S-Chassis Unicorn: 1978 Nissan Silvia LS (B-S11) - Went From Japan to the USA

I spotted this mega-rare JDM Nissan Silvia (North America's Datsun 200SX) at an auction yard in Kyushu in November 2020, and then saw in a post online that it had made its way to the USA! I was quite surprised. It is a very tidy car; engine is the L18 (EFI), 5 speed manual transmission, and wheels are Bridgestone Zona.
Big thank you to The Import Guys for the additional footage.
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[@DaBoogie049]

One of my top 3 japanese cars ever made. It's a perfect example of Nippon Baroque styling!

[@wasabicars]

Thank you for introducing me to the expression "Nippon Baroque styling". Had not heard that before

[@Archetype_Datsun]

I miss my 77 S10 sold it a few months ago but happy to have a 87 Nissan Van GC22 finally waited years to own both but sometimes we have to compromise. Also have the early Silvia grille sitting in the garage.

[@flacorotor]

I got the American version a 1977 Datsun 200SX. Manual windows, green with green interior. I restored then cracked dash and changed the interior color to black. I am in the process to drop a VG33ER with the 5 speed manual courtesy of my sons’s wrecking his 2002 Nissan Xterra Supercharged last summer. Stay tuned for my video!

[@wasabicars]

Nice! Good luck with the build

[@19chucki74]

Didn't know the second gen Silvia looked so good, it's obscure. Had that came here in the 70s, it would've been known as a Datsun 170. Thanks Dan, for starting my Saturday off on the good foot.

[@wasabicars]

Hey, Charles. Hope you've been well. This one definitely went to the US, was sold as the Datsun 200SX. Of course, it had those 5-mph bumpers which... obscured its "coolness factor"

[@Jamcam99]

I think they started with a 120Y 2 door when they where designing that. I loved those early Datsuns and the other Japanese cars.

[@wasabicars]

Yes, base platform was the B210 120Y/Sunny. For sure. Earlier RWD Japanese cars is a great era

[@Jamcam99]

@@wasabicars Yes I had Corolla KE30 back in the day. Mechanically it was bulletproof, it was the salty Northern Ireland winter roads that killed it in the end.

[@artoodiitoo]

My sister had a ´77 Lancer/Colt coupe, and later a ´79 Mazda 818 coupe, really pretty cars although both were in pretty bad condition. Mr. WasabiCars would have loved them for sure :D

[@twoeightythreez]

@@wasabicars if you pull the interior trim out of a two-door sedan, sunny/B2 10 you can actually see the mounting locations on rhe inner rear quarter for the rear window regulators that are of course, unused on the B210 chassis

[@k.c.vermillion8930]

In the U.S. they were badged as 200sx... which was my first car in 1989 (`79 model)

[@wasabicars]

Nice. Thanks for the confirmation

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Hey Dan cool Datsun, your not going to believe this, but I just seen 1 t he over week back in Tasmania, nice vid hope your doing ok over there, stay safe take care Rgds KC Tassie Australia 🇦🇺✌👊😎👍🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@wasabicars]

Seriously?! That's amazing. I hope someone posts pics of it to Facebook.I'd love to see it

[@BensDR30]

Nice work Dan. Here in Adelaide we have a couple of CSP311's, but stumbling across a S-chassis in 2001 while driving in Oregon was the only time I've seen one of these unicorns in the flesh.

[@wasabicars]

Yeah? Cool. A nice surprise indeed 👍

[@alexmartinez280]

That first Gen Silvia looks AMAZING! Reminds me of a 65-73 Lancia Fulvia and 70-80s Lancia Beta. Blown away when that popped up on the screen.

[@wasabicars]

Yeah, it's about time I do a feature video on one. I did one years ago but no doubt it needs udpating

[@christosbarralifeandotherc3728]

Thanks Dan , keep up the super work

[@anthonyroger5533]

Love to see these classics!

[@MetalMania3DTV-TAS-AUS]

Looks alot like a Dato 120Y inside love the statesman 💯👍

[@rolla7887]

I'm loving these unicorn cars. Good to see someone capturing them. Great work buddy.

[@wasabicars]

Thank you. And, just a quick question. Are you subbed? When I see comments, usually there's an icon next to commentor's names and how long they've subbed. There's none on yours, but also I've been seeing your comments for a long time. Glitch? Either way, all good. Thanks for watching my videos. :)

[@dishonmaharaj7798]

What a rare model, never saw one until this video, historic S - chassis lineage right here!

[@wasabicars]

It's a beauty, but it's no Laurel, hey? ;-)

[@dishonmaharaj7798]

@@wasabicars ya got me there :-D

[@chaimshamza5850]

One of my favourite episode, the brown wasabi silvia, nice to see you found this one.

[@wasabicars]

Yeah, that old girl. I really ought to reintroduce many of the cool cars I've spotted over the years, or they're just going to be forgotten again

[@FLIPMYRIDE]

I see alot of datsun sunny we had here in Australia. But then i see 120y and Ken Mary Skyline rear quater...argh. Love it

[@raould860]

Datsun B210 here in Canada, they were never cuvotted here and all died 30 yrs ago here! I have my eye on a '77 710 green sitting in a field in the kootenay mtns in BC! I want it sooo bad, still owned by the original lady owner! If its not saved soon it will be too late! Let me know if you want to see lics of her! Still has the og hubcaps. Rory kelowna BC!

[@wasabicars]

I could be mistaken, because many countries had many different names for the same cars... But, it did share its platform with the B210 (120Y/Sunny), definitely a distinct car. Oh, I hope you can snag that 710. Sounds more than worth saving

[@twoeightythreez]

@@wasabicars710 was the Violet i believe, not related to the B210

[@L.C.A.car_adventure_channel]

That's a pretty cool Silvia ❤️. I learned again something new in the Wasabicars video 👍. And I must say I love the side mounted stereo because I don't care for the passenger 😅.

[@wasabicars]

Hahahaha! They can sit in the back seat ;-)

[@L.C.A.car_adventure_channel]

@@wasabicars In the Silvia they can but not in my AX GTi because Race car and no back seats 😅👍.

[@porthos88]

Very special car:)🤙

[@wasabicars]

Definitely. Not well liked back in the day though ;-)

[@porthos88]

@@wasabicars I expect it could fetch a few $$$ these days

[@STREETCARCULTURE]

What a car!!

[@wasabicars]

Thanks, Jason. Odd little thing

[@moontaequipped663]

A very cool car once again

[@wasabicars]

Well, I can't take any credit. ;-) I wasn't working for Nissan as a designer at that time. Lol

[@mastamove]

Love it!!

[@wasabicars]

Thank you! Definitely a funky car

[@harrisonhunter7512]

Wow a rare unique car,great video Danny 👍

[@wasabicars]

Thanks, Harrison. Appreciated

[@gusparra4037]

Dang I’m literally looking at one local to me on offer up in California. No engine or trans tho

[@wasabicars]

Go for it! So many drivetrain options available.

[@flacorotor]

Buy it my friend! You will never regret that S-10 Chassis.

[@hugolinning3133]

Lovely odd car dan, keen to see that escaped being scraped, yet would rather see it over here in Aus, anyway glad to see one of these unicorns still exists, as always have a great weekend dan, cheers!

[@wasabicars]

Thanks Hugo. Side note, looks like you drawing heaps and heaps of cars over there on Instagram. Good onya, man. Killing it

[@nevillepretorius8948]

Very interesting looking car, never seen one before. Thanx Daniel! 👍

[@wasabicars]

Thank you, Neville. Hey, you like your Mazdas, is that right? What're a couple of models you like?

[@nevillepretorius8948]

@@wasabicars you are 100% correct, I do like my Mazda's 😂. My uncle had a Mazda RX2 Rotary and a Mazda Capella Rotary. The sound those made was insane for me as a kid. To this day I wish I can find a good one!

[@dawge30]

Damn, I want... Thanks again for sharing Dan. Be good. It's been a long December, but there's reason to believe, maybe this year will be better than the last...

[@wasabicars]

A long December and a long year. I haven't (been to Australia and) seen parents since 2018. I have my fingers crossed for this year, but am not counting on it

[@dawge30]

@@wasabicars Hey, do what you can, and keep the faith!

[@buckorooster]

I saw a dark green one for sale in Japan a while back, also was a minter. I think it even had plastic on the doorcards and seats

[@wasabicars]

Oh, nice. I reacall a white one that was utterly factory fresh. The price on it was just as breathtaking.

[@my74alfa]

wow, thank you..

[@wasabicars]

Hey, Lynden. Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy your car spotting pics on Facebook. Well, when I have time to get on Facebook and have a look around ;-)

[@oldskool1979]

cheers to the import guys !

[@wasabicars]

Yeah, very helpful. Looks like they've got some sweet cars in their garage, too

[@kyteler]

Dogleg box is pretty out of it on its own! Such a sweet car, there's a couple in NZ but super rare.

[@wasabicars]

Well, thank you. I just went and googled the term "Dogleg box". Had heard it many times of course. Just never bothered to find out

[@kyteler]

@@wasabicars not to be confused with dog box though.. Just so you Google something else.

[@matthewcontreras7611]

I actually seen this exact car listed for sale here in the United States! Las Vegas Craigslist to be exact. Wasn’t very expensive for the rarity and condition, around $10,000.

[@wasabicars]

Thanks for the heads up. I just went for a search though. Perhaps someone snapped up the bargain

[@matthewcontreras7611]

@@wasabicars hello I should have mentioned! This was around August/September.

[@user-os1fb7rg7j]

Wow amazing Silvia. I don't see this beautiful car. Thanks

[@wasabicars]

Thank you, Evgeny

[@pguth98]

Those '70s Japanese cars have such pretty lines, shame we don't see too many in the midwest.

[@wasabicars]

Sorry to say my Nth American geography is pretty poor. Is that an area where rust is an issue? Or, just they were never popular?

[@01FozzyS]

B210 here in the States!

[@wasabicars]

You mean like the Datsun Honey Bee? Same platform for sure

[@flacorotor]

Datsun 200 SX based on the B210 chassis. Concur with you Wasabi Cars.👌

[@twoeightythreez]

Nope, it was based on the B chassis but we ALSO got the b210 (120y) but with a 1.4l A14 instead of a 1.2. We only got the 2dr sedan, 2dr fastback, and 4dr sedan, B wagon wasn't available in the states until 1979 B310 (which was badged "Datsun 210" 😂

[@AutomotiveKarnage]

it's so pretty. here's hoping its off to a loving home.

[@wasabicars]

Indeed :)

[@richclean]

There is a stunning Silvia on eBay UK right now

[@wasabicars]

Oh! I'll check it out. Thank you

[@julioramirez1638]

looking at these classic Datsuns l realize why l like TOYOTA

[@wasabicars]

Lol. Perhaps so, but the ugly ones need to be shown love too sometimes.

[@julioramirez1638]

@@wasabicars both brands have great looking classics but l think TOYOTA has a bit more

[@twoeightythreez]

One thing you can say for sure about malaise era Datsuns, they definitely had a look of thier own. Toyota basically just made miniature, very well made copies of American cars, until around 1978.

[@johnmorrow7080]

Never seen one in the UK , cool looking car very different styling .

[@wasabicars]

Yeah, Japan and the US only, I believe. And, popular in neither from what I hear...

[@banpeinet]

I've always wanted to see one of these in real life, but so far I have failed... 😅 As far as I know we didn't get them in Europe, so it's not that bad. But I recently saw one for sale here in the Netherlands, so we can always hope it will be at one of the car shows once covid is over. 😆 Fantastic video Daniel! Thanks for sharing and stalking the import guys! How did you find out they were the ones who won the auction?

[@wasabicars]

One in the Netherlands?! That's incredible. And, thank you. I found out they'd got the car when I saw a "Datsun parts wanted" Facebook post. One of the staff members was hoping to source a dash pad. From there, I sent a direct message, he knew of WasabiCars, which was handy. They he sent me the extra footage. Worked out all pretty smoothly... Smoother than the cracked dash ;-)

[@banpeinet]

@@wasabicars I can't say the car is(still) in the Netherlands. It was for sale in the midst of the covid lockdown and these cars are so rare the chances are high it got exported. I remember it being a LHD which makes it an US model.

[@cheharrison7107]

Hay Dan'o hope you're well mate. Got any car show footage in the cupboards? We're in another bloody lockdown here in the UK, so no shows for a while. Keep safe me ol' mucker, and cheers for the quality content. 👍

[@wasabicars]

I mean, I definitely do. I have heaps of footage. The problem is zero time to edit more than one video a week. Lol. My commute is a tad over two hours a day. I'd kill for lockdown!

[@cheharrison7107]

@@wasabicars no worries dude, I know you work dang hard. You and Noriyaro do such good car show walk rounds, informed, calm and a true love for old Japanese tin. Yeah lockdowns given us A lot of spare time, my old cars never been so up together. Thanks again mate.

[@phildem414]

Thanks for the 910 hardtop turbo 😉

[@wasabicars]

I don't think I mentioned in the video that I'd already done a video of that very 910 a few years back. I really should update it though, now that I shot some extra footage

[@phildem414]

@@wasabicars oh! This was the same ? Great condition. Those are rare here in Europe (france).

[@pebblez_]

nice

[@wasabicars]

Thanks :)

[@andrewsmyth8615]

The styling of these is what I'd call challenging but hey it's so rare/unique you'd just have to have it.

[@ktcworks]

I can clearly see that designer wanted some futuristic feel in this product. 0:33 rear quarter view has it.

[@wasabicars]

Agreed, and agreed ;-)

[@wasabicars]

Super unique styling from the rear quarters, and every other quarter ;-)

[@matsumoto9244]

I owned the 1977 model when I was in Japan in 1985. I never got it to run well as it seemed to have a fuel issue.

[@wasabicars]

Damn. Mind you, not the first time I've heard of early EFI issues of late 1970's Japanese cars. :(

[@matsumoto9244]

@@wasabicars Not all bad news because I went back to the same used car dealer and bought a 1974 Toyota Trueno Sprinter GT with the 2TG 1600cc engine and 5 speeed manual transmission for 15,000 Yen. Once the two Solex carburetors were tuned and balanced it was scary quick.

[@twoeightythreez]

I actually like it, it's like Nissan was 50 years ahead of their time I mean that car actually looks somewhat contemporary now. The five mile per hour US spec bumpers really ruin the flow of it But with how rare these cars are, finding JDM bumpers, probably harder than finding an actual unicorn. I am definitely not gonna miss my chance to have one of these. I had a chance a few years ago and I passed it up. I have another chance now I'm going for it even with the ugly US bumpers

[@sunnyvaletrailer]

Not a B210! This was the 1st-gen 200SX in the USA and they actually sold quite a few of them.

[@wasabicars]

Yeah, I agree. Lol. Perhaps you were replying to one of the commentors?

[@sunnyvaletrailer]

@@wasabicars Correct - there are a couple B210 comments.

[@rover213]

nice, never seen 1

[@wasabicars]

Yes, definitely a rare car. I'm actually a little surprised they're so rare in Japan. It seems every other rear-wheel-drive Nissan that has an L series engine is loved. Not this one though.

[@rover213]

​@@wasabicars indeed, to bad that classic cars in Japan aren't more appreciated by the locals

[@andrewgillougley8479]

Who woulda thought, power windows n mirrors all the way back then...

[@wasabicars]

Yeah, man. I imagine they'd have been hard to keep in working order. I had a 1985 Holden Calais, and by the time I sold it all interior fan switch contacts had worn away AND all electric windows didn't operate. I almost melted. Had to pop the doors at the traffic lights. Killer

[@user-jo7ry9cq3c]

近未来シェイプの現像ニューシルビアS10

[@gred_cz]

cool :). over ten years ago there was one of these for sale here in cz, not registered on the road tho. a jdm spec one, no idea how it did get here and also no idea where it ended up as i never seen it outside that listing...despite that i think the listing is still up as the site is rather obscure/forgotten lel

[@David-1991]

Neboj...auto je v dobrejch rukách...a dostalo se sem z Washingtonu onehdá

[@gred_cz]

@@David-1991 dobrý :D. takže už je to přihlášený u nás? de to někde vidět, instagram nebo tak něco? tehdy sem nad tim docela slintal :D

[@David-1991]

U tý ještě bude nějakou chvilku trvat, než bude brázdit silnice..ale bude))... Na přelomu roku co byl teď se začala rozpohybovávat, dlouho stála,ale jezdit bude reálně tak za rok/dva, vzhledem ke všem okolnostem😌 a když budeš dobře hledat, tak i na tom instagramu ji najdeš))

[@gred_cz]

@@David-1991 tak cajk, tak doufám že to někdy bude k vidění na classicdrivu nebo tak něco :D. jinak na ig sem jí našel, to že sou tu hned 2 bylo fajn překvapení :D

[@David-1991]

Páč mě štvalo, že je červená v automatu...tak jsem potřeboval manuál))

[@flacorotor]

Dan, I got a request! Can you cover your first Nissan Silvia S-10 chassis that was on Fukuoka Prefecture... This one has a lot of rust, reddish/rust. Also can you ask if they are selling parts? Thanks in advance from Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A.

[@wasabicars]

G'day. (Some) good news. I did a video on that other Silvia a few years back. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKbEk5mwmd5krpY Parts is a no-can-do though. 9 times out of 10 it's a customer's car from years back, so the garage owner can't legally do anything with the car. So, it sits. Japan isn't like America. No-one parts out cars, or if they do, it'll be on yahoo auction.

[@Crylhound]

I am allergic to anything "LS" related

[@wasabicars]

Hahaha! Fear not! This'll get rotary swapped for sure ;-)

[@Crylhound]

@@wasabicars i can live with that, dan :)

[@KenanTurkiye]

That things sooo ugly I want to take it home and look after it forever. !

[@KenanTurkiye]

.....almost like a dog with three legs.....paternal insticts kicking in for a.....car o_0

[@wasabicars]

Hahahaha! I understand completely. Left on its own, surely it will be mistreated by the world ;-)

[@KenanTurkiye]

@@wasabicars Yeah. :)