Nissan Silvia / 180SX S13
Import a Nissan Silvia / 180SX (S13) from Japan, found at auction, scanned before it ships, and delivered with a report anyone can verify.
- Built in Japan
- 1988–1998
- Engine
- CA18DET or SR20DET turbo four, rear-wheel drive
About the S13
The S13 Silvia launched in May 1988 and was sold until October 1993. Its fastback sibling, the 180SX, arrived in 1989 and stayed in production until 1998. Both are front-engined and rear-drive: early cars use the 175 PS CA18DET, and the 205 PS SR20DET arrived in January 1991.
This is the classic cheap turbo drift platform, and strong North American auction results for the related 240SX show how much demand there is.
Marketed as the ART FORCE SILVIA, the S13 won Japan's Good Design Grand Prize in October 1988 and Japan Car of the Year for 1988–89. It sold about 300,000 cars, the most of any Silvia generation. Its rear-drive layout, low price and strong turbo models made it a favourite with tuners and young street drivers, and it is still a common drift base.
- Engine
- SR20DET 1,998 cc turbo I4 (from 1991)
- Power
- 205 PS
- Torque
- 28 kgm at 4,000 rpm
- Weight
- 1,150 kg (1991–93 Silvia K's)
- Gearbox
- 5-speed manual
- Drive
- Rear-wheel drive
- Sold in Japan
- 302,329 (S13 Silvia)
Can an S13 come in?
Both countries count from the month on the build plate, so a car can become eligible part-way through a year. We check the plate on every car.
Quebec registers right-hand-drive cars only at 25 years. Every other province follows the federal 15-year rule.
US sourcing is planned for 2027, once a customs broker confirms the duty rate on Japanese classics. Enquiries are welcome now.
Which cars roll in next? See the 2027 US calendar and the 2027 Canada calendar.
What to look at on an S13
The model-specific weak points we look for in the auction sheet, the photos and the scan.
Fluid damage
Brake, clutch and ABS fluid pools between the firewall and chassis rails and rots the seam sealer.
Strut towers
The strut-tower seams trap moisture. Check them closely.
Front-end rust
Look at the cowl, battery tray and radiator support. Replacement panels are hard to find.
Engine
A big turbo without a proper tune means engine wear. Ask who tuned it.
Drift abuse
Worth checking the rails for kinks, the diff for welding and the chassis number for tampering.
What we check on every S13
The auction sheet, in full
Every line of the original Japanese sheet translated: repair marks, rust notes, interior score.
The build plate
The month of manufacture decides eligibility, so we read it off the car, not the registration.
Mileage against the records
Dash and ECU against the auction sheet and Japan's inspection history.
Flood and accident history
Checked before export, while a claim is still possible.
A full diagnostic scan
Every module read inside the auction's 5-day claim window, so a hidden fault goes back to the seller.
Underneath
Chassis rails, floors and suspension, where snow-country salt does its damage.
What landing one costs: see the worked examples; an enquiry gets you the figure for this car. New to auction sheets? Read how to read one.
What an S13 costs
Published figures with their source and date. Prices move with condition, mileage and grade; an enquiry gets auction results for the car you want.
| What | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| S13 Silvia, JDMBuySell median of seller-reported sales (11 cars, Mar 2025–May 2026) JDMBuySell, Oct 2026 | US$13,785 | JDMBuySell , Oct 2026 |
| 180SX, benchmark market value West Coast Shipping (CLASSIC.com data), Sep 2026 | about US$22,000 | West Coast Shipping (CLASSIC.com data) , Sep 2026 |
| S13 Silvia, Japan used-car average asking price, whole generation Carsensor, Oct 2026 | about ¥3.81 million | Carsensor , Oct 2026 |
| 180SX, Japan used-car average asking price Carsensor, Oct 2026 | about ¥3.86 million | Carsensor , Oct 2026 |
Figures as published by each source; not offers from us. Landed cost in Canada adds shipping, duty, GST/HST and provincial fees.
S13 buyer questions
Are the S13 Silvia and 180SX both eligible?
Yes. Carsensor lists the S13 Silvia from May 1988 to September 1993 and the 180SX from April 1989 to December 1998. Every car has passed the US 25-year rule and Canada's 15-year rule.
CA18DET or SR20DET?
Cars built from January 1991 have the 2.0 L SR20DET, rated at 205 PS against 175 PS for the earlier 1.8 L CA18DET. Carsensor's average for 1991–93 Silvias was about ¥4.16 million, against ¥3.53 million for 1988–90 cars.
Silvia or 180SX?
They share most mechanical and interior parts. The 180SX is the hatchback version and stayed in production until December 1998, so late cars are newer than any S13 Silvia. Carsensor's averages are close, at about ¥3.81 million and ¥3.86 million.
Want an S13?
Tell us the grade, colour and budget. We reply with eligibility for your province or state and what these are fetching in Japan now, and contact you when sourcing opens.