Nissan Caball

Nissan Caball
Nissan Caball
	1982 Nissan Caball
Overview
Manufacturer	Nissan
Production	1957–1983
Body and chassis
Class	Medium-duty truck
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Chronology
Predecessor	Nissan Type 80
Successor	Nissan Atlas

Last updated April 03, 2024

The Nissan Caball is a light commercial truck manufactured by Nissan Motors from December 1957 until December 1981. The Caball was mainly sold in Japan, Hong Kong, South East Asian countries, Australia, New Zealand, and few European countries and shared the Nissan Junior platform. While the Caball name came to an end in 1981 with the cancellation of the Junior, its larger replacement received the Nissan Atlas name in the domestic Japanese market (Cabstar in the export). These are 2–4 ton trucks, the lighter versions in the Atlas truck range took over after the lesser Cabstar/Homer.^[1] In Japan, it was available at Nissan Store locations and replaced by the Nissan Atlas.

Nissan Type 80

The "Type 80" was the first cab-over truck that Nissan produced. It was built between 1937 and 1941, during the time when Nissan was under a joint venture with American Graham-Paige. Thus, the Type 80 shared a modified version of the chassis from the Nissan Type 70 sedan (A copy of the Graham-Paige Crusader) but was lengthened and made heavier. Its cab design was patterned after the Federal COE truck of the same period.^[2]

As it was a truck, the Graham-Paige rear axle was not enough to support the payload the truck was going to be subjected to (around 2-3 tons) so it was replaced by a locally built heavy-duty rear axle. Apart from the standard platform truck, it was also available in many other body styles such as a van, fire truck and bus. The truck was utilized by the military during the Second World War, alongside other models from Toyota and Mitsubishi.

Nissan would not produce another cab-over truck until 1957.

First generation (C40)

First appearing in December 1957, the Nissan Junior Caball began as a cab-over version of the B40-series Nissan Junior.^[1] Like the Junior, the Junior Caball used the 1.5 L (1,489 cc) "1H" four-cylinder engine, developing 50 PS (37 kW) at 4,400 rpm. In August 1958 the C42 version was released (the C41 designation was skipped), with power up to 57 PS (42 kW).^[3] The C43 was released in 1959 with a new grille design that was larger and filled the space between the headlights. The cabin air intake used on the C40 and C42 was gone, with cabin air directed through the grille itself. Also gone was the interior floor hump, the C43 now featured a flat cabin floor in front of the seat. The cabover approach was used because of Japanese Government dimension regulations, which dictate how long a vehicle can be and how wide so as to stay within favorable annual road tax obligations.

Second generation (C140)

The C140 was introduced in April 1960 and continued in production until replaced by the C240 series six years later.^[1] While almost identical in appearance to the C40, it featured an all-new 1.5-litre G-series engine also seen in the Cedric. Power was up to 71 PS (52 kW) at 5,000 rpm. There was also a bus version called the Echo (GC140), which was introduced a month before the Caball.^[4] This was the first Caball to see export markets outside of Asia, reaching a certain level of success in Australian and Central American markets. There were also VC140 (van) and KC140 (microbus) versions available.^[5]

In 1962 the C141 Caball was introduced, which is when the "Junior" part of the name was dropped and the truck simply became the "Nissan Caball". Like the C40 and C140, the C141 is based on the Junior 40 pickup. While the 1.5-litre "G" engine remained available, the main engine was now the 1,883 cc H engine, offering 85 PS (63 kW). In 1963 the Caball underwent a major change, with the front sheetmetal replaced and with a more bulging, "droopy-eyed" appearance.^[6] There was also a QC141 version available, featuring a 2,164 cc SD22 diesel engine producing 70 PS (51 kW). Now based on the Junior 41 pickup, the C142 was released in late 1965 with few changes from the C141, with the "1900" badge replaced with a "2000" badge. The grille and mirrors were also different. The G and H engines were replaced by the 1,982 cc H20 engine, with 99 hp (74 kW). This was the last Nissan vehicle where the doors were hinged at the rear.^[7]

Third generation (C240)

The third generation Caball first appeared in August 1966.^[1] The exterior was redesigned with a more modern look with quad headlights, and for the first time, front-hinged doors. The interior was designed for Americans in mind, and could comfortably seat three even though it wasn't sold in North America. The C240 used the same engines as the C142. In 1969, the grille was changed. The badge on the front featured a wing-shape with a huge letter "N" in the middle and "Caball" in smaller writing below the N (this badge is similar to the one used on the C80). On the passenger side just above the headlight was a "G4" badge (gas model) or a "D4" badge (diesel model). The "Echo" bus version (GC240) was also available.^[4]

Fourth generation (C340)

The fourth and last generation Caball was introduced in May 1976 and was discontinued without a direct successor in late 1981.^[8] This generation was also marketed as the Nissan Clipper, a nameplate acquired with Nissan's takeover of the Prince Motor Company.^[1] The Clipper was sold through Prince stores, while the Caball was sold through the Nissan Motor sales network. Between 1979 and 1981 Nissan Diesel (UD) also had a version called the Bison, sold through their stores. The C340 used the cab and chassis of the preceding C240, but received a different front treatment and was somewhat longer. This model was also assembled in South Africa. Engines were the trusty two-liter H20 and the three-liter ED30 diesel. Power outputs are 72 and 63 kW (98 and 86 PS; 97 and 84 hp) respectively.^[9] In June 1980 the larger ED33 diesel arrived, with glowplugs for increased ease of operations and afterglow to help lower pollution.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan Atlas</span> Motor vehicle

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The Nissan Clipper is an automobile nameplate by Nissan that has been used for two separate commercial vehicle ranges of kei trucks in Japan. Originally, this was just a rebadged version of Prince's "Clipper" light/medium duty commercial vehicle range.

Nissan Cabstar is the name used in Japan for two lines of pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles sold by Nissan and built by UD Nissan Diesel, a Volvo AB company and by Renault-Nissan Alliance for the European market. The name originated with the 1968 Datsun Cabstar, but this was gradually changed over to "Nissan" badging in the early 1980s. The lighter range replaced the earlier Cabstar and Homer, while the heavier Caball and Clipper were replaced by the 2-4 ton range Atlas (kana:日産・アトラス). The nameplate was first introduced in December 1981.The Cabstar is known also as the Nissan Cabstar, Renault Maxity and Samsung SV110 depending on the location. The range has been sold around the world. It shares its platform with the Nissan Caravan. In spring 2014, Cabstar is now known as NT400.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Homer</span>

The Prince Homer was a small commercial vehicle manufactured by the now integrated Prince Motor Company. It was available as a van, called the Homy, a double cab, or regular cab truck. The first model was known as the T64, and was sold as the Prince Homer or PMC T64. The T640 was introduced in 1966 and was sold as a Nissan due to Prince merging with Nissan. It was shared with the Nissan Cabstar which was sold at Nissan Bluebird Store Japanese dealerships. Production of the T640 ended in 1968. The Homer was exclusive to Japanese Nissan dealerships called Nissan Prince Store, when Prince was merged with Nissan in 1966. The Homer name was discontinued in 1982, while the Cabstar name remained when Nissan refocused Nissan Prince Store vehicles as private purchase products.

The Nissan Junior was a series of medium-sized pickup trucks built from 1956 until 1982. It was introduced to fill the gap between the smaller, Datsun Bluebird based Datsun Truck, and heavier load capacity Nissans under the Nissan Diesel brand, like the 80-series trucks. After the merger with Prince Motor Company, the Junior and the Prince Miler were combined, sharing most of the characteristics, with the Junior sold at Nissan Bluebird Store Japanese dealerships, and the Miler sold at Nissan Prince Store until 1970.

References

1 2 3 4 5 "Nissan Fact File 2004-2005" (PDF). Nissan. 2005. pp. 24–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
↑ "Nissan Type 80 truck". Lasegundaguerra. Toryu. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
↑ Ozeki, Kazuo (2007). 日本のトラック・バス 1918~1972[Japanese Trucks and Buses 1918-1972] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Miki Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-4-89522-494-9.
1 2 "Company Development, Heritage: 1960's". Nissan. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-06-09.
↑ Bent, Alan. "1960 Nissan Junior Caball C140". Earlydatsun.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
↑ Bent, Alan. "1962 Nissan Junior Caball C141". Earlydatsun.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
↑ Bent, Alan. "1965 Nissan Caball C142". Earlydatsun.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.
↑ Data File 1987, Tokyo, Japan: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., April 1987, p. 8
↑ Wright, Cedric, ed. (September 1978). "Datsun Nissan South Africa uprates its 1978 LCV range". CAR (South Africa). Vol. 22, no. 8. Ramsay, Son & Parker (Pty) ltd. pp. 41–42.

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[Nissan2004-1] 1 2 3 4 5 "Nissan Fact File 2004-2005" (PDF). Nissan. 2005. pp. 24–27. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-08. Retrieved 2011-06-10.

[2] "Nissan Type 80 truck". Lasegundaguerra. Toryu. Retrieved 29 March 2023.

[Trucks18-72-3] Ozeki, Kazuo (2007). 日本のトラック・バス 1918~1972[Japanese Trucks and Buses 1918-1972] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Miki Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-4-89522-494-9.

[Nissan_1960s-4] 1 2 "Company Development, Heritage: 1960's". Nissan. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-06-09.

[bent1-5] Bent, Alan. "1960 Nissan Junior Caball C140". Earlydatsun.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.

[bent2-6] Bent, Alan. "1962 Nissan Junior Caball C141". Earlydatsun.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.

[7] Bent, Alan. "1965 Nissan Caball C142". Earlydatsun.com. Retrieved 2011-06-10.

[DF87-8] Data File 1987, Tokyo, Japan: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., April 1987, p. 8

[CarZA1178-9] Wright, Cedric, ed. (September 1978). "Datsun Nissan South Africa uprates its 1978 LCV range". CAR (South Africa). Vol. 22, no. 8. Ramsay, Son & Parker (Pty) ltd. pp. 41–42.

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