The 31 series went into production in October 1962, and went on sale early in 1963.
The stacked headlight treatment of the previous 30 series Cedric always looked a bit odd, and was the only thing spoiling what was a very handsome motor car. The new 31 series Cedric rectified this with a completely new front end treatment, with the headlights now mounted horizontally and a new pressed steel grille.
The new design required new front guards and a different bonnet design. The new grille has 13 thin horizontal bars with the 6th bar being slightly wider. The emblem in the grille has a white reflector behind it.
The 31 has the same a metal dash board as the 30 series, with two large round dials. There was a choice of two engines, as with the 30 Series it used the 1488cc 77hp OHV 4cyl. G series engine or the 1883cc 95hp OHV 4cyl. H series engine.
The air cleaner has been relocted and now sits on top of the carburetor, rather than beside it. The carburetor is a Nikki 2D-32A two barrel down draught with mechanical secondary control.
The tail lights have a large red section on top and a smaller amber section underneath. They no longer extend all the way down to the bumper bar, but instead end about 8cm above it. It has round reflectors under the tail lights.
Also as with the 30 series, the 31 was available as a 4 door sedan and as a 5 door wagon or van.
The side strips are slightly different to the 30 Series and now no longer have the "arrow head" point at the front of the car. The polished stainless steel side strips have a recess in the middle section which is a dull finish on the deLuxe and Custom, but is shiny on the Standard models.
The side badges on the car say Cedric and 1900. If it is the Standard model the 1900 badge is chrome, on the deLuxe model it is gold. Custom models will have Custom instead of 1900. At the back there is a 1900 badge on the left, and a Nissan badge on the right side. A deLuxe model will have a gold deLuxe badge under the Nissan badge, and the Custom will have a gold Custom badge. Standard models have a small version of the rear Nissan badge located in the centre of the dash, where the radio would go in the other models. A gold Cedric star emblem is located in the middle of the grille. If the vehicle is a 1500 Standard model there wiil be no badges indicating the engine size, the sections that would have the 1900 badge in other models are just left blank.
DeLuxe and Custom models have stainless steel door window frames and roof gutter channels, on Standard models these are painted the same colour as the body. Upper spec models featured cloth upholstery with a gold metal thread running through it.
The interior remained mostly unchanged. The main difference is a change in the fabrics used inside, the base model cars had all vinyl upholstery, while others models had a cloth trim with a gold metal thread. The rear window curtains featured in the 30 series have been deleted.
The 31 series marked the first time Nissan attempted to sell a large sized car outside of Asia. The Cedric went on sale in Australia in 1963 and became a success in that country. Australians took to the Cedric straight away, as the cars robust design and ample dimensions suited Australian conditions. Nissan were well aware of the sales potential of a big car in Australia, and they actually carried out some of their extreme weather testing in the Australian Outback. They were certainly no top 10 sales performer, but they sold in quantities that made them a regular sight on Australian roads in the 60s and 70s. Several cities saw the Cedrics used as taxis as well. The Cedric models continued to be a good seller in Australia right through into the mid-1980s, though the Cedric name was dropped in the late 1960s and the later cars were sold as the Datsun 2000, 240C, 260C, 280C and 300C.
The 31 Cedric went on sale in the USA in 1963 and was a sales disaster. The initial shipment of 236 cars took until 1965 to sell. Nissan didn't try to sell another large car in the USA until the Maxima in the 1990s.
The Cedric deLuxe is the mid-sized model with short front doors and long back doors. It has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. Has the 1883cc engine. The deLuxe has stainless steel door window frames, hubcaps that cover the whole wheel, stainless steel side mouldings that have a dull finish in the middle and stainless steel roof drip channel mouldings.
The deLuxe version of the previous 30 series Cedric was a short wheel base model with deLuxe fittings.
The Custom is the long wheel base variant of the 31 series and has long front doors and long back doors. it has a 4650mm long body with 972mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. It has the 1883cc engine. Has stainless steel door window frames, hubcaps that cover the whole wheel, stainless steel side mouldings that have a dull finish in the middle and stainless steel roof drip channel mouldings.
The Custom model of the previous 30 series Cedric had the short front door and long back door body.
The Standard is the short wheel base model with short front doors and short rear doors. It has a basic vinyl interior and is missing many of the luxury appointments of the upper models. It has a 4490mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 860mm long rear doors. Has the 1488cc engine. It has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings.
The wagon variant has a 4690mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 860mm long rear doors. Has the 1883cc engine. Is an 8 seater, with a rear facing 3rd seat that folds down flat under the cargo area. Has stainless steel door window frames, hubcaps that cover the whole wheel, stainless steel side mouldings that have a dull finish in the middle and stainless steel roof drip channel mouldings. The trim and equipment levels are similar to the deLuxe sedan.
The van version has a 4690mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 860mm long rear doors. Has the 1883cc engine. Is basically the same as the Wagon except it is a 6 seater, it does not have the 3rd seat. Has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings. It's trim and equipment levels are similar to those of the Standard sedan.
The Cedric Special is an extra long wheel base version of the H31 series Cedric Custom. It is 145mm longer than the H31, giving it an overall length of 4795mm in length. This extra length is all in the front of the car from the windscreen forward, and is needed to accomodate the 2825cc 118hp OHV 6cyl. K series engine.
More information about this car can be found on the Cedric Special page.
Length - 4590mm
Width - 1690mm
Height - 1505mm
Wheelbase - 2630mm
Weight - 1240kg
Top speed - 140kph
Transmission
Column change 4 speed
1900 Engine
Model - H
OHV 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 1883cc
Bore & Stroke 85x83mm
Power - 95bhp@4800rpm
Torque- 120ft/lb@3200rpm
Compression - 8.5 : 1
Carburettor - Hitachi D3234A-14 dual throat downdraught
Final drive 4.62 : 1
1500 Engine
Model - G
OHV 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 1488cc
Bore & Stroke 80x74mm
Power - 77bhp@4800rpm
Torque-87ft/lb@2400rpm
Compression - 8 : 1
Carburettor - Hitachi 30/32 dual throat down draught
Final drive 5.125 : 1
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