Nissan recently celebrated its 80th anniversary by publishing a virtual museum and heritage catalog! These digital galleries chronicle the brand's evolution over eight decades and Crown Nissan would like to share some of the most interesting parts with you. See below to check out one of Nissan's very first cars, along with other unique vintage models that have been released over the years.


The Gorham-style three-wheeled vehicle (pictured right) was built in 1920 by William R. Gorham. The car could fit up to three passengers and was powered by a motorcycle engine capable of reaching a top speed of 48 km/h.

The Lila Phaeton (pictured left) was a small passenger vehicle developed in 1923. The body was painted a lilac color and the soft top added an extra brightness. The car could seat four and was priced at 1,700 yen.


At the time of the Tama's production (pictured left), oil was a scarce commodity, so the government encouraged car manufacturers to develop electric vehicles. The Tama electric car, which debuted in 1947, excelled in performance tests and was equipped with a 40V lead-acid battery. The car could travel 65 km per charge and was primarily used as a taxi until 1950.

The Datsun truck pictured on the right was produced in 1948; it was an improved version of the 1934 model that had been launched before WWII. While the truck was an improvement compared to its predecessor, its manufacturing reflected hardships caused by having a shortage of materials to work with following the war. As a matter of fact, some parts of the body were composed of wood.


The Prince Skyline sports car (pictured left) debuted in 1962, but it had already achieved fame at the Torino International Motor Show in 1960. The car was styled by a well-known Italian designer named Giovanni Michelotti, and on top of offering great looks, it could travel a max speed of 150 km/h and was equipped with a GB4 engine.

The Datsun Bluebird 1600SSS Coupe (pictured right) was produced in 1967. The third-generation 4-door model had launched a couple years earlier and when the coupe debuted it was also a hit. The 2-door was actually entered in the 1970 Safari Rally and crowned the overall winner.


Crown Nissan is excited to see what will develop over the next 80 years. Many Nissan models have graced our lot and we've had the pleasure of experiencing all the new advancements that each had to offer. With a commitment to sustainability, accessibility and innovation, there is no doubt that Nissan will continue to deliver some of the most sought after and technologically superior cars available for decades to come.

To see more of Nissan's classic cars, check out the Heritage Collection here.

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