Significantly more attractive
than the previous DS-5 Thrift, the DS-6 Convar is a quirky and distinctive
little car that saw Nissan being rather bold and adventurous with their
styling, though one would have to say not in a way that was completely
successful.
The DS-6 was built on the same chassis and mechanicals as the previous
Datsun DS-5 Thrift. It continued to use the same D-10 series 860cc 25hp
side valve engine and three speed gearbox. The body was all new, and considerably
more modern, and attractive, than the previous DS-5. Unlike the DS-5, the
DS-6 featured conventional front hinged doors. The side of the body was
more streamlined, and it no longer had the old style protruding front guards
of the previous model. It's front end styling was very unique. There was
a large flat panel between the bonnet opening and the top of the grille.
The grille itself was a flat oval shape that was disected by the bumper
bar, with half the grille opening above the bar and half below it. At the
back of the car the boot lid was a lift-up style rather than the fold-down
type on the DS-5.
The other unusual thing about the car, apart from it's styling, was it's
name, as it was sold as the Datsun Convar. Convar is an odd name. I have
searched for the meaning of the word convar and it is apparently a botanical
term used to describe a subunit of a species that stands between subspecies
and variety, though I really don't think this has much to do with this
car. It's meaning is probably some badly translated piece of "Engrish",
possibly some mis-spelled reference to the Convair jet aircraft that were
built in the late 1940s and early 1950s. It could even be some sort of
contraction of the words "convenience car" or something like that, but
whatever the case, no one, not even Nissan themselves seem to know where
the name came from.
The Datsun DS-6 Convar was only in production for a very
short time. Production began in the early part of 1954, and the last one
was built in December 1954. The DS-6 was replaced by the all new Datsun
110. |
A sales brochure for the Datsun Convar DS-6
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1954
Datsun DS-6 Convar Specifications
Length - unknown
Width - unknown
Height - unknown
Wheelbase - unknown
Weight - unknown
Top speed - unknown
Transmission - Floor change
4 speed |
Engine
Specifications
Model - D-10
Side Valve 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 860cc
Bore & Stroke 60x75mm
Power - 25hp@3600rpm
Torque- 4.9kg/m@2400
Compression - 6.6 : 1
Carburettor - Hitachi VA-26-1
single throat down draught
Final drive - unknown |
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