Nissan's venerable SR20 engine returns in limited numbers, prepare your kidneys for sale
Dinesh · Sep 24, 2022 02:40 PM
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Everything remotely related to the JDM hype nowadays commands prices that would make you consider calling the cops on the sellers for consumption of illicit drugs because letâs be honest, substance abuse seems to be the only logical explanation for those ludicrous prices.
We know youâre yelling now âOnly the poor will claim that.â But lest we forget, Japanese sports cars from that golden era of the 90s were targeted at the average Joe and Jane. They provided a tuning platform that could give more exotic machinery a run for their money.
Now though, itâs become a much more valuable commodity; something accessible only to those with deep pockets. First it was the cars. Logically; or rather illogically, next was parts. Anything from go-fast bits to even replacement components were given the dreaded JDM tax. Hell, titanium strut bars from Nismo are going for well over RM 10,000 these days.
So, imagine if a company were to reproduce a limited batch of an iconic engine that powered one of the most recognisable 90s sports cars. Surely thatâs at least a kidney and perhaps even a lung, right?
Well, lo and behold as Mercury, a tuning company in Hachioji, Tokyo, has committed to reproducing a small batch of Nissanâs SR20DET engine with the latterâs blessings, of course.
This is all based on a video with YouTubeâs rocky translation of automated subtitles from Japanese D1 driver Sayaka Shimoda's channel. These turbocharged four-bangers have been the backbone of the drift scene as they powered the Nissan Silvia S13, S14 and S15 as well as the 200SX; the very cars that were the foundation of drifting.
While the engines have been out of production for about two decades now, the aftermarket is still developing parts and tuning solutions for them, testament to their capabilities.
Mercury is somewhat of a one-stop centre that sells, maintains, and modifies cars. They also happen to sponsor Shimoda's D1 team.
The video claims that after two years of what we imagine to be intense negotiations with Nissan, the Mercury Fujimori store will reproduce the SR20 DET engine together with Nissanâs cooperation.
No word on how complete the Mercury engines will be. They might just come as the head and block or ready to be dropped in.
If youâre wondering just how much âlimited batchâ quantifies, the figure is 30 units. Mercury will be reproducing the black top SR20DET engines made for the S14 and S15 Silvia, which would have been the final configuration. The later engines are easily identifiable by the hump towards the rear of the cam covers.
Pricing has been pegged at 1,330,000 yen, or about RM 43,000, give or take. Letâs be honest though, by the time youâve read, this all 30 units have probably been spoken for.
A quick glance on some of the local classifieds bring up pricing closer to RM 10,000 for halfcut engines of unknown provenance. In that sense, around RM 40,000 for a brand new crate engine could be shaped to resemble a reasonable sum.
Tuners Tomei also offers a range of rebuilt and modified Sr20DET engines that can be bought ready to go.
Details are understandably scarce at this point. Weâre not sure if Mercury managed to get their hands on Nissanâs old moulds to cast the head and block or is starting from scratch with the diagrams and specification from Nissan.
Mercury did mention that the 30 units arenât the end of the road for the reproduction, meaning more could come in the future.
The move by them though is very promising for the future of classic JDM machinery and their maintenance. It could inspire more tuning companies to enter the boutique reproduction industry by acquiring the rights and tooling from Japanese carmakers to reproduce engines and other major drivetrain components such as transmissions.
Nissan, Toyota and even Mazda have already restarted production or even offered factory restorations for some of their iconic sports cars though we suspect it might be at a loss and merely done to retain the marqueâs prestige among enthusiasts.
âBetter late than never.â Some despise it, others begrudgingly agree with it but he swears by it⊠much to the chagrin of everyone around him. That unfortunately stems from all of his project cars not running most of the time, which in turn is testament to his questionable decision-making skills in life. A culmination of many wrongs fortunately making a right; much like his project cars on the rare occasions they run, heâs still trying to figure out if another project car is the way to go.
