Nissan Junior
| Nissan Junior | |
|---|---|
| Production period: | 1956-1982 |
| Class : | Utilities |
| Body versions : | Flatbed trucks , panel vans , minibuses |
In 1953, Nissan and Austin Motors signed a technology cooperation agreement. The result of this agreement was the marketing of the Austin A40 as the Nissan A40 in Japan and the production of the Austin A50 under license as the Nissan A50 . In addition, Nissan was allowed to use the Austin engines and chassis technology of these models for its own vehicles. 1956 then appeared the Nissan Junior , a pickup and station wagon that was equipped with the Austin engine of the A50. In 1957, the vans Nissan Junior Caball based on the Junior. After the contract ended in the late 1950s, Nissan used its own engines that were developed from the original Austin engine as a template. In the 1960s, Nissan cooperated with the manufacturer Prince Jidōsha Kōgyō and finally took over this completely. In 1970 the Prince Miler model was integrated into the Junior program and from then on there was a Nissan Junior as a Nissan Miler with special equipment specifically for sales through the Nissan Prince dealer network. In 1982 the production of the model series without a successor ended and the production facilities were sold to SAIPA , where the model has been produced from 1983 to 2003 and since then by the SAIPA subsidiary Zamyad as the Z24.
Nissan Junior B40 / B140 1956–1962
| B40 / B140 | |
|---|---|
 1956 Nissan Junior (B40) |
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| Production period: | 1956-1952 |
| Body versions : | Flatbed trucks , panel vans , minibuses |
| Engines: |
Petrol engine : 1.5 liters (37-57 kW) |
| Length: | 4290 mm |
| Width: | 1675 mm |
| Height: | 1820 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2500 mm |
| Empty weight : | -1475 kg |
The pickup (in Japan Truck) Nissan Junior started in 1956 as the second self-developed Nissan car after the Nissan Patrol , although the Junior is actually less a car and a small vehicle. Rather, it was more like a small truck , because it had a classic truck ladder frame with leaf springs at the front and rear. In the offer from Nissan at the time, in addition to the Patrol only trucks, buses and vans , it was the smallest offer and probably therefore received the name. The design of the Junior was a mixture of British and American influences. The Junior was almost a cross between an Austin A40 and a 1950 Ford F-100 . The grille was made of white painted sheet steel with 3 horizontal slots in the upper section and 14 small vertical slots in the lower section. The front indicators were integrated in the lower section. The engine used was the 1500 cc version of the Austin B-series OHV four-cylinder petrol engine with 37 kW (50 hp) output. Its power was transmitted to the rear 16-inch wheels by means of a 4-speed manual transmission. The flatbed truck offered a maximum payload of 1750 kg. A little later than the pickup, the Delivery Van Junior VB40 was presented, a station wagon based on the Junior, which was also available as an ambulance . In 1957, the Nissan Junior Caball van and truck followed with the technical basis of the Junior.
The B140 series started in 1959. In addition to the previously known body versions, there was now also a chassis with a front section and windshield for bodies. A fire fighting vehicle based on the chassis was offered ex works as the FRB140 . The most important and fundamental only change from the B40 series, however, was a better engine that the new B140 series Junior got. While the previous models still had the B-series Austin engine, the G-series engine developed by Nissan itself has now moved in. This had 1488 cm³ and made 57 kW (77 hp). This engine was also used in the new Nissan Cedric 30 and the Datsun Z SP310. In addition to other technical changes such as a redesigned cylinder head, greatly improved distributor and a double carburetor, Nissan also overcame the chronic oil leak problems of the Austin original thanks to a complete redesign of the crankshaft and its seals. The series was produced without major changes until January 1962.
Nissan Junior 40/41 1962-1970
| Junior 40/41 | |
|---|---|
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Image does not exist |
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| Production period: | 1962-1970 |
| Body versions : | Flatbed trucks , panel vans , minibuses |
| Engines: |
Otto engines : 1.5–2.0 liters (57–73 kW) Diesel engine : 2.2 liters (51 kW) |
| Length: | 4660 mm |
| Width: | 1690 mm |
| Height: | 1730 mm |
| Wheelbase : | 2800 mm |
| Empty weight : | -1500 kg |
The Junior 40 series started in 1962. In addition to the pickup, which was now also available with a double cab, only the chassis and the fire engine based on it were offered. While the technology largely corresponded to the B40 / 140 series, the design had become significantly more modern and was based on the Nissan Cedric 31. It also received its headlights and front indicators, as well as moldings, mirrors and door handles. In its design as a purely commercial vehicle, it had grown in all dimensions. Initially, the rims were painted in the same body color, and from 1964 they were uniformly silver. In addition to the well-known 1488 cm³ G-series engine with 57 kW (77 PS), there was now also a 1883 cm³ H-series petrol engine with 65 kW (92 PS) output. In addition, the 2164 cm³ SD22 diesel engine with 51 kW (70 hp) completed the range. The Junior's main competitor in the Asia and Oceania segment was the Toyota Stout . While the smaller pickups like the Datsun 220 and Datsun 320 were sold in significantly larger quantities than comparable models from Toyota, the Junior was nowhere near as successful compared to the Stout. Although the Junior was at least as good, if not better, than the Stout, its name meant it wasn't as well received, especially in the export market. Originally launched as the smallest model abroad as Nissan, a manufacturer known only as a truck manufacturer until 1960, with the name Junior for a rather heavy commercial vehicle, the export customers did not convince. In the export markets, Nissan was hardly known, unlike Datsun . Therefore, the export strategy was changed in 1966 and the larger group vehicles that were marketed as Nissan were from now on also offered outside of Japan as Datsun. The only exception was the Junior, which was still offered for export as Nissan and was not offered in North America due to Nissan's involvement in the Second World War . This is probably one of the reasons why the Junior was not as successful as the Toyota Stout.
In 1966 an updated Junior 41 series started. The only change was the H20 gasoline engine, which was used as the base engine in the Nissan Cedric 130, as a replacement for the previous gasoline engines. The new H20 was a 1982 cc four-cylinder OHV engine with 73 kW (99 hp) at 5000 rpm. Initially, the H20 had a triple-bearing crankshaft, from 1967 five-bearing.
Nissan Junior 140/141 / Nissan Miler 140/141 1970–1982
| Junior 140 | |
|---|---|
 SAIPA Z24 |
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| Production period: | 1970-1982 |
| Body versions : | Pickup truck |
| Engines: |
Otto engines : 1.6–2.4 liters (? –84 kW) Diesel engine : 2.2 liters (51 kW) |
| Length: | |
| Width: | |
| Height: | |
| Wheelbase : | |
| Empty weight : | |
In September 1970 the Junior 140 series replaced the now obsolete 41 series. The design had become much more modern, and the dashboard was now similar to a car. Only the pickup was available with a single or double cab. In addition to the H20 gasoline engine and SD22 diesel engine, there was now also a 1.6-liter gasoline engine. After Nissan Prince Jidōsha Kōgyō had taken over, the similar model Prince Miler was abandoned in 1970 and integrated into the junior program. From then on there was a Nissan Junior as a Nissan Miler with special equipment specifically for sales via the Nissan-Prince dealer network.
In 1974 an improved model, the Junior 141, was presented, which was a revised Junior 140 due to the stricter exhaust regulations from 1975.
Due to the unsatisfactory market success, the junior was gradually withdrawn from the export markets in the mid-1970s. The junior was only successful in the Middle East . SAIPA acquired the production facilities of the Nissan Junior from Iran, the production of which was discontinued in 1982 without a successor.
SAIPA / Zamyad Z24
SAIPA had acquired the production facilities of the Junior and produced the Nissan Junior 141 as the SAIPA Z24 from 1983 to 1998. In 1998, Zamyad, a subsidiary of SAIPA, took over production and has been producing the Z24 ever since. Since 2003 no longer as SAIPA, but as Zamyad. The current model is equipped with a 114 hp (84 kW) 2.4 liter gasoline engine.
Web links
- Nissan History (English)
- Nissan Junior on EarlyDatsun (English)
- Pictures and text about the junior (Japanese)