Nissan’s Auto Museum: the Ginza Gallery

It is widely known that Nissan is in the autoauto museum is the Nissan Silvia introduced in
industry a long time and through the years, Nissan1964. The sport coupe debuted at the Tokyo
has introduced some of the most memorableMotor Show that year and is known to be
auto models. These vehicles are now beinghand-built and based on the Fairlady. The fact that
showcased at the company’s auto museumevery Nissan Silvia was hand-built made the coupe
in Tokyo.an expensive one. From 1964 to 1968 when
The Ginza Gallery as it is called is located right inproduction was discontinued, there were 554 units
the middle of Tokyo’s shopping and businessof this car that was produced. Most of these cars
district. It combines the heritage of Nissan and thewere sold in Japan while 49 units where exported
new auto models in its showroom. Unlike manyto Australia and ten more were sent to other
auto museums, the Ginza Gallery is open to theparts of the world.
public and is conveniently located in front ofWhile production for the vehicle was discontinued
Nissan’s headquarters in the said city.in 1968, the Silvia will return once again to
One of the vehicles on the gallery is the NissanNissan’s lineup in 1974 and was once again
X-Trail - the compact crossover SUV that Nissandiscontinued in 2002. In its first stint in the
sells in the United States auto market. Itsmarket, the Silvia did not attract much attention
presence at the museum is proof that the galleryfrom car buyers, but in its revival in the 1970s, its
not only displays classic cars but also the newpopularity took off giving Nissan’s S chassis
vehicles that Nissan produces. The X-Trail’sits place in the annals of the auto industry.
direct competitors are the Toyota RAV4 and theAnother classic car displayed at the museum is
Honda CR-V. The X-Trail is assembled atthe Datsun Cherry. The car family is the first
Nissan’s facility in the Philippines, Indonesia,Nissan vehicle to use a front-wheel drive
Japan, Malaysia, and Taiwan.configuration. The subcompact car is later named
A classic Nissan car displayed at the museum isas the Nissan Pulsar although in some markets, it
the Fairlady. The roadster is considered as one ofis still called the Cherry. Like its contemporaries in
the best looking convertibles of its time. TheDatsun’s lineup, it is also engineered to be a
Fairlady is the direct ancestor of the Z car whichfast car. In fact, a coupe version of the Cherry
Nissan is known for. It was first produced by themade appearances in the Japanese race circuit in
car manufacturer in 1959 and was discontinued inthe early 1970s.
1970. Throughout its stint in the market, NissanAnother classic model in display at the museum is
produced 40,000 units of the roadster. Thethe Nissan Laurel which was introduced by the
Fairlady badge though is not used in othercompany in 1968. It was intended to fill the gap
markets. Instead, it was marketed under thebetween the Bluebird and the Nissan Cedric during
Datsun Sports name. The popularity of thethat time. The Laurel is only marketed in select
Fairlady is due to the fact that they are aAsian and European car markets. Through its stint
cheaper alternative to European sports cars.in Nissan’s lineup, the Laurel underwent ten
Another classic Nissan car at the Ginza gallery isgeneration of redesigns. Unlike the Cherry, the
the 2000 GTX. The Skyline 2000 GTX benefitedLaurel used the rear-wheel drive configuration.
from the success of the Fairlady in the senseThe last vehicle on display at the museum is the
that the capability of the company to produceNissan Cedric. The Cedric was first introduced in
high performance vehicles is already made known1960 and remains in Nissan’s lineup to this day
to the car buying public. The 2000 GTX is ratedmaking it one of Nissan’s longest running
to have a top speed of 120 miles per hour. Themodels. The Cedric is a large luxury car and is
reputation and the power of the 2000 GTX madeeasily recognizable as a Nissan car. Its present
it a big success since like the Fairlady, it ismodel uses the same design concepts used by
competitively priced. In fact, the 2000 GTX isother Nissan cars from the nose, fender, Nissan
used by celebrity racing enthusiasts.door handles, and rear bumper.
Another classic model showcased at Nissan’s