Nissan S15 Silvia
Professional racecar drivers usually get to plow around in some pretty interesting company cars from the manufacturers they're affiliated with, be it luxurious sedans or top-of-the-line sports cars. The more successful the driver, the more makes and models are his for the borrowing. But there is one well-known motorsport personality in Japan who prefers to do things his own way. Having earned wins for more OEs at one time or another than we can even name, Nobuteru "Nob" Taniguchi is regarded in Japan as one of the biggest stars of the motoring world. But unlike most of his rivals, Nob has shown that he'd just as soon rock a slammed Toyota Windom to the latest Bentley or Bimmer, a Nissan Elgrand to a USDM Hummer, or an S15 Silvia above all else-he's rumored to have owned about a dozen of them. We're thinking this one might be his best yet.
Takahiro Ueno, D1GP legend and owner of Car Make T&E is the man Taniguchi let loose on the aesthetics of his latest creation: this Silvia Spec-R. Ueno saw it as a great opportunity to create a fresher, more modern look to the somewhat aging S15, and his skills as a forward-thinking designer are evident at first glance of the one-piece front bumper that sets the tone for his new Vertex Edge kit. Large openings allow the intercooler and oil coolers to swallow as much air as possible, while smooth contours highlight the integrated lower lip spoiler and side vents. A Vertex fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) hood sports two ridges that work their way up from the small grille, a welcome change from the vented items we're used to seeing on cars of this day. The front fenders, widened by 50mm, boost the visual impact of the Silvia and are joined by a series of air outlets that meet the upward-flowing lines of the stock doors. Rear fenders boast a similar increase in girth, as the fronts gently follow the lines of the stock arches, blending seamlessly with widened, angular side skirts. The rear bumper spoiler was the final piece Ueno incorporated into the Edge kit, and gives a more menacing profile to the rear with its diffuser-like lower section. Not wishing to interfere with the somewhat drift-oriented theme of the car, only a small lip spoiler was applied to the edge of the trunk, along with a secondary winglet on the roof (hot tip: GT wings don't do much for sideways-moving cars). The T&E treatment extends to the front lights, which have been fitted with an Audi-like LED strip, complementing a full LED taillight conversion at the rear. Yokohama Japan thought their new Advan RG-D wheels would look rather good on Nob's S15 and sent him a full 19-inch set in matte black. When he didn't argue, they also threw in a few sets of Advan AD08 tires, a perfect choice for a car that will no doubt see road and track action alike.