Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: home of the last standing Fuddruckers in Canada, a couple of bridges and this 1995 Nissan Silvia. Saskatoon’s car scene often doesn’t get the attention it deserves… or it just gets clumped together with Regina or the rest of the province. However, little do most people know that some of Saskatchewan’s best builds are coming coming from the city that shares its name with a berry.
Case and point: Anthony Philibert’s S14 Silvia. Now, this isn’t the first time Anthony’s car has been on the site. In fact, Anthony’s appearances on our site have existed pretty much as long as DODOlogic. However, the car has never looked as amazing as it does now.
In a land where more and more people are saying “no” to the paint job and “yes” to the vinyl wrap, Anthony’s Kouki S14 is one of the very few (around here at least) that shows off paint’s ability to shine and sets itself apart from the rest. Don’t get me wrong – I love the idea of vinyl and when it’s done right, it’s hard to tell if it’s paint or not. Plus, it makes perfect sense if you’re going to be tracking your car. However, there really is no real replacement for paint when dealing with aesthetics.
Perhaps the biggest shift that came with the latest incarnation of Anthony’s S14 is the ideological shift about wheels. For years, Anthony could be quoted as saying, “Fake wheels are just fine.” And to be fair, the companies that re-appropriate wheel designs are exactly that – just fine. However, you’d be hard pressed to convey quality in a build or otherwise using the mentality of things being “just fine.”
Anthony moved from XXR’s to 18′ inch Work Kiwamis and much like the paint, they couldn’t suit the car any better. Time, coupled with some money and effort, moved this car far from the mentality of “just fine” to something that could be inspirational for many car enthusiasts.
Car builds don’t always have to happen overnight or over a season. Throwing money at a problem won’t always fix them. However, knowing when and where to spend your money will definitely help. I think Anthony’s car is a testament to the idea that a little can go a long way when you know what you’re doing.
Let’s face it, drifting has done a number on the s-chassis population. That’s not meant to be a slight against the drifting community, but more of a fact. It’s nice to see someone take a chassis that is usually thrown around a track and give it some proper TLC.
This car has come a long way, as you can see from this photo that dates back to 2012. All too often in the car scene, we watch cars fall into disrepair and get parted or enthusiasts lose interest in their cars.
What’s makes Anthony’s Silvia so impressive is his commitment to it as a project. It would have been very easy for him to sell this car and move on to another project or leave it behind. Instead, he really stuck the landing and built something that demonstrates just how great the Saskatoon car scene can be.
Engine spec list:
Blacktop sr20
14psi Tune
AEM Intake
Cusco 2-Way LSD
Greddy Oil Filter Relocate Kit
Greddy Oil Cooler
Greddy Front Mount Intercooler Kit
HKS SQV 2 Black BOV
GTR Fuel Pump
Cusco Cooling fan Assy
Cusco Oil Catch Can
Cusco Strut Tower Bar
Braided Steel Turbo Lines
3″ Downpipe
3″ Kakimoto Exhaust
Emanage
Greddy Profec B 2 Boost Controller
Greddy Turbo Timer
Interior/exterior spec list:
DEFI Oil temp, coolant temp, Oil Pressure
DEFI Gauge Controller
Recaro Drivers seat
Grip Royal Black Ed. Wheel
All OEM Metal body
Kouki front end conversion
Kouki Grill
Kouki OEM Tail Lights
Antenna shaved
M-Sport full kit
Black housing front lamps
Wheels/suspension spec list:
18×9.5 – 10.5 +15 Work Kiwamis
GTR front brakes
Braided Steel Brake Lines
ABS Delete
PBM Bolt On Spacer kit
Ohlin Carrozeria Coilovers
Nismo Front Control arms
Nismo Front Tie rods
Nismo Front Sway bar
Nismo Front Tension rods
Nismo Rear Toe rods
Nismo Rear Camber arms
Nismo Rear Traction rods
Nismo Rear Lower arms
Anastase and myself sort of tag-teamed the shoot and he put together a video of Anthony’s car. Take a look below: