For Sale at Auction: 1999 Nissan Silvia in Monterey, California

Chassis No. S15-009467

The S15 generation of the venerable Nissan Silvia has long been forbidden fruit for Japanese car enthusiasts based in North America. Arriving in 1999 strictly for Japanese, Australian, and New Zealand markets, the new Silvia left those on the outside pining for the stylish yet affordable drift-friendly sports coupe. For the new generation introduced in 1999, the Silvia trim lineup was pared down to simply the Spec.S and Spec.R; the latter honed more for track performance. The Spec.R featured a turbocharged version of the now legendary SR20DE making 247 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, along with a six-speed manual transmission, a helical limited-slip differential, and four-piston brake calipers plucked from the Nissan 300ZX.

This 1999 Silvia Spec.R L Package is finished in Sparkling Silver with a Black upholstered interior. It features a six-speed manual transmission, leather-wrapped steering wheel, boost gauge attached to the driver-side A-pillar, and remote key access. A Japanese registration certificate shows that this Spec.R was delivered in March 1999 to a car dealership in the Saitama Prefecture. It was sold the following year to a private owner in Tokyo, where it would remain for the next 21 years. A Japanese Car VX report indicates that the car was acquired in December 2021 by Nextage Co of Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. The vehicle was sold again the following year and registered to the distinguished M's Vantec Co. Collection in the Gunma Prefecture. The car was imported to the United States in February 2025, joining a private collection of rare JDM vehicles in Southern California and now features just over 37,500 kilometers or approximately 23,300 miles. The sale includes a Nissan-branded glass breaking tool and a tool kit.

The Nissan Silvia Spec.R is a handsome, right-hand drive sports coupe outfitted with the venerable SR20DET, a six-speed manual, and a laundry list of performance components. As part of the crop of desirable Japanese imports only recently cleared to land on American shores, this example is an intriguing choice for any curator of rare Japanese cars.