Curbside Classic CA Vacation Edition: Nissan Pulsar – gen2 & gen1
How many show-car concepts over the decade have featured a “convertible” body, where the car could be transformed from one body style to another? In my memory, several; it’s an irresistible draw for designers. And how many have actually made it into production? The only one that come to my mind is this gen2 Nissan Pulsar. When I saw it and its gen1 predecessor two blocks away, it was my cue to take a look at this historically significant little car.
The Pulsar’s upper rear body section is removable, and can be replaced by the wagon-like Sportbak option, or left off entirely for a laundalet-like open rear seat. With the T-top opened also, an almost full-convertible feel was created. I remember seeing quite few of the Sportbak versions in its day, and its been a long time since I’ve seen one. I haven’t spotted a Pulsar at all in Eugene, but its still vivid in my memory; the gen2 version that is.
The most attractive young female employee at the tv station I was managing in 1986 bought one of the first Pulsars in LA in the fall of ’86. It was red like this one, and they were a perfect combination. The Pulsar was not only unique in its body configuration, but it was pretty aggressively styled too. A hot little number, both of them; sure got my pulse going.
That hardly applies to its gen1 predecessor. Built from ’83 to ’86, it was trying to be a bit adventuresome, but came off rather cliched in that Japanese school of hard-edged boxyness. The graphics package didn’t help either. No wonder it had long left my active memory banks.
These Pulsars sold in the US were Sentra based, and the only time that name was used here. In the rest of the world, Pulsars graced a variety of small FWD Nissan sedans, hatches and coupes.
More by Paul Niedermeyer
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I know it's been three months since this was posted, but I had to do a search to see if there's a CC on one. The only new car I've ever bought was an '89 Pulsar. I was young, didn't see the dealer tricks clearly enough, was eager to spend money from my first full time job on a car, and a girl had a huge influence on my decision. It probably is a "chick car," but women really did like it. I wasn't nearly smooth enough to use it to full advantage, however. I also learned a few things: Just because a car looks fast and sporty, doesn't mean it is; it would not hit 100 mph nor accelerate too quickly. T-tops are not much more effective than a sunroof and less effective than a convertible, and you have to pull over, detach them and very carefully store them in the trunk. In short, sudden rainstorms or drops in temperature aren't countered by pressing a button. Having a manual without a tachometer is kind of silly. Careful use of the trip odometer when filling up is a pretty good alternative when the fuel gauge no longer works (and the entire tank would need removed to fix it). Never take out a five-year loan to pay for a rapidly depreciating asset. Don't be too enamored with styling and be careful who influences car purchases; someone else will probably soon release a car that looks even cooler, outruns and out handles it and is better made (I'm looking at you, early 90s Honda). Cars that appear cool in your early 20s don't have quite the same effect when you're five years older. A car does not have to be fast to be fun. And, finally, after nearly 250,000 miles, a timing chain's failing is catastrophic. All in all, I did put nearly a quarter million miles on it before the timing chain gave out. I never tried taking the back off. I also haven't seen one in a few years. The last one I saw has blinged out and had tires that had to be at least 20"; I was torn between nostalgic amusement and slight sadness of seeing it that way. Well, that was a lot to write on a three-month old CC, but thanks for the nostalgic trip. It's odd that, no matter how much I think I'd buy something else if I could do it over again, seeing one still tugs at something. I suppose you never really get over something you loved, even if you tell yourself it was just a car.
Hmm, the N14's are starting to get so old I can't back up my own knowledge base easily even via Google. The same chassis in the Sentra was raced successfully with a turbo 1.5L with a lady driver against guys in Porsches, & such only to take 2nd to BMW in sports car racing. 1st FWD "sports" car to race well. BMW had the knowledge to do so, but Nissan had the guts to try. It was thier Ace of Trump really. Anyway, in the Pulsar 2nd gen, pull the battery from engine bay & store it in cabin, adjust & upgrade some font end parts & it should easily outcorner a Porsche 944 & several others. Also, the sohc 1.6 backed by the cable clutch 5-sp stick will reliably do 40 mpg if driven moderately. I have a project '88 Pulsar in the garage with that base 1.6 single cam & stick. Also, EVERY time I had that car on the road, some punk in a Honda tuner or such really tried to egg me on. Of course, my engine was on its last legs. A mint replacement engine is on a skid in the garage.:) Also have 2 really good trannies complete with new clutches. I also know that this car converted well to e85 should leave a lot of tuner guys scratching thier heads wondering where that thing gets all its power - even here in Metro Detroit. Not that I plan to. Want to yeah.;) It should smell like race gas running at e85's stoichiometric air/fuel ratio though, esp with timing advanced to smooth idle. In the last couple of years, the great sites & forums for these cars have been vanishing much to my frustration.