Update: Since the writing of this piece, the vehicle has sold! Fret not, there are other Nissan 240SX listings available on autoTRADER.ca, including a 1995 example with the SR20DET engine.
Do you dream of dorrrrrrrifto? If so, then check out our latest find of the week: a 1991 Nissan 240SX currently residing in Calgary, Alberta. Nissan made thousands upon thousands of 240's, both hatchbacks and coupes, but most of those shipped to North America came equipped with the durable but uninspiring by modern standards KA24 four-cylinder engine. The one we found? It boasts a much more intriguing SR20DET.
For those not steeped in the lore of Nissan drivetrain codes, that means a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-banger that in stock trim pushed out as much as 227 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque, depending on which Japanese domestic market model it was found in. Not only is that a significant upgrade over the 140 to 155 ponies produce by the KA24 series, but if you swap out the stock Garret T25 turbo and get to tuning you can scale up to 350 horsepower at the wheels with a reasonable amount of investment.
Or, you could just buy the 240SX in this ad for $6,250 and take a huge discount on much of the work that's already been done for you. Power figures aren't mentioned by the current owner - and there's the sometimes-red-flag phrase 'could probably use a tune' lurking in there - but the list of parts provided with the Nissan makes it an appealing gamble. This is especially true if you are looking for a track-ready rig, as the entire suspension has been replaced with adjustable coilovers, new swaybars front and rear, and even adjustable aluminum upper control arms. There's a four-wheel brake upgrade to be had, too, and if the rust mentioned in the ad bothers you then you can simply take care of it at the same time you install the never-used, but included, body kit.
With so many Nissan 240SX's ridden hard and put away wet thanks to the drifting craze, it's not always easy to find a clean example. This particular car is a few light years away from being factory fresh, but it's got the right mods in the right places and it doesn't make any scary claims about dyno-backed horsepower that would set you to worrying about the state of its engine internals. Buy it, drive it to your local track, and never look back.
