I drove one of these once it was cool

Kinja'd!!! "Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
10/30/2020 at 14:55 • Filed to: Front mid engine longitudinal mounted inline 60 degree 4 cyl

Kinja'd!!!2 Kinja'd!!! 27

I love weird cars, this one was all time weird but amazingly practical and quite nice to drive.  Photos of datsuns for those of you that guess the model correctly. 

Kinja'd!!!

DISCUSSION (27)


Kinja'd!!! Boxer_4 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:01

Kinja'd!!!4

Previa?


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:01

Kinja'd!!!5

Toyota Previa?


Kinja'd!!! Captain Cayman... > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:02

Kinja'd!!!7

Toyota Previa mini van/egg thing. Mid engine and supercharged for the win. 


Kinja'd!!! SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:06

Kinja'd!!!4

If only there had been a Can-Am Race or NASCAR Series built around these, eh?

Mid-engined, forced induction minivans on the high bank at Daytona at 190... Tell me THAT wouldn’t drive showroom traffic on Monday.


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Captain Cayman...
10/30/2020 at 15:07

Kinja'd!!!2

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jim Spanfeller
10/30/2020 at 15:08

Kinja'd!!!3

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Boxer_4
10/30/2020 at 15:08

Kinja'd!!!2

Kinja'd!!!


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/30/2020 at 15:09

Kinja'd!!!1

Cab forward for increased crash protection. Top speeds around 140   KPH.


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:15

Kinja'd!!!0

I wonder what a race car built out of a Previa drivetrain could be like... Probably slow, but interesting.


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Jim Spanfeller
10/30/2020 at 15:16

Kinja'd!!!3

If you made it half the height with some decent aero it would be entertaining for sure. I think the super char ged version had like 160 HP or so.


Kinja'd!!! 66P1800inpieces > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:17

Kinja'd!!!2

Kinja'd!!!

https://honda-tech.com/forums/general-discussion-debate-40/making-open-source-plans-convert-mid-engine-van-previa-into-sports-car-3262753/


Kinja'd!!! Xanadu603 > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:24

Kinja'd!!!1

Yeah they are unusual, cool though. Were they all AWD or just some? 


Kinja'd!!! facw > Xanadu603
10/30/2020 at 15:26

Kinja'd!!!1

Just some. Mine was RWD.


Kinja'd!!! SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:28

Kinja'd!!!0

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!


Kinja'd!!! facw > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 15:29

Kinja'd!!!1

I owned one of these (well mine had a body on it). Great car. Crash tests are a bit awful though (I only had a minor incident where I crushed a Suzuki Samurai while doing no damage to my car). But it drove nicely (if slowly) and had some nice features for the time (rear A/C, fold up rear seats). Mine didn’t have the dual sunroofs, 2nd row captain’s chairs, AWD, or supercharger, but all would have been welcome.


Kinja'd!!! Xanadu603 > facw
10/30/2020 at 15:33

Kinja'd!!!1

Well it was easy enough, I see the shafts go forward and back on this one. The last one I looked at in a lot had an AWD badge. 


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish
10/30/2020 at 15:56

Kinja'd!!!0

That was me in 1992, west of the rockies.


Kinja'd!!! ibRAD > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 16:21

Kinja'd!!!1

the wheels give it away, but I can’t think of any other examples from other manufacturers.

They were pretty neat little vans! I never got a chance to ride in one though.


Kinja'd!!! ibRAD > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 16:26

Kinja'd!!!1

I found a survivor! only 87k kms

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/toyota-previa-le/1524888918

the graphics are sharp too. In true toyota van tradition.


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > 66P1800inpieces
10/30/2020 at 16:57

Kinja'd!!!0

So it’s the base for the Lexus super car.


Kinja'd!!! Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ibRAD
10/30/2020 at 16:58

Kinja'd!!!1

Wow that’s a nice one 


Kinja'd!!! onlytwowheels > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 17:29

Kinja'd!!!1

There is possibly one for sale at a dealership in VT, with a manual transmission. The listing does not have photos or a price, and the Carfax says it was supposed to have been scrapped as part of t he 2009 Cash for Clunkers

. https://www.stjohnsburycdjr.com/used/Toyota/1992-Toyota-Previa-f0891c510a0d0cc73c6311ab7f6816d9.htm

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?partner=dlr_3&vin=jt3ac21s2n1008159&_ga=2.241300549.619172289.1604093106-813107397.1604093106


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 17:48

Kinja'd!!!1

Hahahahaha....Tarago. My old man hada first gen  one for a while! So much body flex.


Kinja'd!!! ibRAD > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 17:50

Kinja'd!!!1

My wife saw the ad and said “that’s an awesome vehicle. what IS it?”

If I had 20 grand to blow she’d totally be onboard.


Kinja'd!!! My bird IS the word > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 17:53

Kinja'd!!!1

You drove a bodyless autoshow demonstation chassis?


Kinja'd!!! Jim Spanfeller > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/30/2020 at 18:35

Kinja'd!!!0

I wonder if any of Toyota’s more tunable engines would easily swap in there?


Kinja'd!!! 66P1800inpieces > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/31/2020 at 01:49

Kinja'd!!!0

Yes, where the driver sits on the engine hump with their head through the sunroof.