The Nissan President is a Japanese luxury sedan manufactured by Nissan from 1965 until 2010 and was initially exclusive to the Japanese domestic market until the late 1980s where exports began to a few countries like Singapore and Hong Kong in limited quantities. This vehicle was Japan’s first full-size vehicle and was one of the few vehicles at the time to be marketed under the Nissan brand unlike other Nissan products at the time which were branded under Datsun. Living up to its name, the Nissan President was the vehicle of choice for titans of industry and heads of state like Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, who used one for transportation and helped give the President much needed publicity in its early years.
Since the Nissan President was first released, there have been four different generations, with the second generation Sovereign VIP trim being amongst the most sought after for its elegant styling, interior amenities and premier performance. The second generation Nissan President also known as the H250 President was built from 1973 to 1989 and featured a much longer front and rear end then the first generation and was additionally equipped with an updated front grill, headlamps and rear tail lights.
For this new generation, Nissan phased out its Y40 V8, replacing it with the larger displacement Y44E V-8 that had increased its size from 4.0 to 4.4 liters and added electronic fuel injection in replacement for its four-barrel carburetor. This upgraded motor produced 200 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. In addition to the upgraded performance and design features, the range topping 1985 Sovereign VIP trim also boasted heated rear seats, a cassette tape deck, a reclining rear passenger seat with a foot rest, a TV tuner and a remote control for audio and climate settings.
In the United States, the Nissan President is a mysterious vehicle that most have never even heard of. A random user under popular reddit thread “r/regularcarreviews” , labeled the Nissan President as “the official car of JDM cars that you need to buy now before people discover them”. And after taking the President through Los Angeles for a stroll, most thought it was a Rolls Royce of some sort and were extremely curious to learn more. With Japanese classics getting more and more popular here in the United States, it is safe to say that the Nissan President is one Hollywood feature away from skyrocketing popularity.
