Shane van der Merwe, like many other car enthusiasts, grew up with racing games for consoles.
He always dreamed of owning a Japanese performance car that was as cool as the ones he drove in the game world, complete with turbo flutter, dump valve sounds and parts from iconic Japanese brands. Years later, he made that dream a reality.
In South Africa, Japanese icons like the Supra, Skyline and RX-7 have always been scarce, although we did see our fair share of S13 Nissan 200SX S13s. In 2017, after extensive searching, Shane found one of the Nissan S14 200SXs that Nissan South Africa had imported in limited numbers. It was a standard version, which was also a big win.
The S14 didn’t stay stock for long. Just three weeks after purchasing it, Shane removed the SR20DET and sold it. The replacement? A low-mileage RB25DET NEO engine. Shane chose this late-model RB25 for its stronger internals, upgraded cylinder head, solid tappets, and top-feed injectors. He initially ran the car with the stock engine while he saved up for major modifications.
The engine received a complete upgrade with a machined head, CP forged pistons, Eagle forged rods, a new crankshaft, race bearings, an N1 billet oil pump, performance camshafts with GReddy adjustable timing gears, a GReddy timing belt and Savage Performance coils for stronger sparks. The bottom end was fully balanced.
Fuel delivery was upgraded with Precision 1,000cc injectors, an AEM fuel pressure regulator, and a billet RPM Racing fuel rail. An RPM billet intake with a 90mm fly-by-wire throttle body completed the cool side package.
Cooling was improved with a custom-built aluminum radiator and a Mishimoto oil cooler.
Major boost comes from a Precision Turbo 62/62 turbocharger mounted to a custom RPM Racing manifold, with an Excell Performance 50mm high-flow external wastegate and dump valve. Exhaust gases exit the exhaust via a screamer pipe and a full stainless steel system terminating in an A’PEXi muffler.
A MaxxECU engine management system provides the ignition commands and produces 419 kW (561 hp) at 0.8 bar (11.7 psi) of boost with pump fuel. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via an R33 GT-R 5-speed transmission and R33 GTS-T differential.
The build sat on hold for almost a year before the new engine. Shane, not a fan of the S14’s pearl white factory paint, had begun prepping the bodywork for a new gloss white finish when Covid hit. He got this far with the primer coats before his project funds dried up.
At the end of 2021, the car was finally painted and entrusted to Mark Jonker of RPM (Race Performance Motorsport), who collected all the engine parts and reassembled the RB25. Shane says he made Mark’s life difficult for a few years, but it paid off and made his childhood dream come true.
With the paint and engine done, it was time for suspension upgrades. Tein adjustable coilovers, Tein strut braces, and a Sikky sway bar were added for improved handling. For improved brakes, Brembo front calipers, EBC rotors, and Yellowstuff brake pads were installed.
Genuine wheels from reputable brands aren’t easy to come by in South Africa, but Shane managed to track down a set of the iconic 18-inch Enkei RPF1s. Despite their wide fit – 9.5 inches at the front and 10.5 inches at the rear – the wheels fit under the fenders without chafing the 265-profile Vitour semi-slicks. Normally I’m not a fan of such a wide fit, but in this case it suits the car well.
The interior remains faithful to the simple Japanese style of the 1990s, but features some key upgrades: a Sparco suede sports steering wheel on an NRG quick-release hub, Cobra Monaco Pro seats with TAKATA Racing four-point harnesses, a MaxxECU 7-inch display in a custom 3D-printed console, and a 3D-printed gear lever.
This 200SX build is the realization of Shane’s childhood dreams, fueled by his passion for cars and the culture surrounding them. Every ride, every look at the S14 brings an instant smile to his face. That’s what it’s all about.
Stefan Kotze
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