---
title: "Finally—A Nissan 180SX-Based Mitsuoka Le-Seyde Is For Sale in the US"
description: "Think of it as a classy drift missile. Well, kinda."
date: "2020-06-23"
modified: "2020-06-23"
authors:
  - name: "James Gilboy"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/james-gilboy"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/34283/finally-a-nissan-180sx-based-mitsuoka-le-seyde-is-for-sale-in-the-us"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Nissan News"
tags:
  - "Nissan"
  - "vintage"
---

# Finally—A Nissan 180SX-Based Mitsuoka Le-Seyde Is For Sale in the US

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/06/1991_nissan_240sx-pic-5693499900383256993-1024x768-1.jpeg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Bubble Economy-era Japan was, as Graham Chapman's King Arthur might have said, *a silly place*. It was an age of [mid-engined "kei" city cars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/31871/use-your-tax-return-to-buy-this-astoundingly-cheap-honda-beat-for-4500>), [sleeper Mitsubishi minivans](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/30213/the-1995-mitsubishi-chariot-resort-runner-gt-is-the-lancer-evo-minivan-of-your-dreams>), and neoclassic Nissans like the Figaro, Pao, and S-Cargo. But not all the looks-old-drives-new Nissans of the day were the work of Nissan itself. Some were the product of Japanese coachbuilder Mitsuoka which—following in the footsteps of [Zimmer](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34148/the-four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse-are-these-cars-headed-to-the-same-mecum-auction>)—turned hundreds of Fords and Nissans into two varieties of Brass Era-inspired neoclassics, one example of which has just come up for sale in the United States.

Named the Dore and Le-Seyde, these monstrosities (or marvels, take your pick) were based on the [Fox Body Ford Mustang](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34237/ever-seen-a-75000-ford-mustang-fox-body>) in the case of the convertible Dore, and for the hardtop Le-Seyde, the Nissan S-chassis. Nissan only ever sold the S-chassis in its naturally aspirated 240SX form here in America, though overseas, it was available with many more engine options, including the 1.8-liter, naturally aspirated CA18DE engine seen under the hood of this Le-Seyde.

![message-editor%2F1592928737386-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-8496691403721737374-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928737386-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-8496691403721737374-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928749808-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-6204950655699087364-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928749808-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-6204950655699087364-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928759426-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-7183418653501625387-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928759426-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-7183418653501625387-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928727974-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-5288888006988410050-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928727974-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-5288888006988410050-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

Its gentle 131 horsepower and 117 pound-feet of torque travel through a four-speed automatic and down a driveshaft longer than the Moffat Tunnel to the rear axle, where they presumably struggle to move the lengthened, heavier Nissan. Being built in a right-hand-drive market, this Mitsuoka is driven from the right side, and steered with a wheel badged AMG—yes, *that* AMG. Mitsuoka built all 500 Le-Seydes years before [AMG and Mercedes-Benz](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34185/2021-mercedes-amg-e63-s-gets-the-amg-gt-face-and-it-looks-awesome>) formally partnered up.

![message-editor%2F1592928822655-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-9157356017039005170-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928822655-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-9157356017039005170-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928816143-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-8541606270905975247-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928816143-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-8541606270905975247-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928804937-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-8112200899636299051-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928804937-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-8112200899636299051-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928810522-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-8451142577729819502-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928810522-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-8451142577729819502-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

![message-editor%2F1592928798580-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-5833998303929171370-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928798580-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-5833998303929171370-1024x768.jpeg>)
*Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus*

Cars as quaint as this are at the top of almost no-one's JDM import wishlist, yet against all odds, one found its way to Ohio of all places, where it is listed for sale at $17,999. A photo of its odometer in [its listing on CarGurus](<https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-Nissan-240SX-d234#listing=270225120>) reads 47,442 which, being in kilometers, equates to under 30,000 miles. Considering that [low-mileage Nissan S-chassis these days sometimes wear price tags in the low six figures](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/14128/chasing-the-truth-behind-the-100000-676-mile-1997-nissan-240sx-blowing-up-the-internet>), that makes this Mitsuoka a bargain—provided you don't mind its lack of power, galactic wheelbase, and face only Jay Gatsby could love.

![message-editor%2F1592928701585-1991\_nissan\_240sx-pic-6440122634504684626-1024x768.jpeg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content-b/message-editor/1592928701585-1991_nissan_240sx-pic-6440122634504684626-1024x768.jpeg>)
**Cincinnati Automotive Group via CarGurus**

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## Author
James is a former staff writer for The Drive. He has changed the conversation around electrification, debunked misinformation online, and become a prominent hunter of what he calls "automotive cryptids."

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/jamesgilboy>)