contender. The advanced and innovative SR20 powertrain paired with excellent suspension tuning boosted the Silvia’s popularity among racers, weekend hobbyists, and daily drivers alike, leading to huge success and plans to keep the nameplate going. The Silvia S14 debuted at the end of 1993 with a lower, wider body and heavier curb weight.

The S14’s SR20DET engine was spruced up with Nissan’s N-variable cam timing (VCT) and a T28 turbocharger. However, the larger body and heavier weight didn’t sell well in Japan, leading to dismal domestic sales. 1996 brought the refreshed Silvia S14A, which featured some aggressive body enhancements and cosmetic flair. The 1996 S14A was sold in North America as the second-gen Nissan 240SX and featured a non-turbocharged KA24DE engine. Booooo.

Finally, in 1999, the Silvia S15 debuted with a slimmer profile and lighter curb weight. Nissan scrutinized the S14’s poor sales, attributed it to its bulky size, and put the Silvia on a diet. This ultimately won back their domestic appeal, as the S15 is undoubtedly the most sought-after and recognizable Silvia on the planet. The 247 horsepower SR20DET engine has the potential to produce 400 ponies if tuned properly. Not to mention, with the S15 taking a lightweight approach, the possibility to achieve a curb weight under 2,500 pounds when trimming weight is totally achievable.

Even then, the stellar handling and suspension tuning is enough to zip around most tracks with gusto. And let’s not forget the versatility of the S-chassis bringing all of Nissan’s genius together. Let’s just say we could gush over JDM icons for days, but soon we may get the chance to drive, or even own, one. Free at last, free at last!