Muscat: A collection of Nissan heritage cars spanning nearly 40 years were on display at the classic car show organised at Nissan Oman showroom at Qurum recently.
The classic car show brought together historically significant Nissan concept cars from the private collections of owners across Oman. His Highness ZuAlkuful bin Fatik Al Said attended the event that showcased the amazing Nissan heritage collection of Oman. The event was jointly conceptualised with Classic Cars Oman.
A spokesperson for Nissan Oman, from the house of Suhail Bahwan Automobiles (SBA), said, “This was one of the most incredible displays we have had the pleasure of showcasing. The display was testimony that Nissan has demonstrated a commitment to innovation since the company's founding in 1933. Since its establishment, Nissan has been creating the kinds of cars that move people’s hearts. Nissan’s passion is to create ever-better cars for its customers. It is driven by the goal of moving people, moving their hearts, and changing history. The heritage car show was proof of this fact and visitors were thoroughly impressed with what was on display.”
Some of the heritage cars on display at the showroom included Nissan ZX (1973), Nissan Skyline GT (1977), Nissan HT (1983), Nissan Gloria 200L (1983) and Laural (1984).
Nissan ZX (1973)
A second-generation Z equipped with a 6-cylinder inline 2,758cc L28 engine. Attracting interest was the new styling, which featured the traditional long nose and short deck, blended with sharper lines, while the grille-less front end enhanced the unified look of the body. Both the 2-seater and the 2/2 offered more spacious interiors, further improving comfort.
Nissan Skyline GT (1977)
The fourth-generation Skyline, the C110 (nickname: Ken and Mary) with its 6-cylinder inline DOHC 24-valve S20 engine, it was the first domestic car to have disc brakes front and rear. This advanced engineering made it very popular, but production was halted at 197 units after stricter exhaust emission regulations were introduced.
Nissan HT (1983)
The design concept of the third-generation Laurel C230, focused on safety, low emissions, and low consumption. Its distinguishing feature was its styling, with its well-rounded body lines and large central grille. A new 4-door hardtop version was also introduced.
Nissan Gloria 200L (1983)
The sixth-generation Gloria (430) was launched in June 1979. The styling was modified to emphasize straight lines. With the appearance of this model, the 2-door hardtop version was discontinued. In October that year, the first domestic model to be fitted with a turbo engine was introduced.
Laural (1984)
The development concept of the C32, the fifth-generation model was that of a ‘luxurious personal saloon which pampers the senses’. Starting with the world's first electric, coloured door mirrors (auto reflex), it featured a wealth of advanced technology, such as Japan's first headlight leveller and swing-up tilt steering wheel with memory function.
The innovation Nissan has made along the way has sometimes transcended the realm of auto manufacturing and has brought about wide-ranging societal changes. For example, zero emission vehicles. Nissan’s development of electric vehicles began with the Tama electric car. That work led to today’s Nissan LEAF and e-NV200 EVs.
Ever since Nissan’s founding, Nissan placed importance on bringing the fun and convenience of automobiles to all. With Datsun brand cars, for example, Nissan aimed to enable each household to own their car by creating Japan’s first mass-produced automobile, and these cars are now symbolic of that age.
Learning from engineers from overseas, collaborating with companies with different areas of strength, and increasing Nissan’s organisation a land cultural diversity have all contributed greatly to Nissan auto manufacturing capabilities.