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Nissan Silvia S13 For Sale — Import From Japan

S13 Silvia trims are named after playing cards. J's is the base car, Q's adds equipment, and K's is the turbo. Nissan launched the S13 in May 1988 as a notchback coupe, and it won Japan's 1988-89 Car of the Year. Up to December 1990 there were two engines, the 1.8-liter CA18DE (135 PS) and, in the K's, the intercooled CA18DET (175 PS). A January 1991 update moved the car to the PS13 code and to the 2.0-liter SR20DE (140 PS) and SR20DET (205 PS). Super HICAS replaced the optional HICAS-II rear steering at the same time. Every S13 is rear-wheel drive with Nissan's then-new multi-link rear suspension, and it came with a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic. Autech also turned 603 coupes into convertibles. The S13 Silvia was sold until October 1993. A manual K's is what most buyers want. Condition comes first, and after that the main choice is between earlier CA18DET and later SR20DET cars. Because this chassis has been used so widely for drifting, accident history matters more than mileage.

64available now
1988–1993model years
$11,443–$38,906approx. USD in Japan
45–60 daystypical delivery

Nissan Silvia S13 market snapshot

$21,398median price in Japan
$17,165–$25,747middle half of prices
from $14,793shipped to a US port
55 of 64manual transmission
642000 or older and legal to import now
5price on request

These numbers come from our live Japan dealer stock today. Shipped prices include ocean freight to your nearest US port plus export fees.

About the Silvia S13

ChassisYearsKey variantsUS import status
S131988–1993Q's, K's (SR20DET), and the 180SX fastbackEligible now

Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. Eligibility goes by month and year of manufacture rather than model year, so as of today anything built September 2001 or earlier qualifies. Tell us which car you want and we'll check its exact build date before you commit. Our Nissan Silvia import guide has more.

Nissan Silvia S13 variants

VariantEngineDriveNotes
K's (PS13)SR20DET 2.0L turbo I4, 205 PSRWDJanuary 1991 to 1993
K's (S13)CA18DET 1.8L turbo I4, 175 PSRWDIntercooled, May 1988 to December 1990
Q's (S13 / PS13)CA18DE 1.8L I4, 135 PS; SR20DE 2.0L I4, 140 PS from 1991RWDNaturally aspirated, with more equipment than the J's
J's / AlmightyCA18DE or SR20DERWDBase trim. The Almighty (December 1992) is a value edition based on the J's, with air conditioning, alloy wheels and power windows
Convertible (Autech)CA18DET 1.8L turbo I4, 175 PSRWDK's-based, from July 1988, and four-speed automatic only. 603 built

Nissan Silvia S13 available now

Showing 1–24 of 64 Silvia S13 listings in stock, priced cars first.

What to check on a Silvia S13

What it costs to import a Silvia S13

The card prices above are what each car costs in Japan. The shipped price on a card is that car delivered to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included. We then clear it through US customs as your importer of record and handle the title, so there's no customs broker for you to hire. The full cost breakdown has the details.

Is the Silvia S13 legal to import?

Any vehicle 25 years or older is legal to import into the USA without meeting modern FMVSS safety or EPA emissions standards. Eligibility runs on the month and year of manufacture, not just the model year. If the exact S13 you want is not yet eligible, we can buy it and store it in Japan until it is. See the 25-year rule explained.

How buying one from us works

We bid at Japanese auctions and buy from dealer stock on your behalf. Before any money moves, the car is physically inspected in Japan, with photos, video, and a condition report, not just an auction sheet grade. After purchase we handle export, ocean freight to your nearest US port, customs clearance, import duty, and US title, so the car arrives ready to register. Typical timeline is 45–60 days from purchase to delivery.

Nissan Silvia S13 FAQ

How much does a Nissan Silvia S13 cost?

In our Japan stock, the 59 Nissan Silvia S13 with a listed price run from about $11,443 to $38,906 before import costs. The median is $21,398, and the middle half sits between $17,165 and $25,747. Shipped to your nearest US port, with ocean freight and export fees included, prices start at about $14,793 and a median car comes to about $24,748. After that we handle US customs as your importer of record and title the car for you.

How many Nissan Silvia S13 are for sale right now?

64 in Japanese dealer stock today (59 with a listed price, 5 price on request). It changes every day as cars sell and new ones get listed.

How many Nissan Silvia S13 for sale are manual?

Counting the 64 that list a transmission, 55 are manual and 9 are automatic.

Can I import a Nissan Silvia S13 to the USA?

Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. Of the cars in stock, 64 are from 2000 or earlier and qualify under the 25-year rule now. Month and year of manufacture are what count, and we check the exact build date before you commit.

How long does it take to get a Nissan Silvia S13 from Japan?

Plan on about 45–60 days from purchase. The car is inspected and exported in Japan, spends 3–5 weeks at sea to your nearest US port (East Coast, West Coast, Gulf and Honolulu), and then goes through US customs, duty and title. We handle every step as your importer of record.

What do you check before buying a Nissan Silvia S13?

Every car is inspected in person in Japan before any money moves. On this chassis we look hardest at: An S13 should have a CA18 and a PS13 an SR20. SR20DET swaps into early cars and into Q's are common, and they change the value; Take the grade from the model plate rather than the badges. A K's is the turbo car, and a Q's is naturally aspirated; Crash and drift damage shows up as kinks or fresh paint on the chassis rails, and as strut towers that have been reshaped or replaced; If the trunk seal fits poorly, water gets past it and rusts the trunk floor.

CA18DET or SR20DET: which S13 should I buy?

As delivered, the SR20DET car is quicker. From January 1991 the PS13 K's has the 2.0-liter SR20DET rated at 205 PS and 28.0 kgm, while cars built up to December 1990 have the 1.8-liter CA18DET rated at 175 PS and 23.0 kgm. The CA18 car is the earlier specification. A lot of early cars now carry a swapped SR20, so check the chassis code.

What were the Diamond Selection and Club Selection?

They were packages that bundled popular options at a smaller price premium. Diamond Selection came first, in January 1990, on the Q's and K's. Club Selection followed in January 1992, and on the K's it included projector headlights, a rear spoiler and 15-inch alloy wheels.

Did the S13 Silvia come as a convertible?

It did, briefly. Starting in July 1988, Autech converted 603 K's coupes, each with the CA18DET and a four-speed automatic. They were expensive new and they're rare today. The US-market 240SX convertible was a separate, unrelated conversion.

Other Nissan Silvia generations

Silvia S14 (90) · Silvia S15 (180)

Nissan Silvia S13 grades & special editions

Silvia K's (32 S13) · Silvia Q's (21 S13)

All Nissan Silvia for sale ›

Want a specific Silvia S13?

Send us the year, transmission and spec you want, and we'll find one at auction and quote it shipped to your US port or imported and titled.

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