Datsun DS

1950 DS Model

A company slowly getting back on it's feet.

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Datsun's first passenger car after the end of the war was the Datsun DA, which was based on the Datsun 1121 truck, which itself was based on the pre-war Datsun 17T truck. The Datsun DA was a very basic and austaire car. Supply shortages meant that many materials used for car production were in short supply, and the Datsun DA reflected that problem.
By the start of the 1950s Japan was on the road to recovery, and as a result the material shortages that plagued Nissan through the late 1940s were at an end. Chrome was readilly available, and now there was no need to skimp on quality and to cut back on the details. In 1950 Nissan released a new small truck model called the Datsun 4146, which was for all intents and purposes a 1937 Datsun 17T truck, except with a more powerful new engine. The new Datsun DS sedan was basically a Datsun 4146 truck with a sedan body.

It is worth noting that the Datsun DS was based on the new version of the Datsun 17T truck and not the Datsun 17 sedan, as there was a major difference between the two. The 17 sedan had a significantly longer bonnet, and as a result had the windscreen set further back in the vehicle. For the truck version of the 17, the 17T, the windscreen and cabin area were moved closer to the front so as to allow more room for a longer cargo area on the truck. As a result, the Datsun DS has a much shorter bonnet than the pre-war Datsun 17. A comparison of these models is shown below.

The grille on the Datsun DS is identical to the one used on the Datsun 17T, except that the centre vertical bar of the grille on the 17T was originally painted the same colour as the body, on the DS this bar is now chrome plated.

The engine used on the DS was essentually the same as the Type 7 unit used on the Datsun DA, except a few modifications were made to lift the power output up to 20hp. The Datsun DS was only in production for a brief time, with the last one rolling off the line in early 1951.

Model Variations

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Datsun DS - 1950

The two door sedan was the only version of the Datsun DS that was built.

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Datsun 4146 Truck  

The Datsun DS was based on the Datsun 4146 truck, more information about this vehicle can be found on the Datsun 4146 page.  

1950 Datsun DS Sedan Specifications  

Length - 3185mm
Width - 1380mm
Height - unknown
Wheelbase - 2006mm
Weight - unknown
Top speed - unknown
Transmission - Floor
change 3 speed

Engine Specifications

Model - Type 7
Side Valve 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 722cc
Bore & Stroke 55x75mm
Power - 20hp@3600rpm
Torque- unknown
Compression - 6.5 : 1
Carburettor - unknown
Final drive - unknown

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