Awesome Cars That Put Nissan on the Map
When Masujiro Hashimoto, Yoshisuke Aikawa, and Rokuro Aoyama merged their independent companies to establish the Nissan car manufacturing company, little did they know the profound impact this collaboration would have on the global auto industry. Fast forward nine decades and Nissan is one of the largest and most renowned car brands, with a priceless car collection that dates back to 1933.
Here are the 10 most unique and memorable cars that Nissan has ever produced.
1933 Datsun 12 Phaeton
1. 1933 Datsun 12 Phaeton
The Datsun 12 Phaeton was Nissan’s first-ever car. Spotting a 722cc engine, the nifty little four-seater convertible with a cloth top was restored in the 1950s from disrepair and now holds a value of about 20 million yen or nearly $200,000.
1935 Datsun 14 Pickup
2. 1935 Datsun 14 Pickup
In 1935, Nissan ventured into utility vehicles with the Datsun 14 Pickup. It was manufactured at Nissan’s Yokohama plant during Japan’s first vehicle mass production. As the oldest commercial vehicle in the Nissan Heritage Collection, the Datsun was advanced for its time, featuring an engine with aluminium piston, duralumin connecting rods, and a crankshaft using ball bearings.
1938 Nissan Model 70 Sedan
3. 1938 Nissan Model 70 Sedan
In the late 1930s, Nissan aimed to produce a larger passenger car akin to the popular Ford and Chevrolet vehicles in the U.S. This resulted in the 70 sedan that featured a straight-six-cylinder engine, 85 horsepower, and a top speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
1947 Tama Electric
4. 1947 Tama Electric
The 1947 Tama was Nissan’s first electric vehicle In 1947. Constructed of wood and covered in steel skin, the little EV had a driving range of 96 kilometres and a maximum speed of 35 km/hr. Until 1951, it served as a taxi in Japan, identified by the model code name E4S-47 I, where E signifies electric, 4S indicates 4-seater sedan, 47 denotes the year, and I stands for the initial type.
1953 Austin A40
5. 1953 Austin A40
Austin A40 resulted from Nissan’s partnership with the Austin Motor Company. This partnership aimed to revive Japan’s manufacturing industry after WWII, with Austin’s expertise in small-size vehicles playing a key role. The first outcome was the Austin A40 Somerset Saloon, produced at the Yokohama factory in April 1953. This collaboration ended in 1959.
1954 Prince
6. 1954 Prince
The 1954 Prince, pre-merger with Nissan, paved the way for the iconic Skyline series. Named “Prince” to honour former Japanese emperor Akihito’s ascension to Crown Prince, the luxury car was particularly valuable as Prince Akihito personally drove it. The Prince name served as the company and brand name until the 1966 Nissan-Prince Motor Co. merger.
1969 Skyline 2000GT-R
7. 1969 Skyline 2000GT-R
The late 1960s witnessed Nissan’s entry into the performance car scene with the Skyline 2000GT-R. Sporting a 2.0-litre inline-six engine, it became an instant classic, invincible at domestic touring car races. The model transitioned from a four-door sedan to a two-door hardtop in the fall of 1970.
1969 Fairlady Z
8. 1969 Fairlady Z
The Fairlady Z entered production in late 1969 as a 1970 model, with distinctive features such as an L20 2.0-liter straight-six SOHC engine, rear-wheel drive, and a sleek coupe body. Cited as the most valuable Z in the world, the Fairlady, also known as the Datsun 240Z, unequivocally established Japanese automakers in foreign markets.
1991 Infiniti Q45
9. 1991 Infiniti Q45
The 1991 Infiniti Q45 sought to redefine the modern luxury sedan in a bold move that established Infiniti as a serious player in the premium automotive segment. This particular 1991 model featured a newly engineered 4.5-litre V8 DOHC engine, producing around 205.94kW and weighing 1,780 kilograms.
2010 Nissan Leaf
10. 2010 Nissan Leaf
Nissan took a groundbreaking step into electric mobility with the Nissan Leaf. It became the company’s first mass-produced all-electric car, powered by a 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and high-output electric motor offering a driving range of up to 200 kilometres. Over the years, advancements have led to the 2024 Nissan Leaf, featuring either a standard 40-kilowatt-hour battery providing 240 kilometres of range or an available 60-kilowatt-hour battery with an extended range of up to 342 kilometres.
