I guess it is due time to feature, once again, an old barely-still-there piece of hardworking Japanese tin. This time in the form of a mid-1970s Nissan Urvan/Caravan E20, a face that’s likely new to many of you in the US. Not that it’s the first time the model appears at CC, as a previous one found in Japan was already covered.
But unlike that earlier and cleaner looking find, what we have today is the “worked to within an inch of its life” variety. The hardly-surviving kind of old Japanese warrior I often find around me in the streets of San Salvador.
Most of the background on the Urvan/Caravan has been told in previous posts at CC (links below). Suffice it to say that like many things Nissan, the Urvan/Caravan’s existence was more a result of happenstance rather than planning. A model line adopted under the company’s wings after the acquisition of Prince Motors in 1966, and originally known as the Prince Homy.
That ’65-’73 Homy had the cute quirky factor many JDM commercial haulers featured at the time. Also, in Nissan’s eyes, the model was thought superior to their own entry into that segment, the Caball, which was quickly axed.
So, the Homy line remained in production under new guises to attend different markets and the multiple dealer store lines of the JDM market. As such the model’s second E20 generation appeared in 1973 under the Homy, Urvan, and Caravan nameplates.
That second-gen 1973-80 face is what graces today’s find. As for what the underpinnings are, they’re a rather standard fare for the segment; a forward-control van, with proven RWD drivetrains. Engine choices for this generation included 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0L inline four displacements, and a 2.1L diesel. Shifting was via 5-speed, the drivetrain’s most novel feature. Last, passenger capacity ranged from 5 to 8 to 10 passengers; the latter being the setup to which today’s finding seems to belong.
In 1980 a much revised version appeared, the E23, with many cosmetic and mechanical updates. As the Nissan Caravan, this generation apparently found much favor in the Old Continent, and probably became the model’s most known version globally. After all, it would remain in production for an awfully long time in this guise, all the way to the year 2000 under the FWA badge in China.
So, nothing challenging nor too new mechanically speaking for the E20-E23. Nothing wrong with that brief though, as these were intended for light commercial purposes and to serve as no-frills transport. Just what the JDM market required. And qualities that also gained the Urvan/Caravan a strong foothold in developing markets; be it Asia, Africa, or Latin America.
And yes, the above one is a late 1990s one; which you’ll notice doesn’t look too different from the early ’80s update. While the early models sold locally as the E20, the Urvan name had been adopted in the region by the 1990s. And should you care, the line is still around, in much posher form of course. After all, we all get softer with age, don’t we?
I know the details on these sound rather modest, in horsepower and specs. But against some of the other Japanese vans that roamed San Salvador’s streets back in the 1970s, the E20 felt like “luxury”. Dimensions-wise, they were larger than other Japanese offerings, which seemed to be the model’s sales pitch. Considerably more spacious than Mazda’s small Bongo van, and larger than a Toyota HiAce. Materials, seats, and ventilation were above what others offered in these markets as well.
However, from online literature, they seem to be more of a chore to drive than a HiAce, with a slow unassisted steering and a heavy front. The model’s long-stick 5-speed shifter also requires some mastering. Quibbles that make sense, as it rode on a slightly smaller wheelbase than the HiAce, and had a longer and heavier body. Not that I would have noticed those drawbacks back in the ’70s (Hey, I was a passenger!).
Be it a matter of the model being slightly pricier, or less compelling, they were never as common as the HiAce; its most obvious competitor. So seeing an old unit like this parked in a shopping mall near my home is a rare event, and looking at this one’s battered condition, its future looks doubtful. That said, I’ve seen worse rolling around this city, and there is a growing group of folks snatching old Japanese cars for restoration. So for all we know, this E20 may have more Urvan life in its future despite all.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Outtake: 1973-80 Nissan Caravan (E20) – The Box The Toaster Came In
No question, it definitely has a 1970’s Hasbro/Mattel-style vibe, in its appearance.
Looks like a “68-9ish”, contraption. Expect it’s rather “roomy/spacious”.
I remember seeing these converted into backpacker campers in Australia in 1991-92, they seemed like a better setup to my Type 2 Kombi.
As Ed alludes, these were fairly popular down under back in the day. I always liked the way the two-tone paint was handled, with the high and low bands of second colour. Lots of nice details, like that oh-so-fancy grille.
The Caball sounds familiar – wasn’t that the next size up? I used to know that stuff…
What a great old workhouse. I do love these large vans/small trucks. They are quite appealing for some reason. The E20 generation has a great grill.
Wow long time no see, I drove one on similar condition in Aussie it was a worker bus well and truly on its last legs rattles fuming engine it did its job for several months before it died, there wasnt any reviving it, just not worth it to my boss who owned it a Toyota Troopy replaced it 4.2 NA diesel far more suitable for the task.