The is a large automobile produced by Nissan from 1960 to 2015. It was developed to provide upscale transportation, competing with the Prince Skyline and Gloria which were later merged into the Nissan family. In later years, the Nissan Skyline was positioned as a sports sedan/coupe, whereas the Nissan Gloria was turned into a sporty version of the Cedric (with identical styling but using a different radiator grille and front & rear light clusters).
In Japan, the Cedric/Gloria series was affectionately called CedGlo, and this long-running series finally came to an end in October 2004, replaced by the Nissan Fuga. The Cedric name is still in use, on the Y31 series fleet vehicle traditionally used as a taxi, where it competes with the Toyota Comfort, and is still in production. Throughout the many versions of the Cedric, it was always considered to be the prime competitor to the Toyota Crown. The hood ornament was inspired by the diamond pattern used by Lincoln but was changed to two right angles set next to each other.
The Cedric name was inspired by the main character, Cedric, in Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel Little Lord Fauntleroy by the Nissan CEO at the time Katsuji Kawamata.
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First generation (30/31; 1960)
The first Cedric was the "30" series, introduced in March 1960 and produced through 1962. It was available only at Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Cedric Store. It was the first product labeled as a Nissan, but shared mechanicals with Datsun products built at the time.
Several models were available, including the Cedric 1500 DeLuxe and Standard (30), Cedric 1900 Deluxe (D30, powered by the 1.9 L Nissan H engine), Cedric 1900 Custom (G30, also powered by the Nissan H engine), Cedric Van (V30, six-seater) and the Cedric Wagon (WP30, eight-seater). Only the Cedric Standard used a 1.5 L (1,488 cc) G-series straight-four engine which produced . The 1.9 L (1,883 cc) H-series with was optional. A four-speed manual transmission with the top three gears synchronized was standard, with a three-speed manual fitted to 1900 versions. All four-cylinder engines were shared with the redesigned Nissan Junior and Nissan Caball.
The Cedric replaced the Austin A50 Nissan was building under license from Austin Motor Company of England, which was called the Nissan Austin, and also benefited from earlier vehicles built by Nissan, called the Datsun DB Series. The six-seater Cedric introduced Nissan's first monocoque body and a wrap-around windshield. The first Cedric featured two stacked headlights on either side of a large grille (inspired by a late 1950s commuter train from Japan, the Tobu JNR 151). The taillights were the same as the Datsun Bluebird 312 and was considered a six-seater. April 1962 saw the introduction of a station wagon–van, able to seat eight people. The twin-stacked headlight approach, which first appeared on large North American and European vehicles in the late 1950s, was a novel approach to suggest size and luxurious accommodations, and was also used on the 1961 Isuzu Bellel.
H31 Series
The "H31" series was produced from 1962 until 1965. The models from the 30 series carried over to the 31 series with the addition of a few new models, including the Cedric 1900 Standard (G31S) and a 2.0 L four-cylinder SD20 diesel (QGS31) from June 1964. The diesel engine was supplied by recently acquired Minsei Diesel Industries, Ltd, which had been renamed Nissan Diesel Motor Co. in 1960. Also new was a three-speed automatic transmission, sourced from Borg Warner, offered from July 1964. The new front with its horizontally mounted quad headlights shows a resemblance to the 1956 Rambler and Fiat 2300 limousine, which made the car longer. In 1965, the pressed-steel tappet cover (valve cover) was replaced with an alloy version (same as the CSP311 Silvia). The taillights were smaller and resembled MG units. All models were equipped with white wall tires. The Cedric was updated again in 1964 with a new dashboard, an alternator rather than a generator, and a new starter system. The Cedric 1500 Standard, first introduced in October 1962, was dropped after 1964. The last change was the adoption of a new grille for the 1965 model year.
This generation was imported to the United States around 1963 and 1965. Unlike other cars sold by Nissan before their global rebranding, which were sold as Datsuns in North America, the Cedric was sold as a Nissan. It did not sell well and only a handful are known to exist in the United States.
Cedric Special H50
The Cedric Special was produced between 1963 and 1965 as competition to the Toyota Crown, Isuzu Bellel, Mitsubishi Debonair and Prince Gloria. The Cedric Custom was used as a torch carrier for the 1964 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo in October 1964.
This was a long-wheelbase version of the H31 series Cedric Custom, lengthened to fit the 2.8-litre K-Series straight-six engine (an H engine with two extra cylinders). The grille is different from the one on the 31 series; it features a badge that said "Cedric Special", and the Cedric Star emblem. The side badges said "Cedric" and "Special". On the trunk lid (on the left side) is a "2800" badge, on the right side is a "Cedric Special" badge. The gold trim pieces on the hood were longer, and there was wheel arch and sill trim that was unique to the Cedric Special. The front bumper design is also different, with a raised section in the middle above the license plate. Due to the larger 2.8 L engine used in the Cedric Special, Japanese buyers are liable for a higher annual road tax which added to its exclusivity.
The interior was slightly more luxurious than the Custom. The only component that was identical to the Custom were the tail lights. The Mark I Special was produced in 1963, and was replaced by the Mark II in 1964. The Mark II was mostly the same as the Mark I except for a redesigned dashboard, new grille design (gold Cedric Star emblem and separate gold letters spelling "Special"), and rectangular reflectors below the tail lights (replacing the round reflectors used on the Mark I). An automatic transmission, the Borg-Warner 35, became available starting with the Mark II. The Mark II was produced in 1963 and 1964, and was replaced by the Mark III Special in 1964. The Mark III featured a new grille and tail lights from the 1965 31 Series Cedric. The Mark III Cedric Special was replaced by the Nissan President in 1965.
Second generation (130; 1965)
Produced from 1965 through 1971, the P130 Cedric had Pininfarina bodywork and several new engine options on an all-new dedicated platform. Nissan's first OHC engine, the L20, was introduced in this generation Cedric. The modernized appearance was influenced by other Japanese luxury sedans of the period that introduced sleek, squared, and angular sedans, like the 1962 Toyota Crown and the 1964 Mitsubishi Debonair. Its appearance was not shared with the executive limousine flagship Nissan President and this generation of Cedric were both available at "Nissan Stores".
In August 1966, Nissan Motor Company and Prince Motor Company merged. Starting in 1967, the Cedric was sold in various export markets, as the Datsun 2000/2300/2400 rather than "Nissan Cedric".
There were three body styles available: a four-door sedan, five-door station wagon (Wagon Six from 1967, WP130, later WH130) and a five-door van (Van Six from 1968, also as Van Deluxe Six for 1970, VP130, later VH130)
Trim levels offered were the four-cylinder 130 (later called Standard) for 1966–1967, as 130S for 1968–1970. The Deluxe Six (P130, 1967.5-1970), Custom Six (P130D, dropped after 1966, reintroduced in 1970 as H130V), Standard (later called Personal Six, P130S, G130S), Personal Deluxe Six (G130Q, H130Q, replaced Personal Six for 1970), Standard Diesel (later called Diesel, Q130), and Special Six (also called Super Six, H130 for 1966–1967, G130 for 1969–1970, G130V for 1968 Super Six). In 1967, there were 68 model variations of the Cedric.
Unique to this generation, Nissan produced a police car fitted with the Y40 V8 engine; this was the only time Nissan installed a V8 engine in the Cedric.
Engines: 1966–1971 2.0 L (1,983 cc) H20 OHV I4, (4 Cylinder/Standard) 1966–1968 2.0 L (1,973 cc) J20 OHV I6, (Deluxe, P130D Custom, P130S Personal Six, WP130 Wagon and Van) 1966–1968 2.0 L (1,998 cc) L20 OHC twin-carb I6, (H130 Special Six and H130 Super Six) 1969 2.3 L (2,263 cc) L23 OHC I6, (1969 G130S Special Six, 1969 "G130S Personal Six" and 1969 G130V Super Six) 1970–1971 2.0 L (1,998 cc) L20A OHC I6, (H130V Custom, H130Q Personal Deluxe Six, WH130 Wagon, and Van) 1970–1971 2.4 L (2,393 cc) L24 OHC I6, (G130Q Personal Deluxe, G130 Special Six, and G130 Super Six) 1965–1971 2.2 L (1,991 cc) SD20 OHV Diesel I4, (Diesel)
This was the first Cedric that was available in versions no longer regarded as compact sedans under Japanese vehicle classification regulations, since the engines' displacement exceeded two litres.
Third generation (230; 1971)
The 230 series was released in 1971 and was produced through 1975. The Cedric was now being built at the Tochigi factory location. The suspension configuration remained the same type as used in the second generation. Front disc brakes were added to the standard equipment list for some versions. The Cedric name was dropped for most export markets, with the car now called the Datsun 200C, 220C, 240C, or 260C. In many European markets this car was only available with the diesel engine, aiming in particular at the taxi market..It wasn't hugely successful: In the first six months of 1973, the 220C sold 22 examples in Sweden, compared to 1,543 for the 30% more expensive Mercedes 220D. The Cedric was exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealership network called Nissan Store as the private ownership luxury sedan to the shorter Nissan Laurel, while the Nissan Gloria, manufactured by the Prince Motor Company, was exclusive to Nissan Prince Store locations after the merger with Nissan, with the Nissan Skyline serving as the junior sedan and coupe to the Gloria.
The 230 series was offered in four-door sedan and wagon, and saw the introduction of a two-door coupé. The coupé "personal luxury car" was introduced as a result of the 1970 Toyota Crown hardtop coupé.
In August 1972, a four-door hardtop sedan, with no B-pillar between the front and rear passenger side windows, was added to the options list. This generation introduced a new appearance, called "coke bottle," which began to appear internationally during the 1960s and 1970s. The four-door hardtop had a standard interior dome light and a secondary fluorescent lamp that extended from the front to rear passenger seats, attached to the ceiling for ambient purposes. The 2.4-litre engine was replaced with a larger 2.6-litre version to conform to emission regulations enacted in April 1973 without losing performance. Vehicles installed with Nissan's new emission control technology, including fuel-injected models, could be identified by a NAPS badge on the trunk lid. In South Africa, the car was sold as the Datsun 260C with a version of the L26 engine; this engine (still of 2.6 liters) was upgraded to produce in late 1975 when the car was somewhat confusingly renamed the Datsun 300C. The four-door sedan and two-door hardtop were available, and the interior was renewed along with the upgrade.
The trim levels offered were the 2600 GL, the 2600 Custom Deluxe, and the Deluxe.
Engines: 2.0 L (1982 cc) H20 OHV I4 – , 140 km/h 2.0 L (1998 cc) L20A OHC I6 – , 165 km/h twin-SU carb version (GX): , 170 km/hNissan Cedric 230 catalog, Nissan Motor Company 1973. 2.4 L (2393 cc) L24 OHC I6 (1971–1972) 2.6 L (2565 cc) L26 OHC I6 (1972–1975) – Diesel: 2.0 L (1991 cc) SD20 OHV diesel I4 2.2 L (2164 cc) SD22 OHV diesel I4 – , 125 km/h, 0–100 km/h (62 mph) in 28 sec
Fourth generation (330; 1975)