Description

The Datsun 112 was a compact passenger car produced by Nissan in 1955, and it represented one of the final developments in the line of postwar Datsun sedans that had evolved from the early DB series. It followed the Datsun 110 and was produced in very limited numbers before being replaced by more modern and updated models.

The Datsun 112 was powered by a 860 cc Type 10 side-valve four-cylinder engine, the same engine used in its immediate predecessors. This engine produced around 25 horsepower, paired with a 3-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. While its performance was modest, it was in line with other small cars of the period, and it was sufficient for the short-distance, low-speed driving typical of Japanese roads in the 1950s.

The car was available as a four-door sedan, with a compact and functional body design. It retained the basic silhouette of the Datsun 110 but with minor styling updates, including a revised grille and slightly more modern body trim. The overall design was still heavily influenced by American cars of the late 1940s, with rounded fenders, a vertical grille, and small chrome accents.

Inside, the Datsun 112 featured a simple and durable interior. Seating for four was provided, with basic upholstery and minimal instrumentation. It was a practical vehicle designed to meet the needs of Japan’s growing urban middle class, offering affordable personal transportation during a time of rapid economic development and industrial growth.

Production of the Datsun 112 was short-lived. Only a small number were built before Nissan transitioned to the more modern Datsun 113 and eventually the more successful 210 series. As a result, the 112 is one of the rarest postwar Datsun models.

Today, the Datsun 112 is virtually unknown outside of specialist vintage car circles and is extremely rare, even in Japan. It serves as a historical marker in Nissan’s evolution, representing the final iteration of a transitional era before the company began producing vehicles that would define the modern Japanese car industry.