If you are an enthusiast, the 1980s and 1990s were Nissan's best years. During these two decades, Nissan gave us some of its most iconic sports cars, and the Silvia (a.k.a. Gazelle and 200SX) was the most inexpensive among them.
Besides the affordable price, the Nissan Silvia also featured a proper FR layout, a capable powertrain, and a pretty attractive styling. Such a great balance made Silvia a true legend, despite the presence of much more prestigious Japanese sports cars.
It's been almost two decades since the discontinuation, but Silvia still feels special. Therefore, it's no wonder it is one of the most popular project cars among car enthusiasts. Some like its fantastic drift potential, while others consider it a complete package. Four generations of it were available in Australia, so let's take a quick look at each.
Nissan Gazelle or Silvia S12 (1984-1988)
Although this small sports car's history started in the 1960s, the first time it appeared in Australia was in 1984. That was the third generation, known as Silvia S12, the first one to come Down Under. For the Australian market, it was named Gazelle, which was produced until 1988.
The Gazelle was a new thing in this part of the world, and its fantastic layout instantly made it popular. It was a small, affordable sportscar, stylish and, more importantly, with an FR layout (Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive). This was truly refreshing in an era where affordable cars were characterised by FF or Front-engine, Front-wheel drive.
The proper drivetrain was followed by a well-designed chassis. The suspension setup included an independent front suspension with a typical MacPherson strut, with coil springs, hydraulic dampers, an independent arm etc. The rear suspension featured components like coil springs, live axle, lower arm, strut, upper locating rod etc.
For the brakes, the front wheels were equipped with discs, while drums were reserved for the rear end. The vehicle weighed just 1100kg.
Engine
The longitudinally mounted engine featured a 2.0-litre capacity (78kW; 160Nm), with power being sent to the rear wheels via a 5-speed manual transmission, while an automatic gearbox was also available.
The overall performance was pretty respectable, so it's no wonder the car was successful in various motorsport competitions. In Australia, Mark Skaife won the 1987 Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship with a Gazelle.
Body Styles and Features
The Gazelle was offered in two body styles: a coupe and a hatchback. In both cases, the basic version came with a lot of standard equipment, such as alloy wheels, electric windows and mirrors, a 6-speaker audio system, cloth door trim etc.
An optional package included upgrades like air conditioning, power steering, and a power sunroof, but these options were phased out in 1985. What we saw instead were the addition of power steering and manual sunroof to the list of standard equipment.
Nissan 180SX or Silvia S13 (1989-1994)
The next-generation Nissan Silvia S13 arrived in 1989, bringing various changes. One of the changes was that Silvia's nameplate became reserved for the Japanese market, while models for the rest of the world came with the famous SX designation, where the engine capacity determined the nameplate. The initial version featured a 1.8-litre engine and came with the full name of Nissan 180SX.
The new generation was based on the same S platform, but we saw all kinds of updates and upgrades. It wasn’t just about the styling – we also saw a new, more refined suspension setup and new brakes. The brake upgrade was particularly noticeable, as the front wheels came with ventilated discs, while classic disc brakes replaced old-school drums on the rear axle.
Interestingly, the new model kept pretty much the same kerb weight, even though the wheelbase was longer and other dimensions increased as well.
Engine
As we've just mentioned, the new 180SX was equipped with a 1.8-litre engine with dual cams, available in normally-aspirated and turbocharged variants. The base model features a non-turbo version of the engine, with a max output of around 100kW and 160Nm of torque. The turbocharged version was, of course, more capable, with a max output of 130kW and 226Nm of torque.
This CA engine was used until 1991, when it was replaced with the new-generation SR engine, with 2.0 litres in capacity and many other upgrades, including a new 200SX moniker. This unit was also available in normally-aspirated and turbocharged variants. Base models were good for about 105kW and 180Nm of torque, while the turbocharged version featured 147kW and a pretty impressive 265Nm of torque.
All engine options were available in 5-speed manual and 4-speed automatic transmission.
Nissan 200SX or Silvia S14 (1994-2000)
The Nissan Silvia S14 carried on with the 200SX moniker in Australia. It used the same engine, but many things changed. The styling was completely new, while the exterior design brought a longer wheelbase and bigger dimensions. The rounded design made the vehicle look even bigger.
The handling was notably improved thanks to the wider track and new suspension. It consisted of an independent front suspension with a MacPherson strut, coil springs and an anti-roll bar, while the rear suspension also came with an independent multi-link setup, coil springs and an anti-roll bar.
Front brakes used ventilated discs, while the rear wheels were equipped with classic disc brakes. Another vital upgrade that significantly improved performance was the available limited-slip differential.
The S14 was offered in three grades in Australia – Luxury, Sports and Sports Limited. All versions were equipped with the same 2.0-litre turbo-four engine. The 1997 model year brought a facelift with a new front-end design that included sharper and narrower headlights and a more aggressive overall design.
Engine
The 200SX S14 came with the same engine as its predecessor. Almost all parts of the engine carried over from the previous generation, so the power figures also remained the same (147kW; 265Nm). Once again, potential buyers had a choice between a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
Nissan 200SX or Silvia S15 (2000-2003)
The Nissan Silvia S15 was the final iteration of one of the longest-living nameplates in Nissan's history. Once again, the Australian model used the 200SX name, but there were some significant changes. First, the S15 was sold only in Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, making it pretty exclusive. The overall dimensions were slightly smaller than the previous generation, though the wheelbase remained the same.
The Australian model was offered in two grades – Spec S and Spec R. The Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R featured various suspension upgrades, such as the standard limited-slip differential (optional in the Spec S). However, both versions featured the same engine and pretty much the same body kit, which included things like a massive rear wing, sports bumpers, side skirts etc.
Engine
The engine carried over from the previous generation. The max output was limited to 147kW and 265Nm of torque due to the new emissions standards in Australia. On the other hand, we saw a new 6-speed manual transmission, while the old 4-speed automatic also remained on offer.
In 2002, the final model year, the Australian version was offered with the new GT grade, which featured a naturally aspirated version of the 2.0-litre engine.
Does Nissan Still Make Silvia (200SX)?
Unfortunately, it doesn't. The Silvia/200SX nameplate, as well as the S platform, was officially discontinued in 2003 due to Nissan's plans to reduce the range of platforms and simplify its offer. However, there have been a lot of rumours about the comeback of the nameplate in the last few years. The latest rumours speculate about the all-electric sports coupe, with would use the legendary moniker.
Today, all generations of Silvia are very popular among car enthusiasts. Of course, its FR layout and light chassis mean great potential for a drift car.
Moreover, it is generally a popular choice for a project car due to its reliable engine and many available aftermarket parts. If you need original replacement parts for your project cars, we have a large network of car wreckers across the country. Send us a query, and we will find the best deals for you.
If your old Silvia is looking for a new owner, you can advertise it for sale on our website and find more interested buyers.
By Nebojsa Grmusa