The Sileighty (Silvia + 180SX) is one of the most iconic vehicles in JDM drift culture, a make-job of necessity, but refined by tuners and eventually adopted by Nissan itself. What began as an economical option for street racers and drifters ended up as an everlasting legend, gracing anime, motorsport and the underground racing scene.
Performance Comparison: 180SX vs. Silvia vs. Sileighty
Nissan 180SX specs
Power Plant: SR20DE (N/A) / SR20DET (T)
Horsepower: 140 PS (NA) / 205 PS (Turbo)
Power: 100 PS (NA) / 150 PS (Turbo) Torque: 178 Nm (NA) / 275 Nm (Turbo)
0-100 kph: ~7.5 seconds (Turbo)
Top Speed: ~230 km/h
Transmission: 5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic
Nissan Silvia (S13) specs
Motor: CA18DET (Turbo) / SR20DET (Turbo)
Power: 170 PS (CA18DET) / 205 PS (SR20DET)
Torque: 225 Nm (CA18DET) / 275 Nm (SR20DET)
0-100 km/h: ~7.0 seconds
Top Speed: ~230 km/h
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Nissan Sileighty specs
Includes: SR20DE (NA) Engine / SR20DET (Turbo With Nismo ECU)
Output: 140 PS (NA) / 230 PS (Turbo, ECU-tuned)
Torque: 178 Nm (NA) / 290 Nm (turbo)
0-100 km/h: ~6.5 seconds
Top Speed: ~240 km/h
Drivetrain: 5-speed manual / 4-speed automatic
Tuners Designed a Car, and Nissan Perfected It
In the late 1990s, it was quite common to see Japanese drifters swapping the damaged pop-up headlamp front ends of their Nissan 180SX for that of the Nissan Silvia (S13)—the replacement parts were simply cheaper and more readily available. This swap made the front end a little lighter, enhancing weight distribution and aerodynamics, and improving overall handling—ideal for drifting.
Realizing that there was demand for this mashup, the Japanese tuning company Kid’s Heart teamed up with Nissan to produce 500 Sileighties straight from the factory. Among the factory performance models based on the 1998 180SX platform were:
Silvia’s stationary lights, bonnet, front bumper and wings
SR20DET engine (naturally aspirated or turbocharged) (stock 140–205 PS)
Optional factory upgrades:
Nismo ECU remap (raising output to 230 PS)
The Presented Reinforced Limited slip differential
Suspension, re-tune for improved drift performance
This factory-official tuner car straddled the line between aftermarket creativity and manufacturer precision, and today it is a desirable collector’s car.
An Icon in Drift Culture & Pop Media
With a light, balanced chassis and a powerful SR20DET engine, the Sileighty was a drifter’s fantasy. It went on to become a familiar figure in Japanese street racing and professional drift competitions and its efficacy was felt on a global scale.
There’s an “Initial D” connection: The Sileighty is most famously known as the ride of female racer, Mako Satou, cementing its legend.
D1GP & grassroots drifting: A many well-known professionals choose it for its adaptability and steering.
Featured in racing games: Gran Turismo, Need for Speed, and Forza titles have all kept its legacy alive.
Show us yours and we’ll show you ours: The Sileighty Is Still Iconic
First produced in 1991, and still remaining relevant today, the Sileighty epitomizes JDM tuning culture like few others; an affordable, lightweight, high-performance drift car with a rare factory-built variant that helped bolster its appeal. With values on classic Nissan sports cars through the roof, the Sileighty is a rare gem that combines drifting heritage and tuner creativity.