Nissan Silvia · S13 · S14 · 180SX

Nissan Silvia S13 and S14 import: the S-chassis

The S-chassis is one of the most requested platforms Andre gets. The US had the 240SX, but the Japanese Silvia K's came with the turbocharged SR20DET from the factory. Every S13 and S14 is now old enough to import. Walltap Garage finds a clean one in Japan, which is the hard part, and brings it to you.

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Updated November 2026 · Walltap Garage, Houston

The S-chassis cars

Model	Years	What to know
Silvia S13	1988–1993	Early K's used the CA18DET turbo, later K's the SR20DET. All past 25 years.
180SX	1989–1998	The pop-up-headlight hatchback on the S13 platform. All past 25 years.
Silvia S14	1993–1998	K's trims with the SR20DET. Early (zenki) and facelifted (kouki) looks. All past 25 years.
Silvia S15	1999–2002	Eligible by build month. See our S15 guide.

What to check on an S13 or S14

Drift history. Most S-chassis cars have been drifted. Look hard at the chassis, the subframes and any welding.
Rust. Strut towers, sills and rear arches. Andre walks away from corrosion.
Is it a real K's? Confirm the factory turbo car from the documents, not the badges. Engine swaps also affect EPA eligibility.
Repair grade. R and RA grades are common. Our auction sheet guide explains them.

How Andre buys your Silvia

Inspected in person in Japan before any bid. Andre's exporter checks the car himself, looking for rust and the things an auction inspector skips. It's included with your deposit. Many importers buy off the auction sheet alone.
No rust. Ever. Andre walks away from any sign of corrosion, even on a high-grade car, unless you tell him it doesn't matter to you.
Refundable deposit. It goes toward your car if he wins it, and comes back if he doesn't or if you change your mind before bidding.
Honest about age. Every car is 25+ years old and sold as-is with no warranty, same as the contract says. Anything Andre finds, you hear about right away.

Have a car in mind? Andre will price it with you.

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Questions buyers ask

Is a Silvia different from a 240SX?

Same platform, different car. The Japanese Silvia K's came with a turbocharged engine from the factory, and the body and lights differ. The 240SX had a non-turbo engine.

Are S13 and S14 Silvias legal to import?

Yes. Every S13, S14 and 180SX is now more than 25 years old. Condition and paperwork are the questions.

Why are clean S-chassis cars hard to find?

Most were drifted, modified or crashed. That's why Andre has every car inspected in person before bidding.

Do you have Silvias in stock?

We source to order. Tell us the model, trim and budget and Andre will search Japan for it.

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Your next step

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Tell us the model, trim and all-in budget. Andre will tell you what's realistic and start the search.

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Or reach Andre directly: Call · Text · WhatsApp · (281) 745-8884