PLANET CEDRIC - a little corner of the earlydatsun.com universe
 
NISSAN CEDRIC 
31 SERIES
.
A major update of the original 30 series Cedric..
 .
 
NISSAN CEDRIC 31 SERIES  Mark 1  1963
.
.
The 31 series went into production in October 1962, and went on sale early in 1963. It featured 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. It 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 71hp 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. Available as a 4 door sedan and as a 5 door wagon or van.  
 
 
The 1963 model has a 13 bar pressed steel grille,and  horizontally mounted headlights.
  
Side view of the 1963 Nissan Cedric 1900 Wagon.
Every model, from the Standard right up to the Custom, were all fitted with white wall tyres.
 

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.  

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. 

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 side badges 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 instrad 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. 

 
 
 
 
The interior design is mostly unchanged, except for the introduction of new cloth fabrics in the deLuxe and Custom models.
New tail light design is smaller than the 30 series. Features less chrome and more lens. Large stop light on top, smaller indicator on the bottom. A small round reflector is mounted between the tail light and the bumper.
The only major change mechanically is to the air cleaner, which is now located on top of the carburetor. Carburetor is a Nikki 2D-32A two barrel down draught with mechanical secondary control.  

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 different models available in 1963 are -
31 - Cedric 1500 Standard - Has a 4490mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 860mm long rear doors. Has the 1488cc engine. Has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings. 
G31 - Cedric 1900 Deluxe - Has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. 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. 
G31S - Cedric 1900 Standard - Has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. Has the 1883cc engine. Has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings. 
H31 - Cedric 1900 Custom - Has a 4650mm long body with 972mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. 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. 
WP31 - Cedric Wagon - 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. 
VP31 - Cedric Van - 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. 
.
 
 
..
 
 
NISSAN CEDRIC 31 SERIES  Mark 2  -  1964
.
 
.
The 1964 model entered production in September 1963, and went on sale late 1963. For 1964 the biggest change was to the dashboard, which has been completely remodelled. The new dashboard has a timber veneer facia, and features a new wide instrument binacle with a long 'bar graph' style speedometer. The timber dashboard facia consists of three seperate sections (glove box lid, radio section, and instrument binnacle) that are a cast alloy material with a chrome plated raised edge. The timber veneer, which is real timber, is bonded to these alloy sections. The only exception to this is on the Standard model, which instead has a sort of anodised treatment to the sections that would have timber in the other models, and is grey in appearence.  

The grille has also been changed and is now made from a heavy chrome plated alloy material. The grille has a large horizontal bar in the centre, with 5 thin bars above the large central bar and three wide bars below it, which each have a series of six slots.  

The engines remained the same, with the 1488cc 71hp OHV 4cyl. G series engine or the 1883cc 95hp OHV 4cyl. H series engine, but were now fitted with a positive earth alternator instead of a generator and a different starter motor. It was available in 4 door sedan and 5 door wagon. The tail lights are the same as the Mark 1 31 series but the seperate reflectors underneath them are now a rectangular shape. 

 
 

 
Front view of the 1964 model, with it's cast alloy grille.
  
Side view of the 1964 Nissan Cedric.
.
It continued to be available as a Standard model, a deLuxe and the Custom. The Wagon and Van versions were also available. 

In June 1964 a diesel version went into production, which featured the SD20 diesel engine. A month after that, in July 1964, an automatic transmission version also became available, called the QGS31. The transmission used was a 3 speed Borg Warner unit. 

The side badges 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 instrad of 1900. Wagons will say Wagon 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, the Custom will have a gold Custom badge and the Wagon will have a gold Wagon badge. All models have a small Cedric badge on the glove box lid. Standard models have a small version of the Cedric star emblem 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. 
 
 

  
Timber veneer dashboard of the 1964 Nissan Cedric
 
Push button AM radio with electric antenna switch mounted above.
 
The different models available in 1964 are -
31 - Cedric 1500 Standard - Has a 4490mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 860mm long rear doors. Has the 1488cc engine. Has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings. 
G31 - Cedric 1900 Deluxe - Has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. 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. 
G31S - Cedric 1900 Standard - Has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. Has the 1883cc engine. Has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings. 
H31 - Cedric 1900 Custom - Has a 4650mm long body with 972mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. 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. 
WP31 - Cedric Wagon - 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. 
VP31 - Cedric Van - 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. 
.
 
..
 
 
NISSAN CEDRIC 31 SERIES  Mark 3  -  1965
.
 
.
The 1965 model went into production in September 1964. It continued to use the Mark 2 dashboard but the Mark 3 has a different upholstery design and heat stamped paterns in the door trims. The engine remains the same except that it now has an alloy tappet cover instead of a pressed steel one.  

The grille has been changed and now has some of the recessed areas painted matt black. The lower section of the grille has a series of small rectangles that protrude from the grille, these are stacked 3 high and 4 across. It is available in a 4 door sedan and a 5 door wagon or Van. The tail lights now have a smaller red section, an amber section in the middle and a clear reversing light on the bottom. The 1488cc engine is no longer available. The steering box has been changed from a worm and roller design to a recirculating ball. 
 

  
Front of the 1965 Nissan Cedric.
Recessed areas of the grille are painted matt black.
  
Interior of the 1965 Cedric.  
Heat stamped door trim upholstery and different cloth trim.
.
It continued to be available as a Standard model, a deLuxe and the Custom, the Wagon and Van versions also continued to be built. 

The side badges 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 instrad of 1900. Wagons will say Wagon instead of 1900. At the back there is a Cedric badge on the right side. This Cedric badge is different to the side badges and is all in capital letters. This badge is unique to the 1965 model. A deLuxe model will have a gold deLuxe badge under the rear Cedric badge, the Custom will have a gold Custom badge and the Wagon will have a gold Wagon badge. There are no 1900 badges on the back of the 1965 model cars. All models have a small Cedric badge on the glove box lid. Standard models have a small version of the Cedric star emblem 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. 

Production of the 31 series Cedric ended in September 1965. 

 
 
 
  
Tail lights now have reversing lights incorporated into the tail light cluster. Rectangular reflectors.
  
Same engine, but now has the alloy finned tappet cover from the Nissan Silvia CSP311. 
 
G31 - Cedric 1900 Deluxe - Has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. 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. 
G31S - Cedric 1900 Standard - Has a 4590mm long body with 912mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. Has the 1883cc engine. Has painted door window frames, smaller hubcaps that only partially cover the whole wheel and 'shiny' stainless steel side mouldings. 
H31 - Cedric 1900 Custom - Has a 4650mm long body with 972mm long front doors and 958mm long rear doors. 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. 
WP31 - Cedric Wagon - 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. 
VP31 - Cedric Van - 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.
.
.
 
back to the 
PLANET CEDRIC
index