Every Nissan with Pop-up Lights: the Hidden Icons You Can Still Afford Today
By David Miller
Before the Silvia became an international drifting icon, the fourth-generation Nissan Silvia S12 carried Nissan’s rear-wheel-drive sport coupe mantle from 1983 through 1988. Sold in North America as the Nissan 200SX, the S12 featured full pop-up headlights that sat completely flush with the hoodline when closed.
The S12 came in both notchback coupe and liftback body styles. Buyers could configure the car with a range of engines, including the CA20E, the turbocharged CA18ET, and even the 3.0-liter VG30E V6 in the rare 200SX SE model. Rust issues and aggressive competition from the Toyota Celica sent thousands of S12s to scrap yards, making clean survivor examples exceedingly rare today, yet transaction prices rarely exceed $7,500.
Nissan pushed mechanical eccentricity even further with the N13-generation Nissan Pulsar NX (sold internationally as the Nissan EXA from 1986 to 1990). Penned at Nissan Design International in San Diego, California, the car featured flush pop-up headlights, removable T-top roof glass, and an interchangeable rear hatch.
Owners could unbolt the standard coupe hatch and bolt on the Nissan EXA Canopy, transforming the compact two-door into a miniature shooting brake. Finding an unmolested Pulsar NX today requires patience, but running cars often trade between $4,500 and $7,000, representing one of the quirkiest affordable 90s sports cars on the second-hand market.
David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.
