Overview of the Nissan Silvia Varietta
This Nissan Silvia Varietta is the rare folding hard top version of the S15 generation, finished in blue metallic and offered at USS Tokyo as lot 25022 on 22 October 2026. It was first registered in November 2000, shows 49,531 km on the sheet (approximately 30,775 miles), and carries an overall auction grade of 4 with interior grade B. The 2,000 cc engine is paired with an automatic gearbox.
The Varietta is the Silvia for buyers who want the S15 shape with an electric roof, and the sheet records that the roof operation was checked. It is also sold as a non smoking car, bought directly from its private owner, with a service book and recorded dealer servicing. The sheet lists the chassis code as GF-S15 with a 改 mark, meaning modified, although the inspector does not describe any modification in words.
The Drive Review of the Nissan Silvia Varietta
The S15 is the last Silvia, and the one most enthusiasts rate as the best balanced. It is a compact, rear wheel drive coupe, so the layout is the classic one, with the engine at the front and power to the rear wheels. Drive is not given in the feed, but that is how every S15 is built. The Varietta uses the 2.0 litre naturally aspirated SR20DE petrol engine, which is smooth, willing and happiest when revved, rather than the turbocharged SR20DET found in the Spec R. Expect usable performance rather than headline numbers.
The Varietta is the relaxed S15. The automatic gearbox, the leather trim and the folding roof suit fast road use and touring more than track days. Steering is quick and well weighted for the class, and the chassis is known for being predictable and easy to balance. The car is comfortable, light on its feet and far simpler than a modern coupe. If you want a manual Silvia with a turbo, this is not it, but if you want a clean, usable S15 with a rare roof, it is a different and interesting proposition.
Auction Details
The car is listed at USS Tokyo in the Prime Corner section, lot number 25022, with the auction on 22 October 2026 Japan time. The auction start price is ¥500,000. The Autoselecta guide bidding range is £10,000 to £13,250. That is an estimated bidding range based on twelve similar cars sold at Japanese auctions between £10,203 and £13,335, typically about £11,912, and those results include other versions and conditions. It is not a guaranteed purchase price and the car may sell above or below it. The minimum bid and landed cost are calculated live in the price panel on this page.
All bids must be submitted before 9PM UK time the evening before auction.
Vehicle Specifications
Manufacturer: Nissan. Model: Silvia, grade Varietta. Chassis code: GF-S15 (marked 改 on the sheet). Frame number 500593, with the prefix not written. First registration: November 2000 (Heisei 12). Engine capacity: 2,000 cc, petrol. Transmission: automatic. Colour: blue metallic, with the colour code read as TV3 although this is not certain. Body: two door coupe with an electric folding roof. Odometer: 49,531 km, approximately 30,775 miles. Registration plate: Nagano 500, with the remaining characters not certain. Shaken expiry is written as 10年8月, but the era is not stated. Recycling deposit: ¥11,270. The steering side box is not marked, but the photographs show right hand drive.
Factory Features and Equipment
The sheet marks factory alloy wheels, power steering, power windows, leather and an airbag. It also records automatic air conditioning. The photographs show red and black seats, an aftermarket touchscreen head unit in the centre of the dashboard, Silvia script on the door trim and passenger side, a three spoke steering wheel, a column mounted gear selector and a silver faced instrument cluster with a tachometer reading to 9,000 rpm. Twin exhaust tips are visible at the rear. ETC, navigation and the number of keys are not confirmed on the sheet, and the spare tyre box on the diagram is empty.
Japanese Auction Report Translation
The sheet was translated and checked by Autoselecta. The sales points say the car was bought directly from its private owner, and that the electric folding roof operation has been checked. Circled characters indicate that the warranty booklet and owner's manual are present, although the second character is not certain. The new car service book with warranty booklet is marked as present.
The points to note state that it is a non smoking car, that dealer servicing is recorded and that the interior and exterior have been cleaned.
The inspector's report reads as follows. The seats are worn and peeling where the covers are fitted. The steering wheel is scuffed. The underside is painted. There are scratches and dents in various places. The rear panel is distorted at the lower part. No engine, gearbox or air conditioning faults are recorded, and no warning lights are mentioned.
Damage Diagram and Body Condition
The diagram shows seven marks. A1 on the front bumper is a small scratch. A1 on the right front wing is a small scratch. A2 on the right side door is a scratch, and beside it is a short note read as クスA, which may be a further scratch note but cannot be read with confidence. AU1 at the centre rear of the body, either the rear deck or boot lid, is a small scratch with touch up, but its exact position is not certain. A2 on the right rear quarter panel is a scratch, and A1 on the rear bumper is a small scratch.
There are no dent, rust, corrosion or replaced panel marks on the diagram. However, the inspector separately notes scratches and dents in various places, a painted underside and a distorted lower rear panel, so the overall body is tidy but not perfect. In the photographs the blue paint looks glossy and the panels look straight. Overall this is a usable enthusiast car in good condition for its age, not a collector grade one.
Interior Condition
The interior is graded B. The inspector records worn seats with peeling where the covers are fitted, and a scuffed steering wheel. The photograph shows the red and black leather seat bolster in decent shape, and a clean dashboard with no visible cracks. The odometer photo shows 49,531 km. The sheet says non smoking and that the interior has been cleaned. Headlining, carpets and boot condition are not commented on.
Japanese Auction Grades
Grade 4 is a good score on the Japanese 5 point scale and normally means a clean car with only minor faults. Interior grade B indicates average wear and some visible marks, which fits the seat and steering wheel remarks.
Model History
The S15 Silvia was launched in January 1999 and replaced the S14. It is the seventh generation Silvia and the last, as production ended in 2002. It was sold in the Japanese market as the Spec S and Spec R, the Spec R having the turbo SR20DET and a six speed manual. The Varietta was the folding hard top version, developed with Autech. Autech was Nissan's specialist arm, and the badge is visible on the rear of the car. The Silvia sold in Japan as an S15 was also related to the 200SX sold in Europe, but this Varietta was a Japanese market car. Total numbers of the Varietta are far smaller than the standard coupes.
Why This Model Has Become Collectible
The S15 is the final Silvia and the end of the line of a famous rear wheel drive Nissan coupe. Drift culture, video games and tuning have made the shape recognisable around the world. Clean, unmodified examples are getting harder to find from Japan, because so many were used hard or modified. The Varietta is a different take on that, with an unusual electric hard top that most buyers never see, and an Autech link. This specification is less sought after than a manual Spec R, so values are lower, and no future value is guaranteed. Cars that are 25 years or older can also now be imported into the USA.
What To Look For When Buying This Model
On the S15 Silvia, look at the SR20DE engine for oil leaks from the cam cover and rear main seal, and listen for tappet noise on a cold start. Check the automatic gearbox for smooth shifts, as these units can get tired and mileage on this car is low, but the sheet says nothing of how it shifts. Check the folding roof mechanism, seals and the rear tray for leaks, since the hard top adds weight and moving parts. Inspect the rear quarters, sills and boot floor for rust, and the lower rear panel, which the inspector says is distorted. The painted underside needs a careful look to see what is being covered. Finally check the seat covers, which are already peeling.
Why Import This Car From Japan
Japanese cars usually have lower mileage, better documented service histories and less rust, and this car has a service book and recorded dealer servicing. A Varietta in good condition is much easier to find in Japan than elsewhere.
USA Import Information
Because this car is over 25 years old, it is eligible for import into the United States. Autoselecta can arrange shipment from Japan to the United States. Please contact Autoselecta with your city or ZIP code before bidding so that we can prepare a delivered quotation. We can calculate the expected purchase price, Japan costs, shipping, customs related costs and delivery requirements. Additional charges may apply.
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Auction Caution
Auction cars are inspected before sale but are still used vehicles. The auction sheet is an independent condition guide and not a mechanical warranty. A car of this age may need servicing, maintenance or refurbishment after purchase. Note the inspector's warnings of worn seats, a scuffed steering wheel, a painted underside, scratches and dents in various places and a distorted lower rear panel.
