180SX: Nissan's Legendary Drift Car Went by Many Names
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
The
Nissan
180SX means nothing to most drivers. But in the drifting community, the car’s name is spoken only in hushed tones. The Japanese version of Nissan’s Silvia, the entry-level sports car, is considered the greatest car in the history of the sport.American drifters will likely have more experience behind the wheel of the 180SX’s close sibling, the 240SX, the Silvia that Nissan sold in the U.S. But the slight differences between the two cars give the 180SX an edge over its near-twin for the honor of “best drift car ever.”
The 240SX and the 180SX aren’t the only Silvias that Nissan made. Over the years, the company developed seven generations, each with its own list of trims and variants. But one thing remained the same through every iteration: the legendary S-Chassis.
What makes the 180SX so special?
Thanks to that chassis, Silvias of all stripes have been favorites within the drifting community. The car and the sport both began their histories side by side in the 1970s. But the engine and variations for the Japanese-only model hold a special place in the hearts of drifting enthusiasts.
The first 180SX derived its name from its 1.8L engine. Right from the get-go, 180SX Club
says
the Japanese model performed better than the 2.4L engine shipped to the U.S., offering 170hp to the American model’s 140hp, thanks to its factory-made turbo.Throughout the years, Nissan continued to widen the gap between 180SX and 240SX, making the former more aggressive while softening the edges of the latter to appeal to a larger U.S. crowd. The S13 version of the 180SX even offered a four-wheel steering system in the top trim.
MORE: The Nissan Skyline Is Coming Back to America—but It’s Not a Car
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Other variations of the Nissan Silvia
Nissan isn’t alone in adapting its marketing to suit different markets. Whether to abide by differing standards or to appeal to specific languages and cultures, automakers regularly change names and car specs based on the country they’re shipping cars to.
But the list of monikers the Silvia has been sold under is particularly long. From the third to the fifth generation of the car, Nissan sold the hatchback version under the “Gazelle” nameplate. The S15, the last Silvia, also came as a retractable hardtop convertible called the Varietta.
Nissan also offered a number of trim levels and special editions of the car, each with its own nameplate. Complicating matters, the company sold all its cars outside of Japan under the brand Datsun until 1981. In all, the car had over 30 names.
Finding and owning a 180SX
MORE: The 1971 Datsun 240Z Promoted by Brie Larson Is Now for Sale
The Nissan Silvia’s drift-car reputation makes it a hard car to find. Even the American versions can inspire some hot auction races on
BringATrailer.com
. And because any foreign car is banned from U.S. roads for its first 25 years, buying a 180SX here is next to impossible.Technically, you can ship any 180SX from 1996 or earlier over from Japan, but it will cost you about $2,000 on top of the price of the car. The car’s age does however make it eligible for
classic car coverage
. If you’re shopping for car insurance,
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