This isn’t the first time we’ve checked out Kathryn Tanaka’s Nissan RPS13, in fact this is the third time and it’s definitely a charm. Over the years Kathryn has taken her S13 to new heights making it better each time and a fresh coat of paint was just what it needed after all the abuse it had taken from actually being swung sideways. As a refresher, Tanaka’s S13 first got a revamp with a Kouki 180 Type-X front bumper, front lip and side skirts. Carbon fiber goodies are scattered throughout tastefully in the form of APR’s Formula GT3 mirrors, GTC-200 adjustable wing and Seibon’s DV II Style carbon fiber hood. Lighting upgrades were also a necessary for night-time drift events so Kat opted for Kazama clear side markers, HIDs and Hella’s H4 conversion head light housing. Kat’s newest layer of paint comes from none other than Nissan’s biggest brother, the R35 GT-R’s Titanium Metallic.
Stepping into the cabin of the S13 it’s easy to tell that the car is set up to go drifting. Most of the stock interior has been tossed out for lightweight race-ready improvements. A Bride seat rail buckles in a Recaro SPG seat while Kat navigates the S13 through a 360 Nardi Classic Sport Type A steering wheel. Gauges are plentiful from HKS’ RS DB line monitoring boost, temperature, pressure and EGT. In the center console is Project mU’s titanium shift knob which complements the Project mU pedal set.
Under the hood is when things get fun with an S13 SR20DET Red Top that has received plenty of go-fast goods. Megan Racing is attributed for a bulk of the exhaust upgrades with their stainless steel turbo exhaust manifold, down pipe, turbo outlet and cat-back exhaust system. A GReddy M-Spec front mount intercooler looks perfectly at home behind the Type-X front bumper while accessories in the engine bay include an ARC Titanium hood panel and cooling plate.
Drivetrain and suspension mods are crucial for any drift car and this S13 is prepped for all situations. ACT comes into play with their Heavy Duty clutch kit and Streetlite flywheel. Kaaz’s 2-way LSD is just what the doctor ordered to keep the car going where it needs to go. As for suspension, it’ll be tough to find even one stock component on this S13. Kazama’s tie rods and tie rod ends are only the beginning, with TEIN’s Super Drift coilovers taking center stage. Cusco’s front and rear upper strut bars tighten up the chassis while Tanabe’s Sustec front and rear sway bars keeps steering predictable and consistent.
Lastly, the newest addition to the S13 for Kathryn is a set of 17×9/17×9.5 Volk Racing TE-37s in a bronze finish. The perfect finishing touch to this popular Japanese vehicle is a classic, and arguably most notorious wheel from Japan. JBT brakes in a bright red caliper finish can be seen peering in between the six-spoke design.
We imagine we might have to visit Kat’s car yet again once her next wave of upgrades comes, but for now she seems content with her S13. We can’t argue, it’s got to be a blast to drive and drift!
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