When it comes to describing the trending automotive styling in the mid-00s, “peak retro” just might best the best description. Popularized by mass market mainstream cars including but not limited to the 1998 VW New Beetle, 2000 Jaguar S-Type, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 2001 MINI Cooper hatch, 2002 Ford Thunderbird, 2005 Chrysler 300, 2005 Ford Mustang, 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2007 Fiat 500, and 2007 Dodge Challenger, this industry-wide display of retro flamboyance certainly reached its peak in the mid-00s, but it surely wasn’t anything new and certainly hasn’t fallen out of practice. While the early-1990s brought an influx of eye-catching curvaceous designs sharply contrasting the boxy styling of their 1980s predecessors, some manufacturers felt it pertinent to reach deep into the past, in an effort of postmodernism. Among the most unusual, was this 1991 Nissan Figaro.
Sold only in Japan for the 1991 model year, the Figaro was a result of Nissan’s Special Product Group, a team also responsible for the Be-1, Pao, and S-Cargo — three other limited-release retro city cars around the same time. Meant to evoke mid-century microcars, the fixed-roof convertible Figaro drew its design inspiration from a number of period cars, particularly from the 1950-1954 Gutbrod Superior, a low-production German fixed-roof convertible.
Utilizing the Nissan Micra’s platform and most mechanical components, the Figaro shared the former’s 90.6-inch wheelbase, 1.0-litre turbo inline-4 producing an equally puny 76 horsepower and 78 lb-ft. torque, MacPherson strut front/multilink rear suspension, and front disc/rear drum brakes. Despite its low output, the Figaro’s low 1,786-lb. curb weight allowed it to achieve a top-speed of 106 miles per hour, not that this speed was easily attainable in large cities. Four colors were offered, one for each season: Lapis Grey for winter, Emerald Green for spring, Pale Aqua for summer, and Topaz Mist for autumn.
Inside, the Figaro appreciatively complemented its retro-inspired exterior with an interior possessing vintage design tied with modern functionality. Its driver was bestowed with vintage-looking twin round gauges, thin-rimmed steering wheel, and toggle-switch controls, and both occupants were treated to ivory leather bucket seats with contrast piping. Standard AM/FM stereo cassette/CD and HVAC controls blended retro styling with familiar operation.
I’ll be honest when I say I was completely stumped the day I came across this Figaro in the Whole Foods parking lot following a Memorial Day weekend challenging hike and then brunch where I may have had a glass or two of rosé. I actually did think it was something Italian from the 1950s or 1960s, questioning where the figawi? Nissan only produced 20,073 examples — initially just 8,000, but ramped up production to meet overwhelming demand, ordering an additional 12,000+ units. In fact, interested buyers had to enter a lottery in order to even get the chance to purchase one. Somehow, this one made it over stateside to Massachusetts, likely a more recent journey now that its over 25 years of age, allowing it to be legally imported and registered.
Photographed at Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham, Massachusetts – May 2019
In 1979 I had just moved to Leavenworth Kansas to take a job at the Fort. Walking my dog along an old-and eventually abandoned-spur line was a junk yard filled with old cars, engines and such all slowly rusting away. It was fascinating to look at but as it was fenced off I could not enter and look around. Then one day walking past there was a gondola car being loaded with scrap from the lot, eventually all the wrecks were hauled off and the scrap yard was cleaned up including hauling away all the contaminated soil. After clean up nothing happened to the lot, eventually they began taking in wrecked cars again. The lot is now walled off with retaining walls, the spur line is gone so I have not been able to visit it.
Nice find Brendan. Was there a specific model of car that Nissan was trying to emulate with this retro design?
This example is in fine shape, too. Restored? Or Original?
Maybe one of you guys can answer what will probably sound like a dumb question. What is the magic of the 25 year waiting period to finally be able to import something that was not meant for this market? It comes up here a lot, but no one has ever explained it. Perhaps it’s common knowledge that somehow finds me clueless. Does it have to do with ‘classic registrations’ and such? Maryland is 20 years for classic car registrations, but I am not sure what our import regulations are regarding this.
Apparently it’s a thing down under as well, as our Aussie friends have also mentioned it.
I don’t know if anyone other than the people who wrote the law picked that number, in Canada it is 15 years. I know the general thought that older cars wouldn’t get driven as much.
Figaro was only available with 3 speed automatic. For a fun Pike car there is the Pao which can be found with a 5 speed manual. The sunroofs in both Figaro and Pao are infamous for becoming loose and leaking; Pao can be found without sunroof.
Rick, the fascination is something that is/was an unavailable pleasure, a now buyable oddity. Also, it is often thought that the Japanese products of a very prosperous late ’80s/early ’90s are peak Japanese quality and ingenuity – many models of which were not imported for the US market.
Some of the models I look for include the Pao fixed roof 5 speed. Others interest me too. They include: Toyota Soarer (Lexus SC300 here, but with 2.5 litre twin turbo inline six); Toyota Celsior (Lexus LS400 here, but with cloth interior and often with many subtle luxury upgrades unavailable in US); Nissan S-Cargo without sunroof (very goofy but likely fun). Others want various Toyota Supras and especially Nissan Skylines for great performance. There is a that forbidden fruit appeal.
The Figaro I occasionally see in Scottsdale belongs to an artist/art gallery owner. That may tell you something about the appeal.
I get the ‘fascination’ part, especially with that which is/was unavailable.
What I was wondering if there is some “legal” magic… as in you can’t import a car until it is of a certain age.
Any car over 25 years old is legal to import to the US. Anything under 25 years old is almost impossible to register for use. That’s why you are now seeing these over in the states. Likewise, the gray market for “underage” GTRs and the like caused them to be expensive forbidden fruit and ripe for illegal importation.
A Nissan Figaro was Sarah Jane Smith’s replacement for her MGB in the reboot of Dr. Who and it’s spinoff the Sarah Jane Adventures.
Since this was circa 2006 the real life car would have been a grey import which was popular in the UK since JDM cars were generally low mileage, rust free and already RHD.
I think the Figaro’s look was based on several small French and Italian cars, and looks most like a sleeker Vespa 400
Rick, you can blame MBUSA for the 25-year rule. In the mid-80s MB was choosing to import only certain cars. A gray market popped up wherein other importers would bring over not-sold-in-the-USA Mercedes models and federalize them, some more dubiously than others. MBUSA didn’t like losing a slice of the Mercedes pie
A few well-placed “campaign contributions” later, NHTSA all of a sudden decides that any car not imported by the official importer is and OMG! Unsafe! Deathtrap! and bans the importation of any such vehicle. Since Mercedes is unfettered by the importation of Very Old Cars (remember that in the 1980s any car that was older than 25 years was either used up or collectible) importation of older models was deemed acceptable.
Lobbyists… makes total sense now. Thanks Evan!
Wow, Brendan – quite the find! I find these appealing. Although there is perhaps more of a “Hello Kitty” vibe than I would like.
Agreed JP! Hello Kitty was very much what I thought of this car once I learned its story.
I’ve never seen one of these, and though I have seen pictures of the front, I certainly would never guess what it was from the back. I’m assuming the large rumble-seat-looking opening on the trunklid is where the top goes, and then the little cabinet-looking door is the luggage compartment?
So many details of this car are unique, such as the interior third brake light that just sticks up on the rear parcel shelf when the top is lowered. Or what look like chrome toggle switches on the dashboard. I’m sure there’s tons more of little details like these, but cumulatively they make this car appear more than just a comical retro statement. I find myself liking it.
And I’m guessing that one reason why you were stumped is that this car doesn’t appear to say “Nissan” anywhere on it.
There’s one of those local to me, in unrestored Emerald Green, seen it many times, though it hasn’t moved much this past year or so. Time is starting to catch up with it.
I’ve seen a car just like this one several times in a local car show in Danvers, MA (north of Boston). It could be the same car.
“When it comes to describing the trending automotive styling in the mid-00s, “peak retro” just might best the best description. Popularized by mass market mainstream cars including but not limited to the 1998 VW New Beetle, 2000 Jaguar S-Type, 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, 2001 MINI Cooper hatch, 2002 Ford Thunderbird, 2005 Chrysler 300, 2005 Ford Mustang, 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2007 Fiat 500, and 2007 Dodge Challenger”
I was a kid back then, and I thought those cars were amazing. Even the PT Cruiser.
It was a cool trend at first, but then it got over-used. Most of these designs haven’t aged well and look incredibly tacky today.
I still kinda like seeing them for being a break from the mundanity of other modern cars.
Tacky, really? As opposed to gaping jaw modern designs with gigantic corporate emblems in center to tell them apart? I guess retro stands out from them, if that’s a bad thing…
The 05 Mustang looks better than the 15-current Mustangs, the Challenger still looks great despite its long in tooth underpinnings and oversized dimensions, Mini-Cooper looks great, as did the Fiat 500, which was the only small car that didn’t look like a penalty box, and the original 300c looked good until it got facelifted to look more modern(generic). The only ones I don’t hold much fondness for are the Plymouth/Chrysler Prowler, Chevy HHR, Chevy SSR, and the “chopped top” new Beetle
And where is the line on retro anyway? Some cars gradually evolved for decades but are twin kidneys and hoffmiester kinks on BMWs considered retro? Or the Porsche 911’s entire design? The defense of course is that those things are part of the brand identity and not retrograde, but that’s a semantical argument at that point. One company kept design elements for 50 years, another brought back design elements from 50 years ago.
Also, the only ‘modern’ designs of the peak retro era that have aged really well are Acura’s like the third generation TL, almost everything else from the mid 00s looks bland or outdated by today’s standards, unlike retro which at least stands out.
May I suggest that the “puny 76 horsepower” made the Figaro a bit of a hot-rod. The Micra/March only ever had a turbo option on JDM models – in Europe the 1.0 litre motor made 50-55 bhp.
These used to be quite popular, but I presume many have rusted away by now.
If Nissan made these now and imported them looking EXACTLY like this, I’d buy. Their sales are down, this would help.
IT’S CUTE AS HELL AND I WANT ONE !!!
During the spring and summer I see an identical Figaro parked at the neighbourhood pub next to our apartment building in Toronto. I had no idea what it was until I saw an earlier CC article about them, and they’re certainly a unique ride. I see the occasional older JDM vehicle around Toronto, and it’s always interesting to see something in the metal that was never sold here new.
Believe it or not, a few months ago, I spotted one of these being driven down a major thoroughfare in Central Florida. You really can’t appreciate the diminutive size until you see one in traffic alongside today’s full-size SUVs and pickup trucks.
I actually like the look. In fact, the front is somewhat reminiscent of a 3/4 scale Cisitalia, a car that many regard as one of the gamechangers in the history of automobile styling.
I must have the CC ‘touch’ as around the same time I saw a pristine 2CV being driven down the main boulevard of one of those chichi ’boutique’ towns where stuff like Ferraris and Bentleys are commonplace. Or maybe it’s just that I’ve been around long enough to be able to recognize oddball vehicles.
As I’ve mentioned before living in the Seattle area there are a number of dealers that specialize in 25 year rule imports. So there are a few of them running around. There is a place I drive by sometimes where there is one of these sitting under the carport, that doesn’t seem to move and neither do either of the Kei trucks nor the Honda Beat.
Personally I’d take one of these as a sunny day back roads cruiser.
I see these Figaros often a friend sent a pic of one she saw that looks like its been wallpapered, very different from the usual factory colours, like most JDM oddities they arrive here by the ship load.
I always liked these and was delighted to see one in the flesh during my one and only trip to Japan in 1999.
Jonny Smith has made an entertaining video on his wife’s Figaro, including some buyers’ advice plus a surprise ending.