1989 Nissan 200SX Photos, engines & full specs

Also known as the Silvia S13, the fourth generation of this nameplate was launched by Nissan in 1989 and was sold under different names, depending on the market.

The late '80s brought a new rise in customers' demands for coupes and practical hatchbacks that could be used as a daily and sports cars as well. Nissan already had a good name in this segment with the previous three generations of the Silvia/SX series. But when it introduced the S13, it changed everything and created a legendary vehicle. The car's drift abilities were appreciated worldwide, and the chassis' balance was excellent. In addition, despite its small engines, they were peepy thanks to turbocharging technologies.

While the Silvia's third generation sported wedged shapes, the 1989 model came with shaved corners and curved surfaces. Still, the pop-up headlights were kept for most countries, while in others, these were replaced by fixed ones. Nissan made the S13 available in two body styles: hatchback and coupe. The former was the one that reached most markets. It featured a broad, sloped windscreen that also served as a hatch to access the trunk.

Inside, Nissan installed bolstered front bucket seats and a tiny bench profiled for two in the back. The low-mounted dashboard created excellent visibility for the driver. Its instrument cluster was minimalist and offered two wide dials for the speedometer and tachometer flanked on the outer sides by the fuel gauge on the left and water temperature on the right. On the sloped center stack, Nissan installed the HVAC controls at the top, followed by a tape player and a small storage area. The center console hosted the stick and the ashtray, while a second storage compartment, with a lid on top, also served as an armrest.

Under the hood, the automaker installed a 1.8-liter turbocharged inline-four with different power levels. Nissan also sold the car with a naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter engine under the 240SX badge. Power went to the rear via a five-speed manual or, as an option, a four-speed automatic.