GT5 Transcripts/Nissan SILVIA (CSP311) '65

In the 1960's when new styles and tastes from the west were flowing into Japan, the Silvia was a car that came out of Nissan's efforts to make a "Fashionable Personal Coupe". As can be guessed from its model number CSP311, it shared the engine, frame and suspension from the Fairlady 1600 sports car. This was given a special coupe body and it resulted in a good sized, easy to drive, personal car.
Its most prominent characteristic was its design. The form was very simple, almost as if it was carved out of a large block with a sharp knife. In Japan where design sense was still underdeveloped at the time, it was a uniquely shining piece.
The designer was the German Albrecht von Goertz. He had already designed sports models for BMW including other cars and was a well known figure. Japan was infatuated with Italy with regards to car design at the time, making this a shocking revelation.
However, the birth of the Silvia was too early. It was not within the sensibilities of the typical Japanese person then to drive around in a coupe as a part of their lifestyle. The very few connoisseurs who understood this way of life almost always selected imports. And because a handmade body built by expert craftsmen was utilised, the price was 1,200,000 yen, 300,000 yen more expensive than a Fairlady. This was at a time when the average first time income was around 10,000 yen a month.
As a result, only 500 first generation Silvia's were produced in a period of 3 years. But there is no doubt, that this was the pioneer of specialty cars in Japan.
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