Nissan Clipper
Encyclopedia
The Nissan Clipper nameplate has been used for two separate commercial vehicle ranges. Originally this was just a relabelled version of Prince's
"Clipper" light/medium duty commercial vehicle range. In 2003 the nameplate was revived for a relabelled version of the Mitsubishi Minicab
, a Kei truck provided in an OEM deal.
In April 1966, following the merger of Nissan and Prince's operations, the truck was renamed Nissan Clipper (T65). Again, the front treatment was unusual; the front featured four large chrome-ringed ovals, two of which were for cooling and two held the lights. The T65 also received a 1,982 cc Nissan H20 four-cylinder petrol engine. In January 1973 the new T40 series replaced the T631, but it was shortlived. The next (and last) generation Clipper was the C340 of May 1976, but this was merely a rebadged Nissan Caball
. The line came to an end in December 1981, when Nissan's commercial truck range was rationalized. The H40 Nissan Atlas
replaced both the Clipper and the Caball.
Prince Motor Company
Prince Motor Company was a Japanese automobile manufacturer from 1952 until its merger with Nissan in 1966. Prince began as the Tachikawa Aircraft Company, a producer of the famous Japanese Zero fighter planes used in WWII...
"Clipper" light/medium duty commercial vehicle range. In 2003 the nameplate was revived for a relabelled version of the Mitsubishi Minicab
Mitsubishi Minicab
The Mitsubishi Minicab is a kei truck and microvan built and sold in Japan by Mitsubishi Motors since 1966.-First generation:The Minicab cab-over pickup truck was launched in 1966 to replace the 360, which by this time had adopted the same model name as the Minica sedan...
, a Kei truck provided in an OEM deal.
Prince Clipper
This had begun with the AKTG Prince Cabover truck of May 1954, with the Clipper label first introduced on the 1.5-litre AQTI series of October 1958. The Clipper featured a distinct frontal treatment, with six oval openings for cooling. In February 1961, the BQTI "Super Clipper" with a larger 1.9-litre engine was added to the lineup. In January 1963 the modified T630/T631 Clipper/Super Clipper was introduced, featuring quadruple headlights. Engines remained the same as before, albeit with a bit more power: a 73 PS 1,484 cc four for the T630 and a 1,862 cc unit with 96 PS for the T631 Super Clipper.In April 1966, following the merger of Nissan and Prince's operations, the truck was renamed Nissan Clipper (T65). Again, the front treatment was unusual; the front featured four large chrome-ringed ovals, two of which were for cooling and two held the lights. The T65 also received a 1,982 cc Nissan H20 four-cylinder petrol engine. In January 1973 the new T40 series replaced the T631, but it was shortlived. The next (and last) generation Clipper was the C340 of May 1976, but this was merely a rebadged Nissan Caball
Nissan Caball
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. While the Caball name came to an end in 1981, its...
. The line came to an end in December 1981, when Nissan's commercial truck range was rationalized. The H40 Nissan Atlas
Nissan Atlas
The Nissan Atlas 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 lighter range replaced the earlier Cabstar and Homer, while the...
replaced both the Clipper and the Caball.