Manufacturer Datsun/Nissan Layout FR layout | Production 1933
150 produced | |
Assembly Yanase Motor/Nihon Jidosha Corp. (body)
Tobata Casting (chassis) Body style phaeton, roadster, sedan Engine 747 cc DAT side-valve I4 | ||
Description
The 1933 Datsun Type 12 was a small car produced by the Nissan corporation. The name Datsun was used by DAT for their line of small cars. After the DAT corporation was absorbed into Nissan, these cars continued to be produced, and the original model name was maintained. The Type 12 was basically similar to the earlier 1932 Type 11, but had a larger engine.
Japanese laws at that time did not require a license to drive automobiles with small-displacement engines. DAT/Nissan produced the Datsun Type 11 as their entry into this market. The original limitation for this class of vehicles was 500 cc displacement engines, but that was changed to 750 cc in 1933. Nissan responded to this change by producing a larger engine, and gave the more powerful car a new name, the Type 12.