Nissan Laurel I (C30) photos

Introduced in 1968, the inaugural C30 generation of the Nissan Laurel was positioned in the automaker's lineup as a refined personal luxury model slotting between the compact Bluebird and the executive Cedric. Originally conceived by engineers at the Prince Motor Company prior to its merger with Nissan, the vehicle was launched under the Nissan badge while retaining advanced Prince mechanical architecture. It featured a classic front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout paired with a sophisticated four-wheel independent suspension system utilizing MacPherson struts at the front and semi-trailing arms at the rear, complemented by rack-and-pinion steering. At launch, the C30 was offered exclusively as a four-door sedan, while a sleek pillarless two-door hardtop coupe joined the range during the 1970 update, bringing distinct rear styling and a sportier profile. Power came from Prince-designed G-series inline-four gasoline engines in 1.8-liter and 2.0-liter displacements, available in single- and twin-carburetor configurations. Transmission choices included four-speed and five-speed manual gearboxes alongside a three-speed automatic transmission. While primarily targeted at the Japanese domestic market, selected variants were also exported in modest numbers to international markets under the Datsun nameplate.