earlydatsun.com 
The Complete Guide to Classic Datsun Cars and Trucks
1950 Datsun DS Model
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 Datsun's first passenger car after the end of the war was the Datsun DA, which was based on the Datsun 1121 truck, which itself was based on the pre-war Datsun 17T truck. The Datsun DA was a very basic and austaire car. Supply shortages meant that many materials used for car production were in short supply, and the Datsun DA reflected that problem. 
 By the start of the 1950s Japan was on the road to recovery, and as a result the material shortages that plagued Nissan through the late 1940s were at an end. Chrome was readilly available, and now there was no need to skimp on quality and to cut back on the details. In 1950 Nissan released a new small truck model called the Datsun 4146, which was for all intents and purposes a 1937 Datsun 17T truck, except with a more powerful new engine. The new Datsun DS sedan was basically a Datsun 4146 truck with a sedan body. 
 It is worth noting that the Datsun DS was based on the new version of the Datsun 17T truck and not the Datsun 17 sedan, as there was a major difference between the two. The 17 sedan had a significantly longer bonnet, and as a result had the windscreen set further back in the vehicle. For the truck version of the 17, the 17T, the windscreen and cabin area were moved closer to the front so as to allow more room for a longer cargo area on the truck. As a result, the Datsun DS has a much shorter bonnet than the pre-war Datsun 17. 
 The grille on the Datsun DS is identical to the one used on the Datsun 17T, except that the centre vertical bar of the grille on the 17T was originally painted the same colour as the body, on the DS this bar is now chrome plated. 
 The engine used on the DS was essentually the same as the Type 7 unit used on the Datsun DA, except a few modifications were made to lift the power output up to 20hp. The Datsun DS was only in production for a brief time, with the last one rolling off the line in early 1951.
A Datsun DS with it's shorter truck bonnet.
A pre-war Datsun sedan with it's longer bonnet
1950 Datsun DS Sedan Specifications  
Length - 3185mm   
Width - 1380mm   
Height - unknown   
Wheelbase - 2006mm   
Weight - unknown  
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   
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Final drive - unknown
 
Model Variations
 
Datsun 4146 Truck  
 The Datsun DS was based on the Datsun 4146 truck, more information about this vehicle can be found on the Datsun 4146 page.
 
Datsun 4146 Delivery Van  
 A delivery van version of the 4146 was also built. The unusual thing about this vehicle is that it has front hinged doors. Both the 4146 truck and the Datsun DA sedan have rear hinged doors.
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