Nissan S-Cargo

Launched at the Tokyo Motor Show in the 1987, the Nissan S-Cargo is from that brilliant moment in time where Nissan created a range of stand out retro inspired vehicles like the Figaro, Pao and BE-1. The S-Cargo was the only commercial vehicle of this retro inspired range.

Inspired by the Citroen back catalogue, in particular the 2CV van, it even jokily named after the French word for snail, the S-Cargo was a brief moment in time but a vehicle everyone has an opinion on. Personally it’s a big hit for me, but it’s been dubbed by others as the ugliest vehicle ever made.

There were only 8,000 ever made of the S-Cargo van and they were sold exclusively at the Cherry stores in Japan, which means if you see one in the Uk, it’s been imported and was never sold here new.

Just like the UK, Japan has a RHD set up, which means it’s easy to bring JDM cars into the UK and find willing drivers - there’s no element of learning the ropes for a LHD experience.


Whilst styling was a big thing with the Pike cars, the engine options were limited and this S-Cargo was only ever sold with the E15S 1.5 single overhead cam petrol engine and was never issued with a manual gearbox, only the three speed auto box we have today. It was based on the B11 station Sunny/sentra.

Two popular options on these were the port hole style windows in the side of the van and the sunshine roof, both of which are missing from this particular van. I’ve been told reliably this is a good thing because time hasn’t been kind to the sunshine roof and they tend to leak and rot, so if you’re watching this and looking to buy one, keep that on your checklist. The front seat on this splits, which apparently was an optional extra, but is especially handy for practicality.

Production came to a close in 1992 after 8,000 units and as the van was never intended to sit seriously within the range, it wasn’t directly replaced with anything cool and retro. Production simply ended and a cult classic was born.

But who would buy an imported van like this in 2022 and what would be the reason? I decided to ask Martin, the new owner, these questions about his new to him, S-Cargo.