Arguably no car inspires masses of tuner enthusiasts and causes young men to go into irrecoverable swoons of adoration quite like the legendary Nissan 240SX. It is not that the Nissan is particularly a powerhouse or that its styling forces comparisons to the great engineering masterpieces of its time. It’s simply the result of what happens when the West’s love affair with Eastern pop culture runs unchecked.
So one can imagine what must have gone through Melissa Gibson’s mind when she laid eyes on a 1995 Nissan 240SX at a local dealership in 2004. It only took one look and, without so much as a test drive, she was signing the purchase papers. The lack of a test drive was no oversight. Gibson didn’t have her license yet. But it wouldn’t stop her from possessing an enviable cult classic.
The intent was to build a showstopping award winner. The reality was much different. The build, as Gibson explains, was pretty random, and she concedes she made several bad decisions along the way that ended up being very costly. Less than a month into the purchase, Melissa outfitted her dream car with new wheels, a new exhaust system and a new front bumper, and had the entire car repainted at Extreme Body and Paint Works. After the paint and body work were complete, a new stereo was installed and a custom-built stereo box was installed.
» Engine: SR20DET 2-liter four-cylinder
» Performance: Turbonetics T3/T4 50 mm turbo, Walbro fuel pump, 550CC fuel injectors, Calum RT ECU, Tein lowering springs, Energy Suspension Hyperflex polyurethane bushings
» Horsepower: 325
» Paint: Custom two-tone — veil white and gold with a black pinstripe
» Wheels: Kyowa Evolve, 18-by-8 (front) and 18-by-9 (rear) with Nexen 235/40 ZR18 (front), Nexen 265/35 ZR18 (rear)
» Interior: two 6 1/2-inch Elemental Designs subwoofers, Soundstream Amp, Prosport gauges
» Exterior: Chargespeed body kit
Smaller accessories were added piecemeal, until a major crossroad was reached: Should Gibson opt for the mother of all tuner modifications, an SR20 engine swap? In 2006, she located the engine, but like a bad kidney transplant, the car just wasn’t accepting the newcomer. After intermittent performance issues, the engine finally refused to start. Shop after shop declined to take on the project, primarily, Gibson says, because the SR20, now a mainstay in the tuner scene, wasn’t a familiar setup to local mechanics.
In 2007, Gibson finally connected with a mechanic brave enough to take apart the SR20. Being a high-horsepower Nissan enthusiast himself, he knew what was needed to get the car moving. Much of the problem was a result of inattention to the transmission. The recommendation was to swap out the automatic, which came equipped on the car, for a manual configuration.
In 2007, Gibson finally connected with a mechanic brave enough to take apart the SR20. Being a high-horsepower Nissan enthusiast himself, he knew what was needed to get the car moving. Much of the problem was a result of inattention to the transmission. The recommendation was to swap out the automatic, which came equipped on the car, for a manual configuration.
“I was terrified because I had never driven a five-speed,” Gibson says. “I even had trouble finding someone who could teach me.
Gibson eventually conquered her fear, and with the five-speed in place, a Calum RT ECU was installed to ensure that brains of the vehicle recognized the new power. Additional changes included bigger injectors, a new fuel pump and a new turbo. After a slight fender bender in 2009, Gibson used the insurance money to purchase a new body kit and had the car repainted white and gold.
This winter, Gibson is exploring the possibility of adding new cams and doing a big brake upgrade.
What do you drive? 1995 Nissan 240SX
Why do you drive it? Because it is my dream car! I have wanted a 240SX for as long as I can remember.
What is your most memorable driving experience? I love driving the 240, so pretty much every time I drive, it is memorable. There is never a dull moment behind the wheel of that car. My favorite times are when the whole car club is traveling to a show together and there are 10 or 15 of us driving down the highway. That’s an amazing feeling and we get tons of attention.
What was the first car you owned? A 1997 Nissan Altima, but I bought that about four years before I had my license. Right after I got my license, I got the 240.
What kind of music are you currently listening to in your car? I have a huge variety of music in the car, mostly mix CDs that I’ve made, but honestly 99 percent of the time I drive with the radio off. I like to listen to the car.
And your first ticket? What was it for? I have never had one.
