1986 Nissan Silvia Turbo

Purchased by our vendor in 2019, this classic pre-facelift S12 has been extensively refurbished and restored whilst in the care of the current owner, at a cost of circa £6,000 for the bodywork alone, which was stripped back, any issues addressed and then re-sprayed in its two-tone factory colours, the results of which speak for themselves.

Originally a dealership demonstrator, the car was then sold to the first private owner who kept it for four years, and then on to a second individual who owned the car long-term, until our vendor purchased it in 2019 prior to commencement to the restoration process.

Not content with it being aesthetically box-fresh, the vendor also commissioned an extensive mechanical overhaul of the engine, chassis, braking and suspension systems, with the result surely being one of the best S12s in the country. At the same time as the engine overhaul, the belts and water pump were replaced, to ensure continued reliability and giving the next owner complete peace-of-mind to use and enjoy this Japanese hatch to its fullest extent.

So fastidious and detail-oriented was this restoration - which was completed irrespective of costs or time constraints, with the car spending four months in the body shop alone - that even parts that were fully-working were sent off to be refurbished or were replaced like-for-like, to the point that the vendor states the majority of the components on the car are entirely new or refurbished.

In original condition throughout save a mild stainless-steel exhaust, this is a true collectors-quality item.

Since the restoration works were completed, the car has been kept garaged as part of the vendor’s considered and high-quality collection, and further protected by a £400 car cover, which is included with the sale of the vehicle.

Whilst full details of this immersive restoration project are available in the ‘history highlights’ section of the gallery below, here is a quick bullet-point rundown of the key works carried out:

- Refurbishment of the turbocharger

- New rear shock absorbers

- Full restoration of the brake system, with callipers refurbished and powder-coated

- New clutch master cylinder

- Full re-spray, including under-body clean, dry and coating with seven coats of black waxoyl

- New top-tinted windscreen

- Freshly-built stainless-steel exhaust

- Gearbox oil change

- Major service - February 2019, including new timing belt and tensioner, new drive belts, re-cored radiator, new water pump, gasket and thermostat, new thermostat sensor and new battery.

Sadly, due to lack of use (and, more excitingly, the imminent arrival of another project) the vendor has chosen to make the decision to move this S-chassis on, with the hope of it going to another caring and enthusiastic home.

With only limited mileage covered since being restored on dry days, garaged throughout the current ownership and with the cherished registration included with the sale of the vehicle, this is a fantastic opportunity to obtain a rare, cosseted and ready-to-use S12 Turbo.

Looking decidedly 80’s in its two-tone paintwork and all the better for it, the aesthetic condition of this 1986 Silvia Turbo is simply fantastic, having benefitted from a no-holds-barred re-spray and transformation over the course of four months in a bodyshop.

Naturally, this means that the paintwork remains in outstanding condition, with only the odd minor stone chip or usage mark making itself known, though you’d have to be looking very, very hard indeed to find any flaws.

Similarly, the body shell itself is straight as an arrow throughout, with no dents, dings, impact or accident damage to be found. Being super picky, we’d suggest the front bumper plastic lower ‘lip’ is showing its age, but we’re probably splitting hairs here.

The recently-replaced windscreen is in as-new condition, whilst the rest of the light lenses and windows are all free of any cracks or damage.

As far as we can tell, all of the badges and trims are present-and-correct, and a new rear spoiler was obtained and fitted during the vehicle’s time in the bodyshop.

All four wheels were refurbished as part of the restoration process, and remain in pristine condition with no kerb rash to be noted.

Unlike the bodywork and mechanicals of this S12, the interior - in all its wonderfully overwhelming shades of blue - remains untouched by the vendor, and as such is somewhat of a ‘time warp’ example.

The blue velour seats remain in impressive condition, especially considering their age and mileage, with the only particularly discernible signs of wear being to the driver’s headrest, along with some creases and ‘puckering’ of the material, all of which is far less than what would be considered commensurate for a vehicle of this age and mileage.

The carpet is probably the most obviously worn part of the vehicle, with numerous stains around the transmission tunnels, in the footwells and in the boot, but this is useable as it sits.

Up above, the headliner is free from any damage or sagging, whilst elsewhere the high-traffic areas such as the various switches, the door cards/pulls and the steering wheel display a light usage patina, in keeping with the vehicle’s age.

All systems are in full working order, with no reported faults from the vendor, nor from our photographer.

Under the bonnet, the 1.8-litre turbocharged engine presents in outstanding condition, and looks to be virtually as you’d expect to see on a vehicle rolling out of the dealership for the first time, having evidently been restored to the highest standard and fastidiously kept in the years since.

From what we can see, everything looks to be in its right-and-proper place, with no signs of any oil or fluid leaks, misting or untoward issues as far as we can tell.

Out on the road, the vendor reports the car is in rude mechanical health, with no known underlying faults with any of the mechanical or electrical systems.

Underneath, the chassis is in fantastic shape, having been stripped back, painted and protected during the restoration process and having seen only limited, dry-weather-only use since.

The most recent MoT exam - dated 29 April 2022 - shows a clean first-time pass with no advisory items.

Included with the vehicle is an in-depth photographic record of the aforementioned restoration works taking place, a number of old manuals, handbooks and promotional materials, the original purchase invoice, V5 showing just 4 former keepers, a selection of older Nissan OE invoices, vendor-created summaries of restoration works carried out, two sets of keys and an extensive paper trial of invoices and parts receipts.

As always, we’ve photographed all of the documentation we’ve received, and this is available to view at the end of the gallery below.

In outstanding condition throughout and benefitting from an in-depth, money-no-object mechanical and aesthetic restoration, our vendor reckons you’d be hard-pushed to find another S12 in the country, let alone another in such great shape, and we see no reason to disagree.

Presented with a strong history folder and fresh from enthusiastic and fastidious ownership, this rare slice of Japanese motoring history is estimated to reach £10,000 to £15,000 when the hammer falls, which is fantastic value as far as we’re concerned.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.