Screw VTEC, I Want This Turbo AWD Nissan Bluebird SSS-R

"DailyTurismo" (thedailyturismo) 01/23/2015 at 12:35 • Filed to: Daily Turismo, Blog

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After delighting back-road thrill-seekers and autocrossers alike, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! left the U.S. market, never to be seen again. Back in its home country, it matriculated into the all-wheel-drive rally fighter you see here, until bloat and anonymity set in, and its role in the marketplace was filled by a nameless front-drive appliance. Here at the peak of its career is the SSS-R variant, as legally protected as white-collar crime, thanks to the 25-year law. Find this !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in Las Vegas, NV for $8,500 via craigslist.

In 1988, the automotive landscape in Japan wasn't the rally-filled free-for-all it would become a decade later. Offerings from other Japanese competitors like the Mitsubishi EVO wouldn't join the cause until 1992, although we imagine more than a few early Gallant VR-4s squaring off against one of these.

The 1.8-liter CA18DET, a turbocharged and intercooled twin-cam four-cylinder, is a familiar mill. It was last seen on American soil in !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! as an SR20 predecessor. It sends at least 167 horsepower to all four wheels through a five-speed manual, and even allows four-wheel steering thanks to an early version of Nissan's ATTESA system.

Right-hand drive complicates Starbucks orders, but more importantly, traffic stops. You're sure to get plenty in a car with a hood scoop and rally lights. A roll cage in a daily driver is a worrisome prospect, but this one doesn't look nearly intrusive enough to make an omelet out of your noggin. Your back seat passengers are similarly contained (or even restrained) by seat bolsters that nearly come up to your chest.

See another road-legal Japanese warrior for cheap? Email us at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

Originally written by PhiLOL (who actually likes the tuna here, but abhors structural rust) as !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:46

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I need this in my life.

CalzoneGolem > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:47

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Rock Bottom > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:49

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Those rear bolsters are NUTS!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:50

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Why would you say-

as legally protected as white-collar crime, thanks to the 25-year law.

I mean...it's 27 years old, fair game now...

Roadster Man > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:51

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Fuck yeah I want this. I've always wanted a Galant VR-4 but this is even cooler.

As Du Volant > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:52

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I've wanted one of these since I got my first car. Later models came with the SR20DET by the way, and were also available in this gorgeous hardtop configuration:

I'd still love to import one someday. Also, the CA18DET was never sold in the US- the CA18DE nonturbo was available in the Nissan Pulsar NX though. The S12 200SX in the US was available with the CA18ET which made considerably less power than the DET.

As for why I wanted a Bluebird after I got my first car... I had one of these:

The Stanza is to the Bluebird as the 240SX is to the Silvia.

Takuro Spirit > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 12:58

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What the.... that's actually a pretty neat idea.

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 13:21

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I'm not sure I knew this car existed. Pretty cool. It's ashamed we never got a lot of the cool stuff from Japan.

And I agree about those side bolsters. Complete insanity.

RazoE > As Du Volant 01/23/2015 at 13:23

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No, the Stanza is the Bluebird, which unfortunately (de)evolved into the Altima..=/ Infact, early Altimas had "Stanza" badges as well.

(But there were JDM Altimas badged as Bluebirds that were also AWD + Turbo!)

As Du Volant > RazoE 01/23/2015 at 13:24

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That's exactly what I was saying... the Stanza was a neutered Bluebird the same way the 240SX was a neutered Silvia.

RazoE > As Du Volant 01/23/2015 at 13:27

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oh, I gotcha. The 240sx was either a neutered Silvia for the coupes, or a neutered 180sx (also available with the CA18DET), or later on the 200sx (with dat SR20, tho).

DailyTurismo > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/23/2015 at 13:31

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Because white collar crime IS legally protected for the most part... :)

DailyTurismo > Rock Bottom 01/23/2015 at 13:34

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It would be really hard to take a lunchtime nap in the back seat.

DailyTurismo > Takuro Spirit 01/23/2015 at 13:34

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Great if you let your teenage kid borrow it. Nobody is getting busy in that back seat!

Rock Bottom > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 13:36

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Where there's a will, there's a way (and a chiropractor visit).

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 13:46

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yea i get that part, but it's not protected by anything anymore

Dsscats > DailyTurismo 01/23/2015 at 14:22

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It's actually in Orlando, CA.

Street Surgeon > DailyTurismo 02/08/2015 at 02:17

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While that may be almost impossible to find, I saw this RHD turd pull up next to me after work :) Interesting story, I bumped in to this car about ten years ago when my friend owned it, he could not plate the car so it sat for years in his garage. Later, he sold the car to a guy in another state with "friends" in the DMV, the fella thought he could get it plated but no dice. That fella then sold it to this guy apparently and now it's sporting a Vermont plate. I live in Nebraska. Neat stuff :)

Street Surgeon > DailyTurismo 02/08/2015 at 02:24

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It's kind of like a Nissan version of the Galant VR-4 :) Side-note, I love how simple and awesome the interior of these cars was.