Nissan is the 2nd largest car company in Japan, and has the most popular car model...the Cube. Now having the most popular car model in Japan doesn't mean as much as it does in the US, or in someplace like Korea, where there aren't nearly so MANY car models to choose from. But there are worse things to have, you know?

For a few years in the late 80s and early 90s, Nissan released a series of sort of retro-looking vehicles based on the March.

This is one of them. I kind of think VW Thing/Kubelwagen when I see it, but wasn't there also a Citroen that looked kinda like this?


This is actually the second of the three to be released.

Now I thought this thing was cool, but the other two are better. Well, this is maybe the most practical of the three.

By FAR the prettiest of this lot. God damn this is a gorgeous car.

It's like those Chevron cars from Aardman animation. Can't you just picture it with Wallace-style buck teeth? It's based on the March, BTW.


What's up with the roof? Well, it's retractable. That must be what that trunk-lid like flap is for.

I don't really want to pry, but damn that interior is just so pleasant looking.

Unfortunately, I see no rear differential. This car has no testicles, I'm afraid.


They only made the Figaro in 1991, and only 20000 of them. Nissan held a lottery to decide who would have the opportunity to buy them.


Sweeet...I hate that it's not RWD, but in a car this small, does it really matter that much?

I'm not sure what this is supposed to be reminiscent of. I guess it's sort of a retro-future thing. Though this car is from the late 80s, that color is DEFINITELY 70s.

This was a 1984 concept released in 1987, based on the March.

I'm pretty sure the US got this truck, it's just so rare, and so cool. And in such awesome shape. I had to take it's picture.

Same AWD system as the Skyline. Just so you know. The name isn't quite as spectacular as the Mitsubishi Chariot Grandio Super Exceed, but it's close.

Like the Daihatsu Mira Gino, and the Subaru Vivio Bistro, Nissan had to have it's Euro-fied small car. Not kei, like the others, but still small, it's based on the Nissan March.

See that van? Even if you didn't, you'd fucking hear it. I still almost have trouble believing how campaigns are run in Japan. I suppose it does get the word out. That's something about Japan, I guess. Society seems to be much flatter and more accessible than the US.

Anyhow, that's a Nissan Caravan toting those loudspeakers. It doesn't seem to be as popular as the Toyota Hiace, though.

Same as the US Maxima.

This is the most popular car in Japan. Top Gear seemed to like it, too. With the success of the Scion xB (Toyota bB), I'm surprised it's not out in the US yet.




Notice how it is not symmetrical. I would not be surprised if crash performance were the reason it is not out in the US yet. Converting it to left-hand drive while maintaining the same crashworthiness would be a challenge.

Here's the earlier model. It's not quite as cubic as the new one.

This is the basis of the Infiniti M45.

This is a slightly newer model. Still huge.

I suppose asking why Nissan makes both the Laurel and the Gloria would be kind of like asking why Ford made both the Grand Marquis and the Crown Victoria. At least Nissan only axed one. (The Laurel, in 2002.)

The Laurel started out in the 70s looking like an American muscle car. Seriously. But an American muscle car with a 2 liter engine
?

This is one of Nissan's cheaper and more popular models. There are some nifty features available. It gets good fuel economy, but not quite Kei good. 1.2 liter engines in the current model, 1.0 before.

Nissan's competitor to the Land Cruiser. They're supposed to be pretty capable, and I'll bet a good number of third-world militaries are cruising around in these things, but honestly, it doesn't even come CLOSE to the success of the Toyota Land Cruiser. Or the Mitsubishi Pajero. I only saw two of these my whole time in Japan.

The Presea appears to be in the same range as the Altima or perhaps the Maxima, but is not present in the US. The US-built Altima seems to be Nissan's US equivalent, but the two cars are not the same. (The Altima is based on the Bluebird.)

Note the Pulsar-NX-like headlights.


Like Toyota, Nissan has had too damn many redundant models. But hey, it's working pretty well for them I guess. Or actually, during the time this car was made, it wasn't, was it?

The domestic competition is probably the Toyota Century, and maybe to a lesser extent the Crown. The foreign competition, probably the BMW 7 series, or the Mercedes S-class.

According to Wikipedia, the Primera was designed with Europe in mind, and is manufactured both there and in Japan.

The 2nd generation Primera (these are first generation) were sold in the US as the Infiniti G20.

The first time I really noticed that cars in Japan were different was when I saw a Nissan Rasheen. I find it really surprising that it was never sold in the US, as with it's looks and in 4wd trim, it could easily have cashed in on the SUV fad. (And yes, that is what it was...and it is over.) Anyone considering a Subaru Forester would have given this at least a look. It was made from 1994-2000, and was probably on the way out before Nissan realized what was up in the US, though.

This "Forza" model (WTF...) differs from standard Rasheens in that it comes with AWD and a 2.0 liter engine standard. Normally it would have a 1.5 or 1.8 liter, and AWD would be optional. Also the headlights are circular, and the rear end is less squared.

Toyota Fielder, Honda Oddysey, Mitsubishi Chariot, meet the Nissan Wingroad.

Nissan Sentra.

JDM fo lyfe yo.

180SX? Silvia RPS-13? I'm not sure. Same platform, but I don't know what the hell this variant is. I know it doesn't stand for Ribosomal Protein S13. Well, Google seems to associate it with 180SX, so I'm assuming that's what it is.

Alright, we have a winner.

What the hell is up with those wheels? You could fit your head around the back of those things.

The new Silvia. We don't get it. It is sexy. Even with the dopey-looking spoiler.

Nissan Skyline

Oh, now we get to the good stuff, huh. What any "Gran Turismo" or "Fast and the Furious" fanboy who might be reading this has been looking for.

And we begin the Skyline section with...a station wagon! (That reminds me...why did I take NO pictures of Stageas?)

This is someone's daily driver, which I think is just badass beyond comparison. Love those wheels.


I'm pretty sure this is a 1967 model. And it's a goddamn WAGON. I'm sorry, but this guy wins the cool contest. I should have stuck around to find the owner.

Looking at Yahoo Japan this appears to be a 1983 2.1 RS.

Pardon the poor quality, it's hard to take pictures when you're chasing after a car on foot.

Here are some newer Skylines for you people to masturbate over. Note the 4 door models. Not all Skylines were speed machines.

Either this one is, though, or we have ourselves a genuine Japanese ricer.

New, ugly as hell Skyline. This one the US does get (Infiniti G35). Just though you might want to see the JDM version.

R34 Sedan.

A construction worker inquired what I was doing when I was taking those last two pictures. We talked about cars for a while.

Shall we move onto Mitsubishi?

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