RPS13 · RS13
Nissan 180SX S13 import check
RPS13 is the factory model code for the Nissan 180SX S13, built for the Japanese market from 1991 to 1998. Other versions carry RS13. Every genuine car has a chassis (frame) number that starts with its code, such as RPS13-. That number is the one thing that links its Japanese history to its UK records.
RPS13 at a glance
- Model code
- RPS13
- Make
- Nissan
- Model
- 180SX (S13)
- Body
- 3-door hatchback coupe
- Built
- 1991 to 1998
- Engine
- SR20DET (1998 cc turbo petrol)
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Japanese trims
- Type I, Type II, Type III, Type R, Type S, Type X
- Chassis number format
- RPS13-nnnnnn
From our own model library, compiled from public sources and not yet checked against a second source. UK records sometimes drop the hyphen or the leading zeros of the serial; our check allows for that.
Reading the RPS13 chassis code
- RS13 is the early 1.8 CA18 car (1989–1991); RPS13 the 2.0 SR20 car (1991–1998).
| Code | What it is | Engine | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| RPS13 | 180SX (S13) | SR20DET | 1991–1998 |
| RS13 | 1.8 CA18DET | CA18DET | 1989–1991 |
Have a chassis number? The chassis decoder reads it for you.
Is it a genuine RPS13?
The 180SX shares the S13 platform with the Silvia. A "Sileighty" is a 180SX with a Silvia front end, and a "Onevia" the reverse. The chassis code tells you what the car started as.
Known problems to check on an RPS13
- Drift and track use is common: check for crash repairs, seam welding and bent chassis legs or floor
- Rust in the rear arches, sills and strut tops
- Pop-up headlight motors
- Most have been modified: ask for a list of changes, receipts, and whether the insurer has been told
These are common issues for the model, not facts about any particular car. Ask the seller about each one.
Before you buy
- Check the strut tops and front chassis legs from under the bonnet
The RPS13 on a Japanese auction sheet
- The sheet names the car 180SX.
- An R or RA grade means repaired accident damage. Ask for photos of the repair and have the structure checked.
Most imports were bought at a Japanese auction, and the inspector’s sheet records the grade, mileage and every mark on the body. Ask the seller for it, then run it through our auction sheet translator to read it in English and check the chassis number and mileage against the UK record.
Recalls in Japan for the RPS13 family
Japan publishes every recall with the chassis numbers it covers. Run a recall check with the car’s chassis number to see whether any apply to it.
Kilometres, miles and the first UK MOT
An RPS13 sold new in Japan has a speedometer in kilometres. When it is imported, the speedometer is either converted to miles or left in km, and the first UK MOT should record whichever the dial shows. Mistakes here are common, and they’re where mileage problems hide.
We put the Japanese auction mileage and every UK MOT reading on one timeline and check the crossing: whether the readings agree after converting, whether the km figure was written down as miles, and whether the first UK reading is lower than the car had already done in Japan. See an illustrative example.
Questions
What is the chassis code for the Nissan 180SX S13?
RPS13, with RS13 for other engines or drive layouts. A Japanese-market Nissan 180SX S13 has a frame number that starts with its code, then a hyphen and a serial number. You’ll find it on the V5C and on a plate in the engine bay.
Which years was the RPS13 built?
From 1991 to 1998, with the SR20DET (1998 cc turbo petrol) engine and RWD layout.
What should I check when buying an RPS13?
Drift and track use is common: check for crash repairs, seam welding and bent chassis legs or floor. Rust in the rear arches, sills and strut tops. Pop-up headlight motors. Most have been modified: ask for a list of changes, receipts, and whether the insurer has been told. Check the strut tops and front chassis legs from under the bonnet. Also check that the Japanese auction mileage lines up with the first UK MOT, because km and miles are easily mixed up.