Vehicle Description
HISTORY OF THE NISSAN FIGARO
The Nissan Figaro is a front-engine, front-wheel drive, two-door,
2+2, fixed-profile convertible manufactured by Nissan for model
year 1991, and marketed in Japan at Nissan Cherry Stores.
A total of 20,073 Figaros were produced by Nissan in the
convertible's single year of series production - all with right
hand drive.
As a fixed-profile convertible, the upper side elements of the
Figaro's bodywork remain fixed, while its fabric soft top retracts
in conjunction with a solid panel with a defroster-equipped glass
rear window - as seen in other notable fixed-profile convertibles,
including the Vespa 400 (1957), Citroen 2CV (1948-1990), the Nash
Rambler Convertible "Landau" Coupe (1950), and the 1957 Fiat 500 -
as well its 2007 Fiat 500 successor.
With its design variously attributed to Naoki Sakai and/or Shoji
Takahashi, the design strongly recalls the Gutbrod Superior, a
German fixed-profile convertible marketed from 1950-1954.
Because of its origins at Pike Factory, Nissan's special project
group, the Figaro (along with the Nissan Pao, Be-1 and S-Cargo) are
known as Nissan's "Pike cars," and represented a design strategy
that adapted "design and marketing strategies from other industries
like personal electronics."
In 2011, noted design critic Phil Patton, writing for the New York
Times, called the Pike cars "the height of postmodernism" and
"unabashedly retro, promiscuously combining elements of the Citroen
2CV, Renault 4, Mini, and Fiat 500".
This 1991 Nissan Figaro was imported from the UK by the current
owner in 2018. Power is provided by a turbocharged 987cc
inline-four coupled with a three-speed automatic transmission, and
equipment includes a fixed-profile convertible top, a factory
cassette radio, toggle switchgear, power windows, and air
conditioning. The car now shows 43k miles and has received an oil
change, a replacement air filter, and spark plugs. Factory 12?
wheels feature white and chrome covers, braking is handled by front
discs and rear drums, and suspension is independent at all four
corners. The four-place cabin features cream-colored leather seats
with gray piping, a newly replaced dark blue dash top, and
blue-colored carpets with new gray floor mats. The car retains a
factory Japanese-market cassette radio, and equipment includes a
three-spoke steering wheel, toggle switchgear, power windows, and
air conditioning. Special rare factory options include chrome door
inserts, chrome wheel arch trim and cup holder. Other custom
touches include chrome exhaust tips, white tail light trim and an
immobilizer.
This is an non restored original car, that has been maintained (as
noted by the factory bolt markings and decals in the engine bay).
Additional items refurbished and/or replaced include a new AGM
battery, window motor and regulator.
