The Nissan Silvia is one of Japan’s most iconic sports coupes, evolving through seven generations from a hand-built grand tourer to a drifting legend. Known for its sleek design, rear-wheel-drive setup, and strong aftermarket support, the Silvia became a favorite among car enthusiasts worldwide. From the early CSP311 to the legendary S15, each generation had its own unique appeal. Here’s a deep dive into every Silvia model and what made each one special.
CSP311
The Silvia story begins in the early ‘60s, with some unexpected European influence. Albrecht Goertz, the same guy behind the BMW 507, was consulting for Nissan when they were working with Yamaha on the A550X project. The plan was to develop a sleek sports car, but the project fell apart. However, Nissan didn’t let the work go to waste. Designers Kazuo Kimura and Fumio Yoshida took the ideas from the failed Yamaha partnership and shaped them into the first Silvia, the CSP311. It was a hand-built coupe, limited in production, and laid the foundation for what would become an iconic line of rear-wheel-drive Nissans.
S10
With the S10, Nissan finally turned the Silvia into a mass-produced car, built on the brand-new S platform. It was marketed as a small, sporty RWD coupe, positioned below the Skyline. The S10 was originally meant to have a rotary engine, but the 1970s oil crisis forced Nissan to abandon the idea. Despite its stylish, Skyline-like looks, the S10 never really caught on in Japan or abroad. Its biggest problem? It lacked the power to back up its sporty image, and rivals like the Toyota Celica simply outperformed it.
S110
The S110 took things in a sharper, more aggressive direction. This generation introduced the hatchback version, which was called the Gazelle in Japan. The coupe and hatchback were sold through different Nissan dealer networks, with the Silvia nameplate staying at Nissan Prince Store locations. In North America, it was rebadged as the Datsun 200SX, and in Mexico, it had an interesting name: Datsun Sakura, meaning cherry blossom. The S110 had bold, angular styling shared with the Nissan Leopard, making it look more modern, but it still struggled to find widespread success.
S12
The S12, built from 1983 to 1989, is where things started getting more serious. It came with pop-up headlights and was available in both coupe (aka notchback) and hatchback styles. By the time the 1986 facelift (Mark II) arrived, it looked even sharper. The S12 was a true ’80s sports coupe, taking on competitors like the AE86 Toyota Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno. While it didn’t gain legendary status like the later models, it played a crucial role in setting the stage for what was coming next.
S13
If the earlier Silvias struggled to gain traction, the S13 changed everything. Launched in 1988, this was the car that put the Silvia name on the map. It was sleek, well-balanced, and fun to drive, making it an instant hit in Japan, where it won the 1988 Car of the Year award. However, Nissan stopped exporting it under the Silvia name, opting to rebadge the car in other markets. In Japan, the S13 Silvia had a different front end than the 180SX, while in the US, the S13 was sold as the 240SX with various body styles. This generation also introduced fixed headlights, replacing the older pop-up style.
S14
The S14, launched in 1993, took the Silvia in a wider, lower, and more refined direction. With a longer wheelbase and increased track width, handling saw some noticeable improvements. The styling was rounder and more mature, but that wasn’t necessarily a good thing. In Japan, the S14 still did well, but international markets saw a decline in sales. The ‘larger’ look (even though it wasn’t that much bigger) didn’t help, and as competition heated up, the Silvia’s dominance started to slip. READ MORE
S15
The final and arguably best Silvia, the S15, arrived in 1999 with a major power boost. The turbocharged SR20DET now pushed out 250 PS, thanks to a ball-bearing turbo and an improved engine management system. Even the non-turbo SR20DE had solid performance with 165 PS. The S15 refined everything the Silvia was known for—balanced handling, great power, and a lightweight chassis. Unfortunately, Nissan discontinued the Silvia after this generation due to changing regulations and declining demand for sports coupes. But its legacy lives on, especially in the drift and tuner communities, where it remains one of the most beloved Japanese performance cars of all time.
