Nissan Cabstar is the name used in Japan for two lines of pickup trucks and light commercials, and in Europe and other export markets for the Atlas and other Nissan trucks. It started with the 1968 Datsun Cabstar and moved to Nissan badging in the early 1980s. In 2014 the European Cabstar became the NT400.
Nissan Cabstar at a glance
| First generation | A320, March 1968 |
|---|---|
| First engine | 1,189 cc D12, 56 PS |
| Second generation | F20, from January 1976, sold as the Nissan Homer too |
| Second-generation engines | 1.5 J15, 2.0 H20 petrol, 2.2 SD22 diesel |
| Japanese line | replaced by the Atlas in 1982 |
| European name | Atlas F22 sold as the Cabstar |
| Other badges | Renault Maxity, Samsung SV110 |
| From 2014 | NT400 |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan Cabstar.
History of the Nissan Cabstar
A320 (1968–1976)
The first Cabstar appeared in Japan in March 1968 as a replacement for the Datsun Cablight and Nissan C80. It was a cab-over truck offered as a truck, a glazed light van or a route van bus, and sold at Nissan Bluebird Store dealerships. Power came from the 1,189 cc D12 engine of 56 PS; the 1.3-litre J13 of 67 PS arrived in August 1970 with the A321 code, and a May 1973 facelift brought an entirely new front and the 1,483 cc J15 engine of 77 PS. The Cabstar shared its range with the Prince-developed Homer, sold through a different dealer network.
F20 (1976–1982)
The F20 of January 1976 was sold in Japan as both the Nissan Homer and the Nissan Datsun Cabstar, with 1.5-litre J15 or 2.0-litre H20 petrol engines or a 2.2-litre SD22 diesel. A desmogged engine range in September 1979 brought the new F21 chassis code. The heavier Atlas H40 began production in December 1981 and the lighter Atlas F22 arrived in February 1982, succeeding both the Homer and the Cabstar; the nameplate has not been used in Japan since.
The export Cabstar
The Atlas F22 was sold in Europe as the Nissan Cabstar and proved popular in Britain for its reliability and payload. The H20 two-litre petrol engine was replaced by the Z20 unit of 90 PS, and diesels were also offered; from 1990 the range widened as the Cabstar E. In Taiwan the F22 continued as the Yue Loong Homer, and the truck competed with the Bedford CF and Ford Transit, often serving as a motorhome base. In South Africa the F22 was sold as the Cabstar with a 2.8-litre L28 petrol engine of 92 kW in 2¼- and 3-tonne forms. The Cabstar is also known as the Renault Maxity and Samsung SV110.
Design and features
- Cab-over design: a short nose for maximum load length.
- Three bodies: truck, glazed van and route van bus in the first generation.
- European success: a strong rival to the Bedford CF and Ford Transit.
- Shared platform: the same base as the Nissan Caravan.
Nissan Cabstar versions
- Datsun Cabstar A320 (1968–1976): the original, with D12 and J13 engines.
- Cabstar / Homer F20 (1976–1982): the last Japanese generation.
- Cabstar F22 (1982–): the Atlas sold in Europe under this name.
- Cabstar E (from 1990): the widened European range.
- NT400 (from 2014): the current name.
The Cabstar was part of the same truck family as the Atlas and Homer, and shared a platform with the Caravan. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: Nissan Cabstar Review & Buyers Guide
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Cabstar, English Wikipedia: generations, engines, European sales, badges
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