Nissan President

The Nissan President (Japanese: 日産・プレジデント, Nissan Purejidento) is a Japanese luxury sedan that was manufactured and marketed by Nissan from 1965 until 2010 as the flagship of Nissan's range, available only at its Nissan Store dealerships then at Nissan Blue Stage dealerships.

Initially marketed in Japan only as an executive limousine, exports began to a few countries including Singapore and Hong Kong, though sales were limited. When the President was introduced in 1965, it was marketed under the "Nissan" badge, unlike other Nissan products at the time, which were marketed under the Datsun brand.

The first generation of the President, designated H150, was introduced in October 1965, replacing the Cedric Special as Nissan's top-of-the-range model, and was exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Store. Ownership costs of the fully hand-built President were elevated due to its external dimensions and engine displacement placing it in the top road tax bracket. The President appeared after the Toyota Crown Eight debuted in 1963, and was developed by Nissan as a possible submission for a limousine to be used by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. As a corporate limousine, the President was joined by the Mitsubishi Debonair which was primarily used by corporate Mitsubishi executives.

Its appearance is very similar to the smaller but more popular Nissan Bluebird introduced earlier in 1964. Like the Bluebird, the President was built at Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. A small number (fewer than 200) of left-hand drive models were also built, available for export but mainly sold to Japan's foreign missions and to Japanese companies abroad. These were designated HL150. The front wheels used double wishbone suspension with leaf spring and a live axle for the rear.

The President was available with either the 4.0-litre Y40 V8 engine with 180 PS (132 kW), developed specially for that model, or the 3.0-litre H30 straight-six. From the outside, the V8 is easiest identified by its twin exhaust, whereas the six only has a pipe on the left side. Very lavishly appointed for its time, the President served as the official car of the Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Satō, while the Emperor of Japan was transported in one of four Nissan Prince Royals developed by Prince Motor Company. Each President was individually tested and fully run in before delivery. The availability of a V8 was regarded as an extravagant feature once it's realized that urban two-way streets are usually zoned at 40 km/h (25 mph) or less, as mentioned in the article Speed limits in Japan.

In 1971 Nissan offered EAL (Electro Anti-lock System) as an option on the President; this became Japan's first electronic ABS (Anti-lock braking system). There were a few trim levels, but most were sold as the fully loaded Spec-D that featured the "Full Power Equipment" specification with power seats, power windows, twin A/C units, central door locks, plenty of interior lights and remote-controlled auto-tuning radio, among other features. All trim packages came with a split bench for the rear seat that provided a power recline opposite the driver. The Spec-C was similar to the Spec-D, but without the power features. Spec-B was powered by the 130 PS (96 kW) H30 engine carried over from the Cedric Special 50. The base Spec-A was also powered by the H30, but had a 3-speed column-shift manual, the only version with a manual transmission as Spec-B, C and D had an automatic transmission. Few changes were made to the 150 series, but in October 1971 the outside mirrors were moved closer to the front of the car, the location of the windshield wipers was changed to increase the amount of glass they swept, and the automatic transmission was changed from Borg-Warner to Nissan. This change was announced by the installation of a badge reading "Nissan Matic" at the rear, instead of the earlier "BW Automatic". The Spec-C trim level was dropped after 1971; all V8 models were now only available in Spec-D.

The second generation, designated 250 (H250 for the V8 versions), was introduced in August 1973. It received a thorough facelift inside and out, while the chassis was essentially the same with no changes to the front and rear suspension. The center section of the body, including the doors and windshields, remained as before, but the front and rear ends were redesigned - stretching the car by 235 mm (9.3 in), mostly by extending the rear overhang. The Y40 engine was replaced by the new 4.4-liter Y44. The H30 six-cylinder remained available until 1974 or 1975. The original lineup consisted of two six-cylinder models, type A (three-speed manual) and type B (automatic) and one eight-cylinder model called the type D (automatic only). The car only came with a column-mounted shifter, while the front seats were either separate or a bench. The rear seats were semi-separate and intended to seat two occupants in comfort. The D-type had standard power front seats and also power adjustable rear seat. The President was a very expensive car in Japan - the annual car taxes for the V8 were ¥54,000 in 1973; the average annual salary for a recent university graduate were ¥57,000 at this time.

In April 1975, all trim levels except the type D were dropped, which meant the H30 engine and manual transmission were dropped as well; all Presidents would have V8 engines and automatic transmissions going forward. At the same time, the V8 engine received electronic fuel injection, becoming the Y44E and allowing the car to meet new, stricter emissions standards. The V8 emblem on the bootlid was changed to one that reads "V8E" along with the Nissan NAPS badge. The chassis code was changed to A-H250. The type D was available in nine different sub-models listed as D-1 through D-9. The top versions had power everything, satin weave nylon seats, an early form of anti-lock brakes, and automatic climate control. This model was also the first Nissan to be equipped with a digital clock.