The Nissan Sileighty (Sil80) is a unique hybrid of the Nissan Silvia and Nissan 180SX, created by Japanese street racers in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Back then, many 180SX owners who raced or drifted their cars often damaged the front end. Since replacing the pop-up headlight setup was expensive, they swapped it with the simpler, more affordable front end from the Nissan Silvia. This resulted in a car that had “Sil”via parts in the front and “180”SX in the rear, leading to the nickname Sil80.
The popularity of these conversions caught the attention of Japanese tuning company Kid’s Heart, which partnered with Nissan to produce 500 official units of the Sileighty in the late 1990s. These factory-built versions came with better fit and finish than DIY conversions and featured performance upgrades.
Official Kid’s Heart Sileighty – Features & Specs
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Model | Nissan 180SX (1998 platform) |
| Front End | Nissan Silvia S13 swap |
| Engine Options | SR20DE (140 PS) / SR20DET (205 PS) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual / 4-speed auto |
| Limited Edition | 500 units |
| Performance Upgrades | Nismo ECU, upgraded LSD, revised suspension |
| Turbo Boost | Increased from 7 psi (0.5 bar) to 13 psi (0.9 bar) |
| Max Power (Turbo) | 230 PS (169 kW) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | ~6.0 seconds |
| Top Speed | 180 km/h (limited) |
Why Was the Sileighty Special?
- Factory-Built Quality – Unlike homemade Sil80s, Kid’s Heart ensured proper fitment, no zip ties, and clean bodywork.
- Performance Boost – The factory version had an improved ECU, stiffer suspension, an upgraded LSD, and a turbo boost increase.
- JDM Icon – While it was originally a workaround for crash repairs, the Sileighty became an official Nissan-backed car and an icon in the JDM tuning scene.
While only 500 were made, many enthusiasts have since replicated this conversion, making the Sil80 a legendary name in the Nissan tuning world.
