The Nissan Pao
April 22nd, 2008
In the late 1980s Nissan’s Pike factory released an enigmatic car going by the name of the Nissan Pao. This vehicle was unlike anything anyone had seen before - at least anything that had been launched in the past 30 years - and its quirky looks and cheeky demenour won it many fans the world over.
Just over 10,000 models were initially sold which made any attempt to buy a Nissan Pao somewhat troublesome; this remains the case today and, even in its home country of Japan, a good Pao for sale is a rare commodity indeed.
The pure novelty factor of the Nissan Pao is usually more than enough to divide onlookers into one of two distinct camps. Whichever side of the Love and Hate division you fall, one thing cannot be denied: the Nissan Pao is a symbol of rebellion against the norms expected in the automotive industry. This car smells like progress.
The Nissan Pao specifications are perhaps surprising: modern radio, manual or automatic transmission, sun roof, and power steering. The Pao’s tiny turning circle and fantastic fuel economy made it the perfect city car. Even by today’s standards, almost 20 years after its initial release, the fuel economy looks very good indeed.