Datsun 12 1932-1934

Datsun’s roots go all the way back to 1914 when the Kwaishinsha Co. manufactured their first car, the DAT (D, A, and T being the initials of the three investors). It was followed by a smaller car that was to be christened DATSON (son of DAT), but because of the inauspicious associations of "son" (sounds like the Japanese word for "loss"), this was changed to DATSUN when the vehicle went on sale in 1932.

[I]Specs[/I]

Overall length
2,710mm
Overall width
1,175mm
Wheelbase
1,918mm
Tread
965mm
Engine
Water-cooled, 4 cylinders, SV
EngineDisplacement
748cc
EngineMax. power
9kW (12PS)
Price (Phaeton, Osaka delivery) ¥1,350

Wow, looks very Ford Model T-ish. I wouldn't expect that it was Japanese just by glancing at it.

Shows you how quickly Japan Westernized.

wasn't this a version of the Austin Seven or something?

[QUOTE=cmcpokey;879025]wasn't this a version of the Austin Seven or something?[/QUOTE]
They used it as a base, but didn't build it under license apparently.

Datsun 12 #2