Nissan Cedric I (30) photos

Launched in the spring of 1960, the 30-series Nissan Cedric marked a milestone for the manufacturer as its first large passenger vehicle developed entirely in-house, succeeding the license-built Austin models of the 1950s. Engineered around a modern monocoque body structure, the car featured independent double-wishbone coil-spring suspension at the front and a durable leaf-spring live axle at the rear. Early models stood out for their distinctively American-inspired styling cues, including a wrap-around windshield and vertically stacked quad headlights. The model range included a standard four-door sedan, a practical five-door station wagon, and a stretched wheelbase flagship known as the Cedric Special (G30) aimed at chauffeurs and dignitaries. At launch, power was provided by a 1.5-liter OHV inline-four petrol engine, quickly joined by a larger 1.9-liter inline-four unit, while the prestigious Cedric Special boasted a 2.8-liter inline-six engine. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a column-shifted four-speed manual transmission. A major facelift in late 1962 (designated the 31 series) replaced the controversial vertical headlights with a conventional horizontal quad-headlight arrangement, alongside a revised grille, lengthened body proportions, and upgraded interior appointments. Primarily marketed in Japan—where it became a staple of corporate fleets, government officials, and taxi operators, even serving as camera and torch relay support vehicles during the 1964 Tokyo Olympics—the first Cedric also saw selective exports to Asian and Australasian markets.