This Ultra-Rare Nissan Silvia S15 Is For Sale At Half The Price You’d Expect

Admittedly, it’s not the Spec R variant you’re hoping for. It’s also missing a roof, and it uhh… has an unusually large backside.

If you’ve never seen one of these before, let me introduce you to the super-rare Nissan Silvia S15 Varietta.

Just 1,143 of these ‘Varietta’ drop-top S15s were ever made, available exclusively to the Japanese market, with just 567 in the ‘Brilliant Blue’ colorway seen here.

They were designed and built by Nissan’s in-house tuning company, Autech, throughout the S15’s 1999-2002 lifespan before Autech became part of NISMO at the end of the S15’s lifespan. (Hopefully not because of the Varietta!)

Alongside Autech’s two other models, the ‘Autech Version’ and ‘Style A’, they also decided it would be a good idea to transform the S15 from a stunning coupe to a convertible. With that decision came some… questionable design choices.

Given that this is a 2000 model, it’s now eligible for the US 25-year import rule, and since it’s up for a bargain-priced $16,737, it’s less than half the price of what you’d expect to pay for a clean Spec R. But is it the bargain it appears to be?

Why’s it so cheap for an S15?

It is mostly stock inside and out, with the OEM twin-exhaust system, original leather seats, and steering wheel. While this isn’t ideal for those looking to go down the tuning route, it’s a good way to ensure you get an unmolested example, which makes it a more desirable base.

You also get some added goodies, such as the much-loved yet brilliantly pointless (in America) JDM toll card reader, and a ‘ROOF’ button, which you certainly don’t get with a Spec R! (Weird, huh?)

There’s also an aftermarket screen, assuming you can figure out how to change the language, that is.

Thankfully, it has the manual gearbox, which wasn’t the most common choice for Variettas.

Then there’s uhh… a Phillips screw holding the rear spat on. Combined with the obvious wear and tear inside, being honest, it’s not the cleanest example we’ve ever seen.

Pair this with the Varietta’s unique styling and the naturally aspirated SR20DE powerplant under the hood, which is far from the most desirable, and things start to make more sense.

Unlike the Varietta’s top-tier SR20DET Spec R sibling, which features 247 horsepower and 203 lb-ft, the SR20DE produces just 163 horsepower and 142 lb-ft of torque.

As you probably guessed, the bulky roof components don’t have a positive impact on the performance, either. While the S15 weighs in at 1,240 kg, the chonky Varietta has a curb weight of 1,330 kg.

The end result? While the Spec R is capable of a 0-60 time of around 5.4 seconds from the factory, the same takes 8.9 seconds for the Varietta.

Then there’s the final consideration – the dealer is based in Canada, so you’ll need to factor in getting it over. Unless you’re in Canada already, that is, in which case it’ll be $22,990 CAD.

So, is it worth the money?

Well, it appears to be a well-maintained, daily-driven, honest, and true JDM Nissan Silvia S15, even if it’s not the most typically desirable model.

There’s just 71,712 miles (115,409 km) on the clock, which is super low given that it’s now 25 years old. (Which is crazy to think, as the S15 still looks so modern.)

Sure, it’s not going to win any awards at a concourse show, and it has some clear minor imperfections, but they could easily be fixed (who in their right mind even puts a screw into a car?).

But, for someone potentially looking for a unique drift car in the States, it could be the perfect candidate for some roof-down drifting action.

We all know the current SR20DE isn’t going to be destroying tires anytime soon, which is why you’ll want to consider an engine swap. The generously-sized bay on the S15 means you’ll be able to fit pretty much anything you can think of, whether it’s an SR20DET, RB26, 2JZ-GTE, or even *cough* a V8. A quick YouTube search will prove that all of these are possible if you’ve got the cash to splash.

If you’re still not convinced by its potential, take a look at this clip. It turns out the best way to make a Varietta look good is to get it sideways!

So, is it the fairest-priced S15 available right now? For what you’re getting – a genuine JDM rarity with low miles and manual transmission – it’s actually pretty reasonable. Just don’t expect the Spec R’s tire-shredding performance without some serious mods and upgrades first.