Until 1980, the Japanese company Nissan was hardly known in our country, but after it bought 36% of Motor Ibérica that year and since 1982 it took over the majority of the capital, the transformation began. New work methods arrived at the Barcelona plant and in January 1983 the first copy of the Nissan Patrol left the production line, an all-terrain vehicle that immediately became the best-selling 4x4 on the Spanish market. A year later, the rear-wheel drive Vanette van began to be produced and soon served as an industrial vehicle in a good number of trades.
In addition, at Nissan dealers it was also possible to buy an Ebro truck, the Trade van, or the Cherry Europa GTI car, which had been on sale since May 1984. The body of this model was built in Japan, transported to the factory Alfa Romeo de Cassino, and there the assembly was completed with the 1,490 cc and 95 CV boxer engine taken from the Alfa Sprint and 33. However, the thousand units that were imported were overpriced and had a dubious finish, to which added the shortage of spare parts in the network of the old Motor Ibérica, all of which were reasons that led to its sale stopping in 1986.
THIS WAS THE NISSAN BLUEBIRD
As an alternative, the company's managers opted in September 1986 to bring the Auster sedans directly from Japan, which in export markets were marketed as the Nissan Bluebird. It was about three volumes that, from 1983, incorporated transmission to the front axle, equipped with a transversal engine, and that in December 1985 underwent an aesthetic reform. After its presentation to the Spanish press in October 1986, the sale of the Bluebird 1.8 SGX Turbo and 2.0 SLX versions began. With these two variants, the Nissan Motor Ibérica network began to have a car positioned in the medium-high segment, which it could promote among the leaders of the companies purchasing Nissan Trade, Vanette, and Ebro trucks.
Although with a smaller displacement, the 1.8 SGX Turbo version was powered by a Bosch L-Jetronic injection and produced 135 CV thanks to the turbocharger. Its equipment included an electronic suspension with adjustable hardness and rear disc brakes, with its starting price being 2,916,000 pesetas. For its part, the 2.0 SLX had a 1,973 cc engine under its hood, fitted with a double-body carburetor and a maximum power of 105 hp at 5,200 rpm. The initial price of this variant was 2,510,000 pesetas, a competitive figure, especially if we take into account that there were still tariffs that penalized imported cars.
The unit that appears in this article was registered in November 1988 and used for the first time by Aurelio, who upon seeing it at the Gijón dealership, close to his home, did not hesitate to buy it to replace his Seat 131 1600 TC. Always kept in a garage, his first owner used it until 2017, the year he stopped driving and it became one of his grandchildren who took his grandfather to the places he wanted to visit.
In 2018, the Bluebird already had 206,000 km, and Manuel, a great fan of the model and owner of three Nissan Bluebirds, helped him find a buyer, although Aurelio finally chose to give it to his grandson in view of how well he kept his other copies.
With its bumpers painted in the same metallic green tone as the bodywork, the front is dominated by horizontal lines and the Nissan molding on the left side of the grille. In profile, the slight wedge line of its front third can be seen, followed by a habitable area in which the extension of the rear door above the wheel arch stands out. Also striking are the mud flaps installed as standard behind the wings, which protect against small impacts and corrosion, as well as the rear vents, which even evacuate hot air from the passenger compartment when the air conditioning is switched on. In turn, the rear has a horizontal line, finished off with complete light groups and the only moldings that identify the model.
WE OPEN THE DOOR OF THE NISSAN BLUEBIRD
We open the driver's door and settle into the velvet-upholstered seat, which has height and tilt adjustment and lumbar adjustment of the backrest. The steering wheel also has height and distance adjustments, which makes it easy to achieve the ideal position. The synthetic material steering wheel with two arms includes two buttons for the horn, while the instrument panel has a speedometer graduated up to 200 km/h, a rev counter whose red zone begins at 6,000 rpm, a digital clock, and two partial odometers. On the left side are the econometric and the coolant thermometer, accompanied on the right by the voltmeter and the fuel gauge in the tank.
On the left armrest are installed the controls for the four electric window lifters and their lock switches, while the equipment also includes electrically adjustable mirrors from the inside, headlight height adjustment, central door locking, power steering, and air conditioning. In addition, it has on the floor on the left side a lever with two controls, one to remotely open the trunk lid and another to open the fuel tank.
With the engine running, you can barely hear the idle. And when entering first gear, the smoothness and precision of the gear lever surprise. We started driving in the city and the power steering is smooth and fast enough with its 3.25 turns between stops, added to the generous glass surface and exterior mirrors that compensate for the 4.40 meters of the body. In this urban environment, the elasticity of the engine and the pleasant feel of the gearbox stand out, favoring comfortable and relaxed driving.
We continue the journey on a local Asturian road, where the Bluebird exhibits understeering behavior in the curves, forcing us to anticipate turning the steering wheel. In return, the body hardly leans and shows a quite reassuring nobility of reactions. It is noted that the developments are studied to roll on the highway; They are long, with a second that can stretch to almost 90 km/h and a third that is too open, which invites you to practice tourist driving. Even with everything, the ventilated front discs and the adjustment of the suspensions authorize fast driving, despite a staggering change designed to travel on fast roads without the consumption skyrocketing.
We then enter the A-66 motorway, where the Nissan Bluebird advances smoothly in fifth gear at 120 km/h, with the rev counter needle set at 3,300 rpm. On this cruise, the rolling is very pleasant, in the company of a silent engine and the gusts caused by the air when it tries to avoid the windshield and rear-view mirrors. It also maintains comfort in linked curves, while the play of fourth and fifth gear is effective on slopes. It is also appreciated the softness of the seats and their studied anatomy, which allow a restful march for hundreds of kilometers. In the same sense, the spaciousness of the passenger compartment and the comfortable distance for the legs that the occupants of the rear seat enjoy stand out.
In short, these Japanese quotas of the Nissan Bluebird not only served to strengthen the reputation of the Japanese firm in the short term but have also demonstrated over time the solidity of their completion and mechanical reliability that favors their current maintenance as collector vehicles. In fact, the Blue Bird Classic Car Club has been created, which includes members whose Nissan Bluebird has more than 600,000 km and is kept in impeccable condition.
TECHNICAL SHEET OF THE NISSAN BLUEBIRD 2.0 SLX (1988)
- QUOTE: €2,500 - €800
- Engine: 4 cylinders in line, cast block and cylinder head, 5 crankshaft bearings, and liquid cooling.
- POSITION: transverse front.
- BORE X STROKE: 84.5 x 88.0 mm.
- DISPLAY: 1,973 cc.
- COMPRESSION: 8.5:1.
- DISTRIBUTION: overhead camshaft, belt, and 2 valves per cylinder.
- POWER SUPPLY: double body carburetor.
- POWER: 105 CV at 5,200 rpm.
- Transmission: To the front wheels.
- CLUTCH: dry single disc.
- CHANGE: manual, 5 relations.
- Frame: Self-supporting monocoque bodywork, made of steel.
- FRONT SUSPENSION: independent, McPherson type, with wishbones, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers, and stabilizer bar.
- REAR SUSPENSION: independent, with double wishbones, longitudinal braces, coil springs, telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers, and stabilizer bar.
- BRAKES: ventilated discs/drums, with hydraulic circuit.
- STEERING: rack, assisted.
- WHEELS: Mamba alloy wheels, in size 5.5-14, and 185/70 SR 14 tires.
- Bodywork: 5-seater saloon
- WHEELBASE: 2,550 mm.
- FRONT/REAR TRACKS: 1.46/1.46 m.
- LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 4.40 x 1.69 x 1.395 m.
- EMPTY WEIGHT: 1,175 kg.
- FUEL TANK: 60 l.
- MAX SPEED: 177 km/h.
- ACCELERATION 0-1000 M: 33.6 s.
- AVERAGE CONSUMPTION: 12.4 l/100 km.
- PRESENTATION: October 1986.
- TIME OF MANUFACTURE: 1983-1990.
- IMPORTED UNITS: 3,615 copies.
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