One of only a handful of Silvia Turbos left on UK roads
Originally a ‘showroom car’ with rare Rally Pack
Comprehensively rebuilt CA18ET engine with custom turbo setup
Over £20,000 invested in performance modifications and restoration
Very high specification capable of delivering around 350bhp
MOT valid until the end of February 2026
The original parts are available with the car if required
The Appeal
In the late 80s, if you wanted an entertaining coupe, your choices were getting limited. The default choice was a Capri. The connoisseur’s choice was this car - Nissan’s S12 Silvia Turbo.
Where the Capri was essentially a Cortina in drag, the Silvia, with its oh-so-80s pop-up headlights, was made of much more esoteric stuff. Beautifully built on an engaging and balanced chassis, it came with the option of this car’s 1.8L CA18ET 4cyl turbocharged engine. The result? An extremely quick, tactile and, if your mood and the road allowed, supremely tail-happy and driftable coupe.
Where the Capri remains a common sight at classic shows, the S12 Turbo certainly isn’t. Just a handful remain road registered, which makes the arrival of this car a treat for fans of Japanese 80s classics.
There have been just four keepers in its 36 years, the current one since 1999. We are told that it was originally a ‘showroom car’ and so features the rare ‘Rally Pack’. Aside from the aftermarket 17in alloys, it looks much like a standard facelift S12 in red. It isn’t. The vendor tells us that many hundreds of hours and over £20,000 has been invested in the car to deliver what lies beneath that bodywork. Highlights include a rebuilt engine with a custom turbo set-up that we are told can deliver 350bhp. Elsewhere, the running gear and drivetrain have been extensively upgraded. We’ve listed all the work below - grab a brew because you’ll need some time.
For a 1980s car it presents well in the photo and we are told it will be sold with a fresh 12-month MOT. These crisply styled, hugely capable coupes are rare arrivals on the market. This car adds to its allure with its extensive spec.
The vendor says:
“This one has been lovingly built/modified/restomodded, at a cost far greater than £30,000 with hundreds of hours spent on it, into a fantastic, reliable, fast, fun, cool, turbo 80's wedge retro racer. “It has really been quite modernised under the bonnet, with performance and reliability in mind, all whilst creating a truly unique one off vehicle, and fantastic experience to the end user.
“When you buy this car, you will be more than happy knowing that you just secured probably the best sorted example in the UK.
“Hundreds and hundreds of hours have gone into it, and yet it still has the opportunity for you to add your own little personal touches and possibly tidy a few little bits up here or there.”
"I plan to put some of the sale proceeds from this car towards a daily driver for someone less fortunate than myself"
First used as a ‘showroom car’ with the desirable "Rally Pack" body kit says seller
Three former registered keepers
Current keeper since March 1999
Ownership history detailed below
HPI clear
Original turbo rear spoiler wing and original alloy wheels included
Current MOT valid to 3rd February 2026
Over £20,000 invested and ‘hundreds of hours’ according to seller
Always garaged we are told
The vendor says:
“The car was manufactured in 1988, and bought brand new from a showroom by a doctor in 1989. Being a showroom car it was fitted with the now very desirable "Rally Pack" body kit; which includes the ultra rare front lip, the rear spats and the add on side lower deflector garnishes. The car was bought and subsequently owned by a lady who cherished it and garaged it her whole life until she was unable to drive anymore, which is when her son took ownership of the car. And hence the car has only 3 registered keepers, but only 2 previous drivers. There is probably still lots of details and new parts missing from the list.
“Low mileage. And it was completely standard when I got it. The original owner was a doctor who bought it out of the showroom when it was brand new. Special features! What made me really buy this car, is not just how clean the interior was! But, it must be the only remaining Nissan to still have the showroom "NO SMOKING" sticker still affixed to the dashboard from 1988! Absolutely amazing! I bet you are never going to see another Nissan from 1988 with that sticker ever again! If you love retro cool and unique features, then let this be it.
“The rest of the spec is just gravy after this point. Where do I start… The son of the lady, who's car it was wanted it to go to someone who was going to return the car to the road, after it sitting in the garage for a few years after the passing of his mother.
“It was as he explained: "My mums prized possession", and, "we tried to get her another more modern car that would be easier for her to drive, but she always just wanted to keep the nissan", "She absolutely loved this car!". "She drove it into the garage, and then it just never moved for a while after she passed, and I could not get it started, and I have no idea where she hid the keys, so that nobody else could drive it. Luckily she left the door unlocked".
“The non-start turned out to be a faulty fuel pump which has now been replaced with a High Perfomance 340LPH APS high pressure pump. Please read on for all the other upgrades.
“Anyway, I went to view the car and I was sold as soon as I had seen it.
“The car was bought for a fair price, and it has since had work done to it in the region of £20, 000. 00+ in the past year.
“What this car is now, is something that can be started on the first turn of the key and driven anywhere you like . Modern reliability, and strong performance good enough to keep up with todays fast car demands and even modern traffic should it be required. What this car will do for you is just boost your cool factor! It is soo retro and sooo wonderfully shaped and these Rare cars in the UK are a bit more common in the usa and some nice examples are reaching the 30, 000-40, 000 usd mark.
“Admittedly so, but completely non biasedly, I see my car as a far nicer and superior example to whatever else is out there. It has had over a full years worth of work gone into it. Endless time, endless hours.”
Bright red paintwork with matching painted bumpers of facelift cars
Paintwork shows patina with some light marks to note in photos
Vendor states that car is “one of the more solid Nissan S12s available, having been always garaged”
Advisories to note on current MOT for structure
Vendor states that it has only required two small sill patches on one side during its lifetime
Replacement genuine front wings fitted and professionally paint-matched
Rare "Rally Pack" body kit including front lip, rear spats and side lower deflector garnishes
Fitted with aftermarket 17in alloys showing some tarnish and age
Original alloys are included with car
Spare wheel as shown
Original brown velour interior appears in smart condition for its age
Still retains its original showroom 'No Smoking' sticker on the dashboard
Aftermarket square LED gauges added to monitor coolant temperature, boost pressure and voltage
17-inch racing wheels with heavy-duty white paint, black fleck and one black spoke
215/45/17 mid-range sports tyres fitted all round
20mm wheel spacers installed to improve stance
The vendor states “The wheels now sit nicely and fill the arches well”
The vendor says:
“Being always garaged, she is actually probably one of the most solid nissan s12's you are likely to come across. She has only ever had 2 very, very small local garage style sill patches on one side at some point in her ownwrship.
“When I got the car, I sourced a better pair of genuine used from wings for her (£450), then I proceeded to make them perfect. Another full day spent. And then another £300+ to have them paint matched to the car.
“I have the original turbo rear spoiler wing which can go with the car, aswell as the original alloy wheels. The rear hatch where the original spoiler was fitted is actually part unpainted from factory, so I had it all painted so it could be run without the spoiler. My plan was to make a fiberglass mold of the oem wing, extend it a bit, then fit an updated custom version from fiberglass which would be very very cool.
“Inside it still retains its very clean (lady owned) original brown velour. It is all in excellent condition. “It even retains its original showroom 'No Smoking' sticker which is still affixed to the dashboard and was never removed since 1988!
It must be the only example!
“The only additions to the perfectly styled 1980's interior is some square led gauges to keep an eye on things better such as coolant temperature, boost reading (psi), and a voltmeter.
“Everything works as it should!”
NOTE: The vendor also states:
"Unfortunately the windscreen suffered a crack, but has since been replaced with a road legal polycarbonate type, due to a 4 week lead time for new screens from Pilkingtons Glass based in the UK who will make a brand new screen."
Vendor states “The spark on this car is incredibly strong”
Brand new NGK spark plugs
High spark ignition leads
Brand new custom Land Rover Defender engine mounts
Vendor states that “OEM are not available and discontinued” for engine mounts
Vendor states that replacing the engine mounts “was another big job!”
Mitsubishi Evo 6 intercooler custom mounted
Full custom stainless steel intercooler pipes which vendor says are “all nicely tucked”
Vendor states intercooler pipes were “A high value job and looks the part too.”
Silicone hose pipes
Cooling system:
Modified Honda Integra DC2 Type R aluminium Tegiwa Race radiator
Custom radiator mounts to fit like OEM in place of the original radiator
Electric Fan conversion using 10" slimline high performace fan
Also fitted with DC2 type R OEM fan powered by fused relay, separate circuit, and switch on/off using the oem A/C switch
The vendor says “This engine stays very very cool! Lots of cooling power!”
Low temp 86°C racing thermostat
The vendor says “This car will stay cool in traffic, and on hot days”
Full Montani Racing silicone hose se
Coolant temp sensor and adaptor on primary coolant radiator hose
Digital coolant temperature gauge in car
Brakes and clutch:
All new hydraulics
Brand new brake master cylinder
Brand new clutch master cylinder
Brand new clutch slave cylinder
OEM clutch which vendor says is fine for current power level
All brake calipers serviced
Slider pins greased
The vendor says regarding the brakes:
“The car stops very well for a 1980's car and you could not tell it to be any different from something modern.
“Since being converted to electric fans and not wanting to add any aftermarket switches anywhere, the original A/C button has been used to power the relay to switch the electric fans off at the front radiator should one wish to have the ignition on without running the engine. It is all very cool and very well thought out, in keeping with the originality of this cars cool retro and original character and styling.
“The car drives very well. It starts on the first turn of the key and it idles nicely. It gathers lots of attention from almost everyone and anyone. You just do not see them anymore on the road, and a lot of people confuse it with an AE86, for which the Nissan S12 Silvia is actually a much better car all round.
The CA18 engines have proven themselves time and time again; And what you have here is a car you can drive reliably for the next 40+ so years or so should you wish with just basic regular maintenance. It could be used quite happily as a daily commute car, or as a weekend, nice weather or show car alike. It was build with it being driven in mind, and hence everything afresh.
“The car is ready to be enjoyed and driven. It is honestly a shame I can not keep them all, but I am selling several of my JDM cars as part of a planned move. You could put 20-30k miles on this car and probably still double your money in a couple of years. The car also benefits from a full document video build thread from start to finish with hundreds of photographs too!
“I have had every version of silvia from s12, s13, s14, s14a, s15, and the s15 varietta! The varietta is a very special car. But the s12 I would say is the best chassis of them all.
Even on standard suspension, the car feels very solid beneath you! It is very planted and it feels like you are driving something made in 2020. It is very sporty and very tight. Everything is effortless and it inspires spirited driving and confidence.
You will love it and be looking for every opportunity and sunny day to get it out and down to the shops or local car show!
“Rest assured, with only about #14 S12 Silvias left on the road in the UK, this car gets attention! Even more so than a AE86 for which this is much rarer, better styled, and a all round better 80's TURBO charged retro wedge straight out of the box!
And it sounds phenominal too with awesome turbo noises. Endless miles of smiles! :It is a great looking, solid car, with a solid mechanical background that car be reliably enjoyed and had fun with.”
"The vehicle comes with all original parts that have been upgraded, should the new owner wish to take them. The vehicle comes with an apexi afc to be fitted so it can be tuned correctly to the ca18det injectors, and larger turbo and fuel pump .etc. however a nice ecumaster det3+ would be more than beneficial to see this vehicle set up on a rolling road." image.png1.93 MB
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