BumbleBe1: 1987 Nissan Be-1

I love it when a seller tells a story.  And this next seller does deliver the goods.  Not only does he do a good job of articulating his reasons for selling the car (which aren't really necessary in the sale of a vehicle) but he also goes to great lengths to show that he is indeed a 61 year old man who just purchased a new Ford Ranger and even includes a selfie of said self and Ranger.  The last part of the story that I love is the fact that he is both reasonable in his asking price and firm in his conviction -- so don't send him a text message with a random and un-substantiated offer.  Personally, as a used car seller on the web, the thing I hate the most are random low ball SMS offers that have zero actual substance.  I usually reply with a "yes, I will take $xxx offer, but only if you immediately send me $1000 non-refundable deposit."  Never had a taker. Find this 1987 Nissan Be-1 offered for $4328 in Portland, OR via craigslist.

Head on a Pike: 1989 Nissan Pao

Whenever I find a Nissan Pike car (Pao, S-Cargo, Figaro, Be-1, K10-Micra) I find myself inexplicably writing about the car.  The Pike cars beat the New Beetle, New Mini, PT Cruiser to the retro-style market, but keeping everything in perspective --the old Mini had been retro-styled since about 1970, the Beetle since about 1960.  What was old is now new again...et cetera. Find this 1989 Nissan Pao offered for $9300 in Burlingame, CA via craigslist.

Detective Pikachu: 1987 Nissan Be-1

In the late 1980s Nissan released a series of retro-styled vehicles into the Japanese market built on what is known in common parlance as the Pike platform.  The funky retro-designs were penned by a guy named Naoki Sakai who was noted for bringing retro styling to Olympus brand cameras.  The limited production retro-minis included Be-1, K10-Micra, Pao, Figaro and snail styled S-Cargo.  Regrettably, Nissan did not export any of these little oddballs into the USA, but you can find examples that have migrated here over the years.  Find this 1987 Nissan Be-1 offered for $8500 in Long Beach, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

RHD Snail Trail: 1989 Nissan S-Cargo

Another day, another cute snail shaped classic oddball Japanese domestic market (JDM) classic on the pages of Daily Turismo.  Why?  Because it's never too late to trade your terrible late model boring crossover lamemobile into an AWESOME piece of automotive history (read about Nissan's Pike cars here).  Stop driving Ford Escapes, Nissan Rogues, Honda CRV, Toyota RAV4, and get yourself into something that'll make people smile!  Find this 1989 Nissan S-Cargo offered for $12,000 in Olympia, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

1989 Nissan Pao vs 1991 Nissan Figaro

What are the chances? Two of Nissan's sweet retrotastic "Pike" cars for sale at the same time.  Most people have never heard of oddball classics, much less seen one in the wild and here is your chance to buy two of them for less than a new Accord.  Now you get to pick the one you like better.  First up is this 1989 Nissan Pao offered for $14,800 in Gardena, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Narcotizing Waft of Affordability: 1991 Nissan Figaro

"Hey DT, you guys post too many interesting cars offered for low prices"...said nobody ever.  At least, we haven't gotten that complaint yet (we have been accused of posting too many Volvos and, once, of sneaking into someones garage to take pictures of his car for sale...true story).  What is interesting might be a moving target, and the "low price" bogey is an ever evolving landscape of supply-versus-demand...but I think the basic thought behind this website is: you don't need to be a millionaire to drive something that is interesting, fun, and unique.  Like this 1991 Nissan Figaro offered for $6900 in Houston, TX via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Right in the Kisser: 1989 Nissan Pao

Whenever I find a Nissan Pike car (Pao, S-Cargo, Figaro, Be-1, K10-Micra) I find myself inexplicably writing about the car.  They aren't particularly fast, fun to drive, or that easy to go through drive-thrus in the USA...but there is something superbly cool about the little retro-styled JDM classics that is irresistible to my pen...errr..keyboard. Maybe if I owned one, I wouldn't write about them so often. Find this 1989 Nissan Pao here on eBay bidding for $4,150 reserve-not-met or $7,500 buy-it-now, located in Orlando, FL.

Red Classic: 1988 Nissan Be-1

In the late 1980s Nissan released a series of retro-styled vehicles into the Japanese market built on what is called the Pike platform.  The wacky designs were penned by Naoki Sakai who was noted for bringing retro styling to Olympus brand cameras.  The limited production retro-minis included Be-1, K10-Micra, Pao, Figaro and snail styled S-Cargo.  Regrettably, Nissan did not export any of these little oddballs into the USA, but you can find examples that have migrated here over the years.  Yay for the grey market!  Find this 1988 Nissan Be-1 offered for $11570 near Atlanta, GA via craigslist. Tip from Matt C.

Head On A Pike: 1991 Nissan Figaro

Back before people were rolling their eyes at Chrysler's PT Cruiser and gouging their eyes out at the HHR, there was a properly cool postmodernist series of cars -- known as the Pike models from Nissan. The Figaro is the cutest of the Pike cars and it was retrostyled to resembled a 1960s Datsun Fairlady.  The little machine has a cool convertible roof that rolls down the center of the vehicle, but keeps the C-pillars in place.  The Figaro was built on the K10 Nissan Micra/March chassis and the interior (designed by Shoji Takahashi) was also styled to be a throwback to the past, with a simple padded dash, two big round gauges, sweet toggle switches, and a bunch of chrome.  Find this 1991 Nissan Figaro offered for $12,500 in Naples, FL via craigslist. Tip from Dascpcu.

Not A Slug: 1989 Nissan S-Cargo

The Nissan S-Cargo is a part of Nissan's Pike family of vehicles that were sold new in Japan and predated the early 2000s retro-style fad (PT Cruiser, Prowler, HHR, SSR etc). The S-Cargo looks like a washing machine with cartoon eyes, but it was a retro styled tribute to the Citroën 2CV Fourgonnette delivery van built on a modern unibody chassis from Nissan.  Even the name S-Cargo sounds like Escargot or snail in French. Find this 1989 Nissan S-Cargo offered for $4500 CAD ($3665 USD)  in Vancouver, BC via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!.

I Don't Wanna Be One: 1989 NIssan Be-1

DT: Well Costello you’ve did it again. You’re always insulting people. I’ve come to the conclusion that you need a new car. What you need is a retro styled Nissan.
KBZ:Nissan?
DT: Yes, for instance, Be-1.
KBZ: Be one what?
DT: Eh, just Be-1.
KBZ: Just be one.
DT: Yes.
KBZ: Are you one?
DT: No.
KBZ: Then why should I be one?
DT: Oh!
KBZ: If it ain’t good enough for you it ain’t good enough for me! What do you wanna do push me into these things by myself?
DT: I’m not pushing you into anything, I’m trying to tell you something that’s good for your commute.
KBZ: Well what is it?
DT: Be-1!
KBZ: But I don’t wanna be one!
DT: I don’t want you to be one!
KBZ: No?
DT: No. When I say be one I don’t mean be one I mean Be-1.
KBZ: Oh when you say be one you don’t mean be one you just mean be one?
DT: That’s right!
KBZ: That’s right? I don’t even know what I’m talking about!
Find this 1989 NIssan Be-1 offered for $11,500 near Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Auction Watch: 1987 Nissan Be-1

Find this 1987 Nissan Be-1 here on eBay bidding for $5,000 in Cusseta, GA with 2 days to go.

1989 Nissan S-Cargo

Back in the 1980s when retro-styling wasn't a thing, the nuts at Nissan built a series of cars known as the Pike family that consisted of the Be-1, Pao, Figaro and S-Cargo.  Various examples of the Pao and Figaro seem to be for sale around the web from time-to-time, but the S-Cargo version is much more rare (at least in the USA). The the 25 year rule behind us, it seems like a good time to own one of the Pike cars. Find this 1989 Nissan S-Cargo offered for $8,495 via Japaneseclassics.com. Tip from SeanT.

Retroriffic: 1990 Nissan Pao

Starting in the late 1990s, cars with retro styling cues have become big sellers in the US.  The retro car trend did not originate in America, however.  PT Cruisers, Prowlers, SSRs, HHRs, Crossfires, VW Beetles, Fiat 500s, Mustangs, Camaros and Minis all owe something to this early pioneer of the nostalgic aesthetic movement.  Find this 1990 Nissan Pao for sale in Omaha, NE for $5,500 via craigslist.

Almost Legal: 1991 Nissan Figaro

Whenever we post some oddball car, I also put a request at the bottom for people to find examples of similar cars and sometimes a few examples sneak in.  However, if you read this site on a regular basis, you might be familiar with tipper FuelTruck, who regularly scours craigslist across the nation for good deals, and when we asked for Nissan Pike based cars...he delivered.  Find this 1991 Nissan Figaro #4610 offered for an undisclosed amount, located in Vancouver Island, Canada.  Tip from FuelTruck

Right In The Kisser: 1989 Nissan Pao

In the late 1980s Nissan released a series of retro-styled vehicles for the Japanese market built on what is called the Pike platform with design by Naoki Sakai who was noted for bringing retro styling to Olympus brand cameras.  The limited production retro-minis included Be-1, K10-Micra, Pao, Figaro and snail styled S-Cargo.  Regrettably, Nissan did not export any of these little oddballs into the USA, but you can find examples that have migrated here over the years.  Find this 1989 Nissan Pao offered for $10,000 in NYC via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

5k: Snail Power: 1989 Nissan S-Cargo

The Nissan S-Cargo was launched in 1989 as part of the Pike series (Be-1, Pao, Figaro and S-Cargo) of retro-styled economy cars. Nissan's Pike cars beat the New Beetle, New Mini, PT Cruiser to the retro-style market, but keep in mind that the old Mini had been retro-styled by default since about 1970, and the Beetle since about 1960.  Find this 1989 Nissan S-Cargo currently bidding for $750 reserve-not-met on eBay with 5 days to go, located in Bellingham, WA.  Tip from Johnny.

5k: Head On A Pike: 1990 Nissan S-Cargo

The Nissan Figaro we posted on Monday was admittedly overpriced, especially considering that it is persona non grata for licensing in the state of California for at least 2 more years, and we found a much cheaper example in Vancouver, BC Canada for $7500 CAD.  Still, the Figaro offers little useability, but its strangely named Pike build cousin, the S Cargo, is certainly a better car for taking trips to the dry cleaners, taxidermy shops, dump...et cetera.  Find this 1990 Nissan S Cargo offered for $7,500 in Victoria, BC Canada via craigslist.