Datsun Type 13

The 1934 Datsun Type 13 was a small car produced by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Introduced in July 1934, it remained in production until March 1935 after its replacement, the Type 14, was introduced in February 1935.[1] The Type 13 was basically similar to the earlier 1933 Type 12, but was more stylish in appearance. For the first time, a truck version was also available; the Datsun Type 13T.[2]

Main article: Nissan Bluebird § Historic vehicles
Datsun Type 13
Overview
ManufacturerDatsun/Nissan
Production
  • 1934-1935
  • 880 produced
Assembly
  • Yanase Motor/Nihon Jidosha Corp. (body)
  • Tobata Casting (chassis)
Body and chassis
Body stylephaeton, roadster, sedan, van, truck
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine747 cc DAT SV I4
Transmission3-speed manual
Dimensions
Length2,710 mm (106.7 in)
Width1,175 mm (46.3 in)
Height1,880 mm (74.0 in)
Curb weight400 kg (882 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorDatsun Type 12
SuccessorDatsun Type 14

Design

The fully chromed, heart-shaped grill was all new, and was tilted backwards by about ten degrees unlike the upright design used on earlier Datsuns. The vents on the sides of the bonnet were installed at the same angle as the grille and the earlier cast spoked wheels were replaced with flush, pressed steel items.[2] Aside from the truck and a panel van, there was also a range of two-door passenger car bodies available: a Phaeton, a roadster, and a sedan with suicide doors.

Popular as a taxi in Japan, the Type 13 was the first Datsun to be exported, with 44 cars sent mainly to South Africa and Australia.[3] Some cars were sold directly from a ship, touring the world and promoting Japanese-made goods.[4] An attempt to clothe Type 13 bodies with locally made Australian bodywork ended in bankruptcy after a succession of logistical and engineering failures. 880 Type 13s were built in 1934 alone; the total production overall is uncertain.[2]

Production

As with the Type 12, the chassis was built by Tobata Casting's Automotive Division in Osaka. Tobata Castings merged with the Nihon Sangyo Co. ("Japan Industries") in December 1933. Nihon Sangyo was abbreviated "Ni-San" in the Tokyo stock exchange. After the merger, the new company traded as Jidosha Seizo ("Automobile Manufacturing"), but in 1934 it was decided to use the stock market abbreviation for the new company and Nissan was formed. The car retained the 12 PS (8.8 kW) 747 cc engine as used on the Type 12, coupled to the same three-speed manual gearbox.[5]

The Type 13 was the last Datsun to be built mainly by subcontractors, before proper integrated series production began in 1935. There are thus large variations in the bodywork and details of any remaining Type 13s.[5]

References
  1. Asai, Sadahiko (August 2011). ダットサン : 歴代のモデルたちとその記録 : 浅井貞彦写真集 [Datsun model succession and records: Sadahiko Asai Photobook] (PDF) (in Japanese). Tokyo: MIKI Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-4-89522-575-5.
  2. Bent, Alan. "1934 Datsun 13". Early Datsun Homepage. Archived from the original on 2010-08-12.
  3. Madeley, Christopher (July 2005), "Kaishinsha, DAT, Nissan and the British Motor Vehicle Industry" (PDF), International and Japanese Studies Symposium: The Automobile in Japan, London: London School of Economics and Political Science, p. 23, No. IS/05/494
  4. Madeley, p. 22
  5. Asai, p. 13
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