The Nissan Be-1 is a retro-styled two-door notchback sedan manufactured by Nissan for model years 1987-1988, and originally marketed solely in Japan at their Nissan Cherry Stores .
19-585: Designed to be a fashionable city car, the Be-1 was marketed without any Nissan branding, by reservation only, and solely in Japan. Nissan's own design team made a design proposal (A), while industrial designer Naoki Sakai and an unnamed Italian design studio also provided proposals (B1 and B2). Sakai's B1 design was chosen, and with it, the name as well. Because of its origins at the Pike Factory, Nissan's special project group,
38-553: A design proposal (A), while industrial designer Naoki Sakai and an unnamed Italian design studio also provided proposals (B1 and B2). Sakai's B1 design was chosen, and with it, the name as well. Because of its origins at the Pike Factory, Nissan's special project group, the Be-1—;along with the Nissan Figaro , Pao and S-Cargo —are known as Nissan's "Pike cars." It, the Pao, and
57-489: A lottery to acquire a Figaro. Limited edition cars came with passenger side baskets and cup holders . Nissan Be-1 The Nissan Be-1 is a retro-styled two-door notchback sedan manufactured by Nissan for model years 1987-1988, and originally marketed solely in Japan at their Nissan Cherry Stores . Designed to be a fashionable city car, the Be-1 was marketed without any Nissan branding, by reservation only, and solely in Japan. Nissan's own design team made
76-488: A solid panel with a defroster -equipped glass rear window—as seen in other fixed-profile convertibles, including the original 1957 Fiat 500 and the Citroën 2CV . Exterior paint colors represented the four seasons: Topaz Mist (autumn), Emerald Green (spring), Pale Aqua (summer) and Lapis Grey (winter). At first, 8,000 Figaros were manufactured, and then an additional 12,000 to meet demand. Prospective purchasers entered
95-507: A top speed of 106 mph (171 km/h). It also featured front fenders made from thermoplastic resin to reduce weight. The Figaro features a retro style design on both the interior and exterior, taking inspiration from cars of the 1950s as well as from elements of 1930s Art Deco design. Notable retro exterior design elements include the round headlights and taillights, chrome trim, fixed-profile convertible body style, and wheels designed to mimic whitewall tires . Standard equipment on
114-448: Is powered by the 1.0 L (987 cc) carbureted MA10S I4 engine coupled to a choice of a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission . This engine produces 52 PS (38 kW; 51 hp) at 6000 rpm and 75 N⋅m (55 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3600 rpm. The chassis included rack and pinion steering, independent suspension with struts in front, as well as 4-links and coil springs in back. Disc brakes were used in
133-628: The Citroën 2CV , Renault 4 , Mini , and Fiat 500 ". Nissan introduced the Figaro at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show , using "Back to the Future" as its marketing tagline. Based on the first-generation Nissan Micra , the Figaro was manufactured at Aichi Machine Industry , a special projects group that Nissan would later call "Pike Factory", which also produced three other niche vehicles: the Be-1 , Pao , and S-Cargo . Aichi had originally built independent kei cars like
152-662: The Cony 360 until Nissan assumed operations in 1966, and was also the original manufacturing location for the first generation Nissan Sunny . Based on the Nissan March (Micra) platform, the Figaro uses a 1.0-liter (987 cc) turbocharged engine generating 76 PS (56 kW; 75 hp) and 78 lb⋅ft (106 N⋅m) of torque through a three-speed automatic transmission , front MacPherson struts , rear four-link coil spring suspension , rack and pinion steering , and front ventilated disc and rear drum brakes . The Figaro can reach
171-544: The Be-1—along with the Nissan Figaro , Pao and S-Cargo —are known as Nissan's "Pike cars." It, the Pao, and the Figaro are built on the Nissan March 's underpinnings. In 2011, noted design critic Phil Patton, writing for the New York Times , called the Pike cars "the height of postmodernism " and "unabashedly retro, promiscuously combining elements of the Citroën 2CV , Renault 4 , Mini [and] Fiat 500 ." Like
190-469: The Figaro (along with the Nissan Pao , Be-1 , and S-Cargo ) is one of Nissan's "Pike cars," and represented a design strategy that adapted "design and marketing strategies from other industries like personal electronics". In 2011, design critic Phil Patton , writing for the New York Times , called the Pike cars "the height of postmodernism " and "unabashedly retro, promiscuously combining elements of
209-423: The Figaro are built on the Nissan March 's underpinnings. In 2011, noted design critic Phil Patton, writing for the New York Times , called the Pike cars "the height of postmodernism " and "unabashedly retro, promiscuously combining elements of the Citroën 2CV , Renault 4 , Mini [and] Fiat 500 ." Like the later Pao and Figaro, the Be-1 is based on the first generation Nissan Micra chassis. As such, it
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#1732855486104228-562: The March's front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout . When new, it was sold only through Nissan Cherry Stores . A total of 20,073 Figaros were produced by Nissan in the convertible's single year of series production, all with right-hand drive ; at least several thousand have been grey imported to Great Britain and Ireland . There are a few examples of left-hand drive conversions for countries that have right-hand traffic. Because of its origins at Pike Factory, Nissan's special project group,
247-666: The car as a "coupé". 10,000 Be-1s were built in total from 1987-1988, but since demand was so high for the Be-1, buyers were decided through a lottery organized by Nissan. The cars were assembled, partially by hand, by contract manufacturers Takada Kogyo [ ja ] . Takada later also built the Pao and Figaro, as well as some small-series Isuzu and Subaru products. The Be-1 was available in 4 colors: Pumpkin Yellow, Tomato Red, Hydrangea Blue and Onion White. The Pumpkin Yellow Be-1 came with body-colored steel wheels with black hubcaps,
266-560: The car as a "coupé". 10,000 Be-1s were built in total from 1987-1988, but since demand was so high for the Be-1, buyers were decided through a lottery organized by Nissan. The cars were assembled, partially by hand, by contract manufacturers Takada Kogyo [ ja ] . Takada later also built the Pao and Figaro, as well as some small-series Isuzu and Subaru products. The Be-1 was available in 4 colors: Pumpkin Yellow, Tomato Red, Hydrangea Blue and Onion White. The Pumpkin Yellow Be-1 came with body-colored steel wheels with black hubcaps,
285-417: The front and drum brakes were used in the rear. A large, electronically operated canvas roof was offered as an option starting in March, 1987. The interior is very basic and notably features a large, centrally mounted speedometer. Like the original Mini , the Be-1 has a small bootlid (although it opens upwards) and a fixed rear window and is thus a two-door sedan. Nissan themselves has sometimes classified
304-415: The front and drum brakes were used in the rear. A large, electronically operated canvas roof was offered as an option starting in March, 1987. The interior is very basic and notably features a large, centrally mounted speedometer. Like the original Mini , the Be-1 has a small bootlid (although it opens upwards) and a fixed rear window and is thus a two-door sedan. Nissan themselves has sometimes classified
323-488: The interior included ivory leather seats with contrasting piping , air conditioning , CD player , cassette tape player , chrome and Bakelite-style knobs, soft-feel paint on the dashboard top, chrome-trimmed speedometer with smaller inset gauges for fuel and engine temperature, and chrome-trimmed tachometer with inset clock. As a fixed-profile convertible, the upper side elements of the Figaro's bodywork remain fixed while its fabric soft top retracts in conjunction with
342-551: The later Pao and Figaro, the Be-1 is based on the first generation Nissan Micra chassis. As such, it is powered by the 1.0 L (987 cc) carbureted MA10S I4 engine coupled to a choice of a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission . This engine produces 52 PS (38 kW; 51 hp) at 6000 rpm and 75 N⋅m (55 lb⋅ft) of torque at 3600 rpm. The chassis included rack and pinion steering, independent suspension with struts in front, as well as 4-links and coil springs in back. Disc brakes were used in
361-472: The other colors came with white steel wheels with black hubcaps. Nissan Be-1 detail up image collection https://minkara.carview.co.jp/userid/139692/blog/29813815/ Nissan Figaro The Nissan Figaro is a two-door car manufactured by Nissan in 1991 for the Japanese market. Based on the original Nissan March/Micra , the Figaro is a fixed-profile convertible with a 2+2 seating arrangement . It shares
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