Nissan was responsible for a big turning point in the history of car making. Once upon a time, most cars in Japan were from other countries. But thanks to Nissan and other Japanese manufacturers, they started dominated the global market in the mid-20th century. And here are the greatest cars they ever made.
1969 Nissan Skyline GT-R
The first Nissan Skyline GT-R was only released in Japan at the end of the 1960s. But it’s not hard to see why it became one of the most popular cars Nissan has ever made the world over. It’s the car that first gave Nissan its reputation for producing cars that are a real pleasure to drive.
And we haven’t even mentioned how it looks yet. It was originally released as a 4-door sedan but eventually became the 2-door coupe we all know and love. It’s a beautiful model, and many people would argue that, in terms of design, it’s a car that Nissan have never managed to surpass. And I might just agree with them.
Nissan/Datsun 240Z
This was a combined Nissan and Datsun release, but it’s certainly one of the best cars Nissan have ever produced. It was the first car of theirs to instantly break out onto the world stage and sell in huge numbers in Japan, Europe and America. And it sold in such good numbers for a reason.
The 240Z combined three unbeatable features and strengths. First of all it was imbued with a distinctly European style that was in fashion at that time and appealed to a lot of people. But, secondly, it offered the reliability and manageability associated with Japanese cars. And, last but not least, it was sold at very affordable prices.
1989 Nissan 240SX
There are two huge things that the 240SX has to boast about, and they’re why it’s on this list. Those two factors are the car’s handling and its style. So, let’s start with the handling. This car takes corners like no other. You have to experience it to truly understand it, but believe me, it’s impressive.
The car’s style is much better known to people than its handling abilities. But let’s not understate what a superbly designed car it really is. The car was unleashed in the late 1980s, and it’s definitely a car of its time, but it still looks great, possessing a classic feel today.
Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is the car that really switched the focus of the motoring world to electric powered cars. There aren’t many cars that have managed to do that before or since. Before the Leaf was released, the idea of electric cars was still seen as a bit of an unrealistic goal, but Nissan made the dream real for the first time.
The first major benefit of driving a Leaf is that they’re so inexpensive to run. There’s no fuel expenses at all, so you’ll save a lot of money. They’re also great fun to drive. Using electric instead of fuel means that the car is incredibly smooth and almost silent when in motion.
Nissan is a car manufacturer with a track record of innovation that stretches back more than 40 years. We can only hope they continue to do the same in the future!