The Nissan Laurel was a luxury two- and four-door sedan produced by Nissan from 1968 to 2002. Positioned above the Datsun Bluebird 510, it combined the luxury of the Nissan Gloria A30 with a shorter wheelbase. The Laurel was considered the luxury version of the Skyline range, sharing engines, suspensions, and handling dynamics with the popular performance coupe and sedan.
Key Points:
1. Production Years: The Nissan Laurel was manufactured and sold by Nissan from 1968 to 2002.
2. Luxury Model: Positioned above the Datsun Bluebird 510, the Laurel offered luxury features similar to the Nissan Gloria A30 but in a shorter wheelbase.
3. Relationship with Skyline: The Laurel was the luxury version of the Skyline range for all generations, sharing engines, suspensions, and handling dynamics with the performance coupe and sedan.
4. Development and Manufacturing: The first Laurel was developed by the Nissan Tsurumi R&D Division and assembled at the Musashimurayama Plant of the former Prince Motor Company in 2-door and 4-door variants.
5. Marketing: The Laurel was not initially sold at Nissan Prince Store locations in Japan, where the Skyline and Gloria were marketed.
Later generations of the Laurel included all-wheel-drive and turbocharged engines, enhancing its performance capabilities while maintaining its reputation as a luxury vehicle within the Nissan lineup.
