S14 200SX Series 1

ALTHOUGH Nissan Australia launched the 200SX Coupe in late 1994, the model has been around in a number of different guises since the 1960s.

Known as Silvia in Japan, the brand has built up an enviable reputation as a serious driver's car.

The rear-wheel drive format and turbocharged, 2.0-litre, four-cylinder engine are testimony to thisNevertheless, the S14 generation 200SX struggled in the shadow of its more glamorous front-wheel drive rivals of the day – Toyota’s Celica and the Honda Prelude.

Dumpy two-door sedan-like styling was the reason.

Yet, thanks to its 147kW/265Nm 2.0-litre twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder turbocharged and inter-cooled engine, the 200SX was faster than even the 1990s 300ZX.

Nissan claimed it could accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds.

Holding all this together is a chassis that borrows some components from the Nissan 300ZX such as the rear suspension while having its own MacPherson strut front end.

A driver's airbag is standard while anti-lock brakes are restricted to the upper spec Sports and Luxury models. The base edition was the Sports Limited.