Nissan Silvia CSP311: The 60s Coupe You Never Knew About

Crafted Rarity - In the mid-20th century, Japan was rapidly building a reputation for reliable, affordable, and efficient cars. It was an era driven by practicality—fuel economy, mass production, and family sedans. But then, almost out of nowhere, Nissan decided to color outside the lines. While others were focusing on mobility for the masses, Nissan quietly crafted something for the dreamers—something rare, elegant, and entirely different. That creation was the Nissan Silvia CSP311, a car so unique and so ahead of its time that even many car enthusiasts today barely know it existed.

The Nissan Silvia CSP311 began its story as a prototype unveiled at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show under the name Datsun Coupe 1500, before officially launching as a production model in March 1965 with its new name. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

The prototype debuted at the 1964 Tokyo Motor Show as the Datsun Coupe 1500. Months later, in March 1965, Nissan officially launched the production model under a new name: Silvia CSP311. The name itself drew inspiration from the avian world—specifically the genus Sylvia, perhaps subtly nodding to Nissan’s Bluebird, which was still part of the lineup then. But make no mistake, Silvia wasn’t just another bird in the flock. It was something altogether more refined, more rarefied.

The Nissan Silvia CSP311, unlike mass-produced cars, was almost entirely handmade, with no large metal-stamping machines producing identical panels in rapid succession. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Unlike the cars that rolled off factory lines by the thousands, the Silvia CSP311 was nearly entirely handmade. There were no massive metal-stamping machines churning out identical panels every minute. Instead, artisans shaped each body panel by hand, giving the car a distinct personality—no two were exactly alike. That craftsmanship took time, and as a result, the Silvia was never meant for mass production. It was a boutique sports coupe made in limited numbers and with great care.

The Nissan Silvia CSP311, though built on the chassis, drivetrain, and engine of the Datsun Fairlady 1600 SP311, was far from a mere derivative, emerging instead as a completely distinct machine with its own unique coupe identity. (Picture from: CSP311)

While the Silvia CSP311 looked entirely new, it was built on the chassis, drivetrain, and engine of the Datsun Fairlady 1600 SP311. Still, calling it a mere derivative misses the mark. This wasn't just a reworked roadster—it was a completely different machine with its own distinct coupe identity. The design came from Nissan’s in-house team, led by Kazuoka Kimura and Fumio Yoshida, with influential input from German designer Count Albrecht von Goertz. Famous for shaping the BMW 507, von Goertz helped give the Silvia a refined European flair. With its long hood, low roofline, and clean, understated details, the Silvia had the proportions and elegance of a proper grand tourer like the Lancia Fulvia.

The Nissan Silvia CSP311 featured a lavish, fully equipped interior—from radio to heater—with a driver-focused dashboard, full instrumentation, and an elegant three-spoke steering wheel. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

Beneath that graceful exterior, the Silvia packed a 1.6-liter inline-4 engine from Nissan's R-series, producing 96 horsepower and 132 Nm of torque. Paired with a 4-speed fully synchronized manual transmission, the car could reach around 103 mph and sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just under 12 seconds. That might not raise eyebrows today, but in 1965, for a lightweight coupe weighing just over 2,100 pounds, those were respectable figures. The driving experience was further elevated by front disc brakes—rare for Japanese cars at the time—and a modern 12-volt electrical system. 

The Nissan Silvia CSP311 featured a 1.6-liter R-series inline-4 engine producing 96 horsepower and 132 Nm of torque, paired with a fully synchronized 4-speed manual transmission. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

The attention to performance didn’t stop there. The suspension setup combined a double-wishbone front with a leaf spring rear axle, balancing comfort with agility. For a car that looked as though it belonged in a museum, the Silvia drove like it belonged on winding coastal roads. 

The Nissan Silvia CSP311, with its beauty and craftsmanship, came at a high price—nearly twice that of the Nissan Bluebird—making it inaccessible to most buyers, and resulting in just 554 right-hand-drive units produced between 1965 and 1968. (Picture from: OtoBlitz)

But the beauty and craftsmanship came at a cost. Priced at nearly twice that of the Nissan Bluebird, the Silvia CSP311 was beyond the reach of most buyers. Only 554 units were produced between 1965 and 1968, all in right-hand drive. Most remained in Japan, with a small number exported—about 49 to Australia and a few (around 10 units) scattered to other corners of the globe. The car was so exclusive that even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police saw its potential, acquiring two units in late 1965 for highway patrol duties—the first time a sports car was used in that role.  | UznI_73TQds | lf5y3vW_yX8 | tyxqSqlm7eM |

Today, the Silvia CSP311 is a collector’s gem. Owners cherish them, sharing glimpses of their restorations online, maintaining the car’s legacy with passion. Though largely unknown to the wider public, for those in the know, the CSP311 represents the moment Japan showed it could do more than just build practical cars—it could craft rolling works of art.

There was only one factory specification for the Nissan Silvia CSP311, although two special units were built for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, equipped with bumpers, floodlights, and patrol badges. (Picture from: ModHub.us)

Now, decades later, Nissan seems to be reaching back into its history to bring the Silvia name into the future. In October 2023, Nissan’s Senior Vice President Ivan Espinosa revealed that the company is exploring a revival of the Silvia—this time with an electric soul. While development is still in its early stages, the ambition is clear: to create a high-performance EV that captures the spirit of the original CSP311 while embracing the demands of the modern world.

The Nissan Silvia EV concept, designed by Matthew Weaver—Vice President of Design at Nissan Europe—is a modern-era reimagining of the original Silvia CSP311.. (Picture from: MotorTrend)

There’s something poetic about that idea. A car born in an age of change, crafted with care, and admired quietly for decades may soon return—reborn for a new generation. And maybe, just maybe, one day we’ll see the spirit of the original Silvia glide silently across roads once more, no longer a forgotten gem but a celebrated symbol of timeless design and daring imagination. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | CSP311 | CURBSIDECLASSIC | MODHUB.US | TOPGEAR | DRIVE.COM.AU | WIKIPEDIA ]

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