The Northwest S12

 

A little while back I got the privalage to meet up with Colin Masterson, blogger for NWmotiv, S12Silvia.com, and NKdrift (all of which we have linked in the right column of the site), for a photoshoot of his prized possession: his super clean Nissan Silvia S12.  We’re glad to have Colin as a guest author this time on Save the Roots as he knows so much about the S12 chassis. The S12 is a little-known beauty, with other 80′s classics often stealing the spotlight. But now it’s the S12′s turn to shine. Take it away Colin!!

“A couple of years ago I would not have been able to imagine where I am today. When I first started working on my 1987 Nissan S12 in 2004, I had no inclination of building the car that I own today.

I had put off owning a car for several years as there was no need for me to buy one and the fact that insurance is not anywhere close to being cheap as a male and under 21. My roommate and best friend had a car and fortunately, we both went to the same school so there was no need to own a vehicle at the time. But with his leaving for the Air Force, I knew I had to get a car. Because of this, I began looking for what would be my first car (in ’04) and the start of a crazy ride.

I was looking for more of a sedan to keep insurance at a minimum but it was my friend Sean who stepped in. Being that he knew more about cars than I did,  I needed all the help I could get and I welcomed the opportunity. He owned a 1987 D21 Hardbody that he had owned since a senior in high school and had done quite a bit of work to. With his familiarity with Nissans he knew of the S12 chassis, known in the States as the 200sx, and felt it was much more my style. He found an ad in the local newspaper from a guy who had just moved from Portland, Oregon, who had been sitting on the S12 for a week without any interest. I took Sean’s advice and I checked it out. Upon seeing the S12 I immediately had an affinity with it since it had a long bonnet, pop-up headlamps, and a sloping back glass – a fast back. The VG30E (V6), sunroof, and rear spoiler only helped my opinion of the car more. It was a couple hours and then the car was in my possession and driving it home.

By the end of 2004 I knew the car had to receive some maintenance and since no one locally seemed to know enough about them or wanted to charge a lot to figure out how to work on the car, I began to look into working on it myself. By the spring of 2005 I found a guy by the name of Randy who worked about an hour away from me who happened to owned two S12s. I paid him a visit and from then on it began a friendship that would continue to this day of collaborating and advancing the known parameters of the S12. I was at first only interested in getting my S12 up to OEM specs and swapped in a fully running VG30E, new suspension, new wheels, new interior, and a fresh spay of paint. I thought the tuner culture was cool but not something I wanted to get caught up in. That did not last long as within a year I was looking for more. I realized that the S12 was an ignored chassis and a generation of the Silvia lineage that deserved as much attention as its successors received.

So, with that in mind and my desire for more power and a turbo, I consulted with Randy about what engines were available and began my research. Being that my S12 was an SE model (V6), I wanted to keep it as a 6-cylinder. That narrowed my options to a VG30DETT, VQ, or one of the RB series. The VG30DETT swap was done in Australia once before and it was such a tight fit that it would wreck havoc when trying to do any maintenance work. The VQ exceeded my budget so that left the RB series. The RB20DET was decently cheap, had a great look and sound, and I knew I could expand to either the RB25 or 26 if I ever wanted more. Therefore, in 2006 I began my RB20DET swap, which was at the time groundbreaking as it was the first and only RB powered S12 in the States and second in the world.

And as anyone in the tuner scene knows, it never ends. By early 2010 the motor swap was finished and in good running order. I knew it would have potential but it far exceeded my original hopes. I entered the 2010 car season with some hopeful prospects and came out with five trophies and two full features waiting to be published. In 2011, I began to focus on helping a friend as his team manager for his pro level Formula D team and to focus on my marketing skills all the while finishing my schooling.

For those of you who are not as familiar with the S12 chassis, it is quite an interesting test-bed for Nissan. The S12 was produced and sold internationally from 1983 until 1988. The S12 was known under several names, which is usual depending on the cultural marketing requirements. It was known as the Silvia, Gazelle, 200SX, and 180ZX. In addition, the S12 chassis had many engine choices from the factory that proved it quite versatile. The engines that were available in the S12 were the FJ20E, FJ20ET, CA20E, CA18ET, CA18DET, and VG30E. Quite the range indeed.

The chassis itself witnessed many changes and sported a solid rear axle and an independent rear axle setup, both drum and disc brakes (by 84 it was mainly disc), and had both 4 and 5 lug stock. The electronics were quite ahead for its time as the chassis had keyless door entry, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic sunroof, a digital gauge cluster, headlamp wipers, and an 80′s spectacular talking warning system. The S12 was indeed an interesting chassis with lots of surprises that does indeed attract just as interesting group of fans.”

- Colin Masterson
S12 Owner
Lead blogger for S12Silvia.com
Events Editor/Blogger for NWMotiv.com
Team manager and Social Media Co-Manger/Blogger for NKDrift.com

 

And to end the year, why not do it with one of the most sought after racing simulators out there? Colin of S12Silvia.com and us here at Save the Roots have collaborated to offer the chance to win a copy of Forza Motorsports 4.

Also on the table is a Forza Motorsports 4 USB and tire pressure gauge. Be sure to drop by S12Silvia.com to check out the competition and submit for your chance to win. In addition, while you’re there, check out the blog and the community dedicated to the S12!

 

Special thanks goes out to Colin for letting us feature his S12 and Cameron Jurgensen for the additional photo, along with Nissanparts.cc and CompuStar Auto Security.

Until next time, thanks for saving the roots!