Uncovering the mystery behind this unreleased JDM S12 version…

Part One: Silvia vs Skyline

Let's first start with a fact; No production model turbocharged S12 was ever fitted with an intercooler and sold by Nissan. The FJ20ET in the MKI Silvia/Gazelle Turbo RS-X and the CA18DET in the MKII Silvia Turbo RS-X were both equipped with short intake systems, shying away from the need of an intercooler.

In 1983 the MKI Silvia & Gazelle Turbo RS-X were released alongside the DR30 Skyline 2000 Turbo RS, both were fitted with the mighty FJ20ET engine, and both were rated at 190ps power output. In February of 1984 Nissan updated the DR30 Skyline 2000 Turbo RS with the new Turbo-C version, fitting an intercooler to the FJ20ET and bumping power output from 190ps up to 205ps.

So why was the Skyline gifted with an intercooler and the Silvia/Gazelle missed out? Both Skyline and Silvia competed heavily in various racing forms in Japan and around the world, so it's likely it wasn't for homologation reasons. Was it to keep the Skyline on a higher pedestal than the Silvia, to keep it as the brands performance figurehead? Or did it come down to the costs involved in the process and the final sale figures of the models in question?

Part Two: In The Wild

Some time around the mid-2000's photos emerged online of this Gazelle RS-X at a couple of different Silvia meets in Japan. What appears to be a standard Gazelle RS-X coupe in the launch specification two-tone paint scheme at first sight actually has some subtle differences that make this a very special S12.

From the front, the main difference that stands out is the addition of the grill on the underside of the bumper, which allows air intake for the small side-mount intercooler.

The other changes are all to do with the exterior decal kit fitted to the car.

An original side decal kit for a MKI Turbo RS-X reads;

TURBO CHARGED FJ20
2000cc 4CYLINDER DOHC
4-VALVES/CYLINDER

Followed by DOHC TURBO RS-X across the door panel.

This updated intercooled version now reads;

FJ20ET WITH INTERCOOLER
4CYLINDER DOHC TURBO
4-VALVES/CYLINDER

Followed by the large text DOHC TURBO RS-X across the door panel, but now with the addition of WITH INTERCOOLER under the DOHC TURBO text.

The decal on the turbo bulge on the bonnet now reads “DOHC INTERCOOLER TURBO”.

Finally, another image of the intercooled Gazelle Turbo RS-X at an S12 meetup in Japan, with our first glimpse at the engine bay. Notice the piping running from the turbocharger down to the side-mount intercooler, before returning back up to the intake plenum.

Part Three: Club Life

Nissan Club Life Magazine is a Japanese publication distributed exclusively to Nissan car owners clubs in the aim of sharing Nissan heritage cars with a wider audience. It began in 1973, and as of 2024 the publications are purely digital.

Nissan Club Life Volume 206 included some insights into the Intercooler equipped S12 Gazelle…

Design and prototyping work was completed by Nissan with everything in place to put the car to market. The model received type approval from the Ministry of Transport and Nissan had its production line ready to go.
However at the last minute Nissan pulled the plug on the model and decided not to take it to market. It is thought the price would have been set too high, with Nissan setting the sale price at 2.54 million Yen.

No intercooled S12 models were ever sold by Nissan, however it is unknown how many of the pre-production intercooled S12's made it out of Nissan's production facility.

Part Four: Heritage Collection

The intercooled Gazelle RS-X now forms part of the Nissan Heritage Collection in Zama, Japan. Nissan photographs all their cars for the collection which are listed on the Nissan website with information and specifications. The photo of the intercooled Gazelle Turbo RS-X can be seen below:

The earliest photos I've managed to find of the intercooled Gazelle in the Nissan Heritage Collection are from 2008. Here the car is pictured not in the main display area of the collection, but possibly in a storage area behind the scenes. The Gazelle is parked next to a white over silver two-tone MKII Silvia coupe, another car known to be part of the Heritage Collection.

And finally, some photos of the intercooled Gazelle in the main display area of the Nissan Heritage Collection, including a much better look at the engine bay and the intercooler piping.

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