Road & Track, 9/1988

[elbles]

Well, I got a little bored last week, and so I scoured eBay for old magazines that would have reviewed the S13 when it first came out. Found a Road & Track with the 240 featured on the cover, and I just had to get it, heh.

Anyway, they really liked the car. They describe it as being a little low on power in stock form, but a great handling machine (we all know this of course, but it's neat to read about it, heh), one that "takes to twisty roads like macaroni to Tupperware". Nice to read about our cars . . . here's the performance specifications that they got, for those interested:

Time in distance (seconds)0-100ft: 3.3 seconds0-500ft: 8.9 seconds0-1320ft: 16.5 seconds (quarter-mile time)Speed at end of 1/4 mile: 86.5 MPH

0-60 time: 8.8 seconds

Stopping distancesFrom 60 MPH: 148 ft.From 80 MPH: 252 ft.

HandlingLateral acceleration, 100 ft radius: 0.82 g [surely better with newer tires]Speed through 700 ft slalom: 64.1 MPH

Also, interestingly enough, they had a sidebar of sorts on the "Silvia Convertible", along with a picture of one, with the real Silvia (fixed-light) headlamps. Just when you thought Nissan never made such a thing, it pops up. Also keep in mind this magazine was from September 1988, well before the 'vert even made it to the US. Offered with the CA18DET nonetheless . . . really interesting stuff. If anyone has any questions about the review, feel free to ask, I might even try to scan/PDF the article if I have the time . . .

[SmithSR]

That's one helluva good find!! Post up some images of the article if you can. Very cool stuff..

[elbles]

Yeah, I just have to get on my computer with a scanner . . . I can do PDFs/JPEGs when I get a chance, no telling when that might be though, heh.

[Atl_240sx]

Hey if any of you guys wanna purchase old mags with our cars in them check out this site....

http://www.coltranet.com/

they has tons of em!

[elbles]

Good information man, thanks!

[Atl_240sx]

Sure no prob.

[Hijacker]

Also, interestingly enough, they had a sidebar of sorts on the "Silvia Convertible", along with a picture of one, with the real Silvia (fixed-light) headlamps. Just when you thought Nissan never made such a thing, it pops up. Also keep in mind this magazine was from September 1988, well before the 'vert even made it to the US. Offered with the CA18DET nonetheless . . . really interesting stuff.

The silvia 'vert was actually an altered coupe, just like our 'vert. The conversion was done by an outside firm (can't remember the Japanese company off hand) much like how ASC did the conversion for ours. I have a feeling that Nissan didn't introduce the 'vert here till '99 because of the extra research involved in seeing if it would sell (no point in spending lots of money on joint ventures if it's not gonna create a return on investment) and setting up the deal with ASC.

[Atl_240sx]

Just to add in...I've read that the fixed headlamp conversion (Sil-Eighty) simply happened by coincidence. People were wrecking their fastbacks and to salvage them they took the front ends off of the coupes, which already had fixed headlamps of course and placed them on their Fastbacks, thus making the Sil-Eighty...I actually cant remember where I found this so if anyone knows of any corrections or whatever your more than welcome to correct me. Thanks

[elbles]

Yeah, I knew about any Silvia convertible being based on the coupe, but I didn't realize that they also built them in Japan, I had just thought it was a USDM-only model. But this Silvia vert is from 1988, has different wheels/wheel covers than what I have seen, and not to mention, the CA-series engines.

And Atl_240sx, that's pretty much the case, the coupe front-ends were rumored to be easier and cheaper to find. So onto the hatches they went . . . though the pignose is slowly growing on me, it adds that 80's flare to the car. :-)

[Atl_240sx]

Yea, I love the pignose too. Few do for some reason

[elbles]

Yeah, somehow, the more rounded nose doesn't seem to work with the rest of the car anymore, at least to me . . . the pig gives it the made in the 80's look that the round nose just can't change enough to make the car look that much better/newer. Or at least that's my opinion . . .

[Hijacker]

Any silvia from 88-91 will have a CA in it. If I remember correctly, the verts were NA, like a J's or a Q's. The vert was on sale in Japan for the S13 run, and it left the line-up for the s14 run and returned briefly for the S15 as a hardtop/vert (Varietta). All convertables were in short production due to the fact that outside companies were used to do the conversions (I think the varietta might have been a nissan product though)

[Atl_240sx]

Yea, I see it ur way too.

[Hijacker]

Just to add in...I've read that the fixed headlamp conversion (Sil-Eighty) simply happened by coincidence. People were wrecking their fastbacks and to salvage them they took the front ends off of the coupes, which already had fixed headlamps of course and placed them on their Fastbacks, thus making the Sil-Eighty...I actually cant remember where I found this so if anyone knows of any corrections or whatever your more than welcome to correct me. Thanks

that sounds like a word for word copy of what was said in Initial D. But yes, that is also correct. Why do you think we're still able to get Silvia noses today for JDM conversions?

[elbles]

I thought it was any Silvia from 88-90 that would have the CA . . . wasn't it in 1991 when they switched it? The magazine article references the vert as having the CA18DET engine, to accomdate the same acceleration with 300 more pounds to push. And it was ASC who provided the top, with "Autech Japan, Nissan's wholly owned coachbuilding subsidiary" actually chopping the roof. So who knows, heh?

[Atl_240sx]

I've actually never seen or played intial D, but bringing that up brought back where I got it from. I think it was Xtreme Racer Zero. And yeah, I guess that does make sense with us being able to do JDM conversions

[Hijacker]

I'm not an expert on the J-Spec verts like I claim to be on USDM verts.Either or about the model year, We all know certain years had SR's and certain years had CA's. And as far as I know, I was under the impression the 'verts had NA engines to keep costs down. Also, the vert only adds about 100 or so pounds.

[D1SR240]

i remember seeing a picture of a sivlia vert, or whatever you call it, but it was JDM with the sylvia headlights, it was pretty nice, if anyone has that pic could they please post it.

[elbles]

Yeah, I'm certainly no expert. This magazine actually tested a prototype of the 240SX, and I'm sure the 'vert specs weren't set in stone yet either . . . just an interesting retro perspective on it all, as opposed to the after-the-fact perspective we're all so used to.

[Hijacker]

i'm surprised you found that article. That's an awesome find if you ask me.

[Hijacker]

there's the pic for ya

[USsil80]

yea nice find..... wow that is the same time i got when i first took my car to the track bone stock... i can't wait to go with my sr and mods this spring

[Hijacker]

if you take just a stock SR, you won't be pleased. Up the boost and upgrade the fuel system and then have some fun

[USsil80]

yea i have a power fc a avc-r and a walbro 255lb pump..just need fmic and 550cc injectors plus full turbo back n1 zoust

[Hijacker]

you don't need 550cc injectors yet. the walbro is plenty for now, even for up to 14 PSI.

[USsil80]

where are the pics for this mag elbles.. i would like to read the whole articale please

[elbles]

I'll try to get some pics up today . . . assuming I can get on a computer with a scanner around here, not necessarily an easy thing, heh.

[JayDeeM]

i also have this issue!

[nightstepper]

actually the CA18det came in the 88-90 car year models. The 91 was the first year to see the SR, if i remember correctly.