The Nissan Laurel, a luxurious two- and four-door sedan, was produced by Nissan from 1968 to 2002. Initially positioned above the Datsun Bluebird 510, it combined the luxury of the Nissan Gloria A30 in a smaller wheelbase. Throughout its generations, the Laurel served as the upscale version of the Skyline series, sharing components like engines and suspensions with the popular performance cars.
Incorporating all-wheel-drive and turbocharged engines in later versions, the Laurel appealed to customers seeking both luxury and performance. The first Laurel models were developed by the Nissan Tsurumi R&D Division and manufactured at the Musashimurayama Plant of the former Prince Motor Company.
A distinctive feature of the Laurel was its close relationship with the Skyline range, benefiting from shared dynamics and engineering elements, even though it catered to a more upscale market segment. Despite its premium positioning, the Laurel was not initially available at Nissan Prince Store locations in Japan, which primarily focused on sales of the Skyline and Gloria models from the former Prince Motor Company.
Overall, the Nissan Laurel's legacy encompasses a blend of luxury, performance, and shared heritage with the Skyline series, making it a notable presence in the sedan market during its production run from 1968 to 2002.
