If you've ever dreamed of importing a right-hand drive Japanese icon, you're not alone. But the reality of rescuing a 25-year-old car that's been sitting and immediately driving it halfway across the country is not exactly a joyride.YouTuber Elsea's World recently lived out this exact scenario. After tracking down a highly sought-after 1999 Nissan Silvia Spec-R Turbo that he had "lusted" over since his Gran Turismo 3 days, he found himself in Colorado Springs with one goal: drive it 1,400 miles home.Oh, and there was one catch. It didn't run.AdvertisementAdvertisement"This 1999 Nissan Silvia Spec-R Turbo has always been a bucket list dream car of mine, but they did not make many of these, and they were never even available in North America," he explains. "So we need to diagnose it and try to get this on the road… and we need to drive it 1,400 miles home."The Rare Nissan Spec-RThe S15 Silvia is a holy grail for many enthusiasts, and this particular example is the highly coveted Spec-R. It's equipped with a 2.0-liter, all-aluminum SR20DET turbocharged engine, a six-speed manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive.To make it even better, this Silvia was imported with a treasure trove of legitimate Japanese aftermarket parts."I'm nerding out right now on all these really rare parts," he says, pointing out the Yashio Factory hood, Vertex body kit, and Greddy adjustable shocks. "You may have noticed these Rays TE37 wheels… these are kind of the best wheel to put on one of these cars".It even still had its "drift button" installed—a modified handbrake that won't lock unless manually engaged, perfect for drifting the mountain passes of Japan.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe only reason this car is now cruising American highways is because of the 25-year import rule."They say this car is not safe or legal or meets emissions, but after 25 years it is," he jokes. "So like yesterday it was illegal, today it's totally fine. Can we get rid of that law?"The S15 generation, which was never sold in the US, is only just now starting to become legal to import, making this 1999 model a rare sight on American roads.Bring the Legend BackOf course, you can't just hop into a 25-year-old imported car that's been sitting and expect it to fire right up. The first hurdle was a completely dead battery.AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter a jump, the car cranked but was shaking violently and refusing to run properly. It was time for some parking lot mechanic work.A quick inspection revealed burnt, wet spark plugs. He swapped them for a fresh set of Denzo Iridiums, but the car still wouldn't run right. After testing the smart coils and checking the wiring, the culprit was finally found in the fuse box."I learned a long time ago when I was young that just 'cause a fuse looks good doesn't mean it's good," he says. After testing the fuses with a multimeter, he found a blown ignition fuse.With a fresh fuse and a tight battery terminal, the SR20DET finally roared to life. "That turbo surge sound is the coolest thing ever. Oh my gosh, is it finally fixed?"The 1,400-Mile JourneyWith the car running smoothly, the first stop was a celebratory run up Pikes Peak.AdvertisementAdvertisement"This car is doing so good. It handles nice, the brakes are nice… this is my dream car," he says while climbing the mountain. "I'm finally up here. I'm emotional right now. Just a little happy tears."But the road trip home wasn't without its drama. A tire check revealed that the front left tire was worn down to the metal cords, forcing an emergency detour for a new set of wheels and tires.Then came the real test: the long, flat stretch across the Midwest."I kind of smell something burning, and I've not passed a store in quite a while. We're in Oklahoma, though," he notes nervously. Smoke began billowing from the hood, likely from burning gear oil, but the car pressed on.AdvertisementAdvertisementThrough rainstorms in Arkansas and the long haul into Memphis, the Silvia held together."I always get asked why I don't just ship these home or put them on a trailer," he says. "That doesn't sound fun. Why would you buy an S15 Silvia Spec-R turbo manual rear-wheel drive helical diff and not drive it?"After 1,400 miles, the Silvia made it to its new home. It needed a bath, an alignment, and an exhaust leak fixed, but the SR20DET held strong.
+57 others
