Come over to our booth and discover this Classic car!
Back in the mid 1980s Shoji Takahashi, a Japanese designer, set about creating a retro-styled car that would have all the charisma of a Sixties classic but with all the benefits. of modern standards in safety, comfort and performance. The result is the Nissan Figaro, which remains one of the most unusual cars of the late 20th century.
Revealed at the 1989 Tokyo motor show, the Nissan Figaro was an instant hit and it soon became apparent that the manufacturer’s original intention to produce just 8,000 units would fall well short of the potential demand. It was so over-subscribed at launch that the 250,000 would-be buyers had to enter a lottery and hope they would be one of the 20,000 names out of the hat. Fifteen years on, the Figaro is still in demand and a classic in its own right, with a devoted British following. High-profile owners include Eric Clapton and Frank Skinner.
Powered by a 1 litre petrol engine, the Figaro was, in essence, a reskinned Nissan Micra. A turbocharger boosted its power to 75bhp and, thanks to a kerb weight of just under 1,800lb, the car offered plenty of zip for the city while still returning good fuel economy.
But few buyers were concerned with the Figaro’s technical specifications, it was the model’s looks that set it apart. With styling more reminiscent of the late 1950s and early 1960s the Figaro was offered in just four body colours – topaz mist, emerald green, pale aqua and lapis grey – with each of the nonmetallic, matt finishes designed to represent a different season of the year.
CollectValue’s booth is located at the ‘Museum Plaza’ in Hall 7.
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