To find the original foundations of Nissan, we need to rewind the clock back a staggering 114 years to a time when, over in Europe and the US, brands like Daimler, Benz and Chevrolet were commencing production on their own passenger cars for the masses. After multiple years of mergers and fresh faces joining the marque, 1934 would see the first use of the official Nissan Motor Company Ltd name, commencing decades of models that would change motoring forever. From the sporty to the race-ready, weird to utterly wonderful, we took a deep-dive into the archives to bring you some oddities you may have never seen before!
1986 Nissan EXA 'Canopy'
We start our journey deep into the era where Nissan were arguably at their most experimental, eager to bring unique cars to drivers longing for the durability and usability they’d come to expect from a brand like Nissan. The Pulsar, or EXA, was a prime example of their love of quirk. With its third-generation form released in 1986, the Canopy variant stunned the world with a removable rear hatch, allowing for a canopy roof to be revealed and altering the look of the car entirely. Not finished with their out-the-box thinking, Nissan also offered the Canopy with a removable T-Top roof, changing the overall look once more. From grocery-getter to a slick open-top sporty coupe, while this unique design didn’t catch on as a staple in Nissan’s design language, it gave owners the opportunity to adapt their EXA to their desires, and has since become something of a cult car among enthusiasts!
1987 Nissan Cedric Twincam Turbo Gran Turismo SV
From quirky rooflines to long-named executive saloons. Sticking with the 1980s theme, the seventh-generation Cedric continued a long tradition within Nissan, offering prospective buyers a chance to travel in complete luxury and style for a faction of the cost of European and American offerings. The Y31 era of Cedric reached its peak with the Gran Turismo, which boasted a quality driving experience all while featuring a sporty front design. Powered by Nissan’s mighty 24-valve V6 engine, the Cedric was Nissan’s first car to use a low-friction turbo charger with a ceramic turbine, paving the way for higher powered models that were likely just around the corner.
Nissan Skylines aplenty!
Think of Nissan, and it’s likely us car-loving folk will immediately be drawn to the Skyline. An icon, not just in the motoring industry, but also in pop culture, the Skyline name evokes freedom, individuality and impressive driving dynamics. It wasn’t always GT-Rs and big turbos, though, as in 1960, back when Prince Motors had not yet merged with Nissan, they exhibited the Michelotti-styled Skyline Sport at the Turin Motor Show. By all accounts, this was the first time a European design house had been involved with styling a Japanese car, and it wore its elegant curves and gentle styling with ease. Causing quite a stir, the car would pave the way for future collaborations between Italian design houses and Japanese car makers, including Ghia with Isuzu, Vignale for Daihatsu and, eventually, Nissan turning to Pininfarina for their wealth of design expertise.
Italian designers aside, the Skyline has remained one of Nissan’s most dependable machines since the late 1950s. Manipulated into a station wagon, police cruiser, four-door family hauler and hopped-up race machine, every Skyline is different in its own way, and remains one of Japan’s most-loved vehicles. For that, we have Shinichiro Sakurai to thank, a pioneering designer and engineer who believed in himself and his team around him to create a model lineage the world would remember for eternity, mostly immediately recognisable by those double circular rear lights!
Nissan Safari
If it’s an adventure you long for, Nissan had you covered in the 1980s with their take on the mighty Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon. The Safari was as tough as old boots, known for its superior off-road capabilities, proven reliability, and strong pedigree.
Now named as the Patrol and still hugely popular within countries such as UAE, finding an original Safari is extremely difficult these days, with examples like this ‘Extra Van High Roof Turbo’ variant near-enough impossible to encounter. Sporting some oh-so-1980s decals and a texture-filled interior, while this SUV may be bursting with charm, it's also guaranteed to never let you down when you call upon it!
Nissan BE-1
We end our tour with one of the cutest cars ever to wear the Nissan logo, the BE-1. Based on the first-generation Nissan Micra, which was introduced in Japan in 1983, Nissan’s design team, along with industrial designer Naoki Sakai and an Italian design studio, submitted proposals for the car’s design. Ultimately, Sakai’s B1 design was chosen, along with the name “Be-1,” marking a departure from traditional Nissan branding. The aim of the BE-1 was to create an entirely new sub-brand, in which a car stood for more than just a mode of transport, but rather an accessory to life, just like that of a piece of clothing or technology.
Taking inspiration from late 1970s aesthetics, the car featured flush front and rear lamps and a sleek overall appearance. It was only available in four distinct and hilariously named colours: Pumpkin Yellow, Hydrangea Blue, Onion White, and Tomato Red, all shades perfectly complemented the car’s retro charm and captured the spirit of the era. While we all likely know of the Figaro, Pao, and S-Cargo, models revered as iconic examples of postmodern design, the BE-1 is now regarded as a sought-after collector’s item, and the pick of the pack out of the four retro-inspired machines!
