The Nissan S-Cargo is a small retro-styled van built from 1989 to 1991 and originally marketed only in Japan at Nissan Cherry Stores. Its body was inspired by the Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette delivery van and its interior borrowed a Citroën-style single-spoke steering wheel. The name stands for “Small Cargo” and sounds like escargot, the French word for snail and a nickname for the 2CV.
Nissan S-Cargo at a glance
| Production | 1989–1991 |
|---|---|
| Built | 10,685 (some sources say 12,000) |
| Shown at | Tokyo Motor Show, 1989 |
| Sales | by reservation only, without Nissan branding |
| Market | Japan, at Nissan Cherry Stores |
| Inspiration | Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette |
| Steering wheel | Citroën-style single spoke |
| Options | oval side windows, electric canvas sunroof |
| Pike car | one of Nissan’s Pike cars |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan S-Cargo.
History of the Nissan S-Cargo
A Pike car
The S-Cargo came from Pike Factory, Nissan’s special project group, and with the Figaro, Be-1 and Pao is one of Nissan’s Pike cars. The design critic Phil Patton, writing in The New York Times in 2011, called the Pike cars “the height of postmodernism” and “unabashedly retro, promiscuously combining elements of the Citroën 2CV, Renault 4, Mini and Fiat 500”.
How it was sold
The van was introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1989, originally marketed without the Nissan name and available by reservation only, in the same way as the Pao and Figaro. Over its two-year production run 10,685 were built, though some sources report about 12,000.
Details
The body copied the shape of the 2CV Fourgonnette, and the interior carried over the single-spoke steering wheel of the Citroën. Optional equipment included an oval-shaped portal window installed on each side panel of the van and an electric canvas sunroof.
Design and features
- 2CV-inspired body: a direct reference to the Citroën Fourgonnette.
- Single-spoke wheel: the Citroën-style steering wheel inside.
- Reservation sales: no Nissan branding at launch.
- Side portal windows: optional oval windows in the panels.
Nissan S-Cargo versions
- S-Cargo (1989–1991): the only production version.
- With side portal windows: the optional oval windows.
- With canvas sunroof: the optional electric roof.
The S-Cargo was one of the Pike cars with the Pao and Figaro, and its commercial role in the range was filled by the Vanette. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: Nissan S-Cargo
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan S-Cargo, English Wikipedia: inspiration, name, production numbers, sales method, options
