Datsun DS-4 Thrift

1952 DS-4 Model

Without any doubt, if there was an award for the most unattractive early Datsun the DS-4 would win it easilly.

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The poor unfortunate Datsun DS-4 is a complete styling nightmare. Full of odd angles and mis-placed curves, it looks like something assembled with the panels from five different cars. Probably the only nice thing you could say about the Datsun DS-4 is that Nissan managed to create a car so unique that it looks like nothing else on the face of the planet. (Though the back does remind me of a Triumph Mayflower, which isn't saying much, as the Mayflower is quite possibly the ugliest British car ever built)
The DS-4 was the replacement for the 1951 Datsun DS-2, no DS-3 model was built, the numbering instead went from DS-2 to DS-4. The DS-2 was a 2 door and the DS-4 is a 4 door, but the model naming has nothing to do with the number of doors as they followed this car with the DS-5 and DS-6, neither of which has 5 or 6 doors.

As mentioned above, the DS-4 is a four door, whereas the previous cars were all 2 door vehicles. Rather interestingly, this car and the Datsun DB-4 which was released at the same time, were the first 4 door cars to wear the Datsun name. The DS-4 is mechanically similar to the previous DS-2, and it uses the same 722cc 20hp Datsun Type 7 engine, though it uses a lengthened chassis to provide the extra space needed for the larger cabin.

 The grille on the DS-4 consists of six horizontal chrome bars with one vertical chrome bar in the middle. The car features rear hinged 'suicide doors' on the front and conventional front hinged doors at the back. Individual chrome letters on the front of the bonnet spell the Datsun name. As with it's predecessor the DS-4 was sold as the Datsun Thrift. It was replaced in late 1953 with the DS-5, which had a larger engine.

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Model Variations

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Datsun DS-4 Thrift

There were no model variants, the sedan was the only model in the range.  

1952 Datsun DS-4 Thrift Specifications

Length - 3750mm
Width - 1458mm
Height - 1535mm
Wheelbase - 2150mm
Weight - 930kg
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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