This mid-1970s Nissan Caravan has been roaming our suburban Tokyo neighborhood for several years. The owner had parked it in different locations but appears to have decided it’s a keeper and it has now established residence in a rented spot in a nearby parking lot.
Lots of nice patina here – this van has evidently lived a full life. The white wall tires are brand new and a nice period touch. Perhaps the owner is starting his restoration from the bottom up.
These 60s-70s-80s Japanese forward-control vans were built to be functional, as most were marketed to merchants and tradesmen. You can’t get much more boxy than this but it certainly optimizes interior space.
Configured for passenger duty, as this one is, it could carry ten. Four engines were offered: 1.6, 1.8. and 2.0 liter gas, and a 2.2 liter diesel, all four cylinders. I couldn’t snap any interior pictures but one article says these have a 5 speed manual transmission with a floor shifter that measures 80 cm – some 2.6 feet. It was not known for precise shifting…
I’m hoping the owner is just making it drivable and leaves the exterior as-is.
Fun Fact: The Caravan was sold through Nissan’s Bluebird dealerships; an identical model called the “Homy” was sold by Nissan’s Prince stores. In Australia and New Zealand these models were known as the “Urvan.”
To my eyes, this Caravan looks suprisingly modern for a ’73 vehicle. Very graceful lines on this transporter.
I’m also chuckling at the prospect to telling friends “that’s my Homy” in reference to this vehicle.
I was thinking the same thing… upon first seeing the lead picture, I assumed this was a 1980s-era van.
Love it! This 70’s Japanese van style with the soft rounded edges looks so comfortable, I’d be thrilled to ride in one. It’s reminiscent of the 70’s Toyota HiAce van as well.
Curiously the rear hatch door opens the wrong way for THEM, just like the Rav4 for example opens the wrong way for US which I used to think was due entirely to the side one drives on and where the vehicle originated until I realize the Jeep Wrangler’s back door opens the same way (towards a U.S. curb). I’m starting to think it has less to do with loading (in)convenience and more with the way a crowned road would open the possibility of the door slamming shut inadvertently.
Given that an overwhelming percentage of Rav4s are sold in the US and that it’s largely designed for the US market, I never put stock in that theory about tailgates ideally opening to the curb. Just how many people actually park at the curb nowadays? Overwhelmingly they use the rear hatch door in the driveway and at the store, in a parking lot. And having the door hinged on the passenger side means that when the driver walks back to it, the handle/latch is on their side, and it opens in a way that’s more convenient for them that having to walk around it and be on the other side of it as it opens and closes.
Just my theory, but that’s how I would design it if I was building it for me.
Isn’t your Jeep more convenient for you for that reason? Imagine it being hinged on the driver’s side…
Yep, it is not a real hindrance. It never bothered me on the Rav either but I know I see it mentioned most times that someone reviews something that has a tailgate hinged that way.
I think you may have it right Jim – back in the 70’s/80’s – and even today, these vans that were used by tradesmen and merchants park temporarily next to the curb to make their deliveries or offer their services. With RHD, the door would close if parked on a crowned road. Additionally, the back side of the door would face traffic and possibly get dinged. Jim.
These exist in my neck of the woods. Must be near indestructible underneath, like the other 70s Datsuns I keep running into in Thailand.
I used to frequently see the passenger version with the side hinged tailgate in white with light blue stripes. Sometimes the stripes were light brown. I don’t recall seeing the plain panel van version.
And the occasional cheap-couch orange striping – it was the ’70’s after all, I s’pose we can be grateful they weren’t swirly bearded purple mermaids or somesuch.
Ah, nostalgia. Our friends round the corner put their seven kids and some usual extras, often including me, into their ten seater job in the ’70’s.
I hated it. The Er-yuk Van.
You see, at the time, my cousins had new 2 litre Kombi. It had good, high seats, it sounded like a WRX later did, and with my somewhat deranged uncle at the wheel, it could really hustle. It rode, and for the brave or murderous behind the wheel – he may have been both – it gripped and handled, in it’s way.
The Er-no Van did not have seats. I was a skinny kid, and even my non-existent arse went straight through the vinyl onto whatever hard stuff held it up. The suspension had no travel – none. I have every reason to believe there weren’t any springs at all. If I was plonked in the middle front seat, my non-existent arse then also felt like it some wierdo was barbequeing it. The furnace source also sounded strained and deathly at all speeds, like so many Japanese engines from the time. That gearchange made it look as if the driver was having a jousting match under the steering wheel, to no great effect on gear position, I might add. It blew around like a leaf if a wind sprang up. Even the strip speedo offended my young eyes for it’s cheapness.
The only good thing in the Er-Vomit Van was that the windows could be slid wide open. If the road was bumpy, and curvy, they needed to. The orange stripes along the sides had many multi-coloured yawn stains for variation by the time we’d stop, and many green-faced children would gratefully disembark, wiping their mouths.
I understand the rarity of the find, Jim, and I can almost appreciate the styling a little 40 years after the Er Trauma has subsided, but you’d understand why I wouldn’t want to see that thing ever again.
Gotta go. Physiotherapist appointment, long-standing back problem dating from childhood, it’s believed. (And some unusual burn marks, but I sure don’t go to the physio to examine those).
Justy, we need you to contribute an article – something as entertaining as your enjoyable comments here on the Up-chuck Van…pls – we’d value your contribution…Jim.
+1
Mr Baum ‘s flowery comments would make a great post. Fair but Justy.
Almost 80 000 were made in South Africa till 1996 and from the early ’80s they used an L18 engine down here. I’m surprised you mention 3 different engine ranges for the early E20, I always thought they just used an H20 motor(2 liter), I doubt they were 5 speed gearboxes at the time although later models in South Africa received the 5 speed. The floorshifted models must have been very few from what I’ve read, only the very first models and it was soon replaced by the columnshifter because it just wasn’t practical. Attached is a late model South African E20