Skill Olympics expertise and youthful passion restore the 1937 Nissan 80 van

Mitsukoshi delivery van with a long history
The "NISSAN" was Nissan’s first large vehicle, and it went on sale in 1938. You can say that this model laid the foundation for the later Nissan brand. It was actually a series that comprised a passenger vehicle (70), a van (80) and a bus (90); altogether 5,500 units were produced.
Currently Nissan possesses a 1938 passenger vehicle from this series, and also a 1937 van; these are preserved as commemorative models. The van is a called type 80 (1937), which was used from before the war up until 1965, making deliveries to Mitsukoshi Department customers. It thus has had a long working life and is of considerable historical value.
This van had been kept exactly as it was at the end of its career, but the paintwork and some of the outside panels were in conspicuous need of repair, so it was decided to give it a full restoration.

Passing down the passion of car manufacture from generation to generation
The restoration was undertaken at the Trial Production Section of the Production Engineering Division at Nissan Technical Center in Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture. However it was not an easy job, as there were few contemporary reference materials available for this model. And since the work had to be done in what little time was left over from the staff’s regular duties, it took 2 years and 3 months to complete.
One objective was to pass on the traditional skills of car manufacture to the younger generation, so a veteran engineer who had previously starred in the Skill Olympics was there to provide support, giving instructions and advice over the duration of the project. Eventually, in October 2002, the van was restored to its former pristine glory and a private ceremony was held to mark the event.
A guest at the ceremony was former president of Nissan North America, Yutaka Katayama, who had been head of the advertising section at the time that the Nissan van made its debut. Looking at the restored van, he entertained the audience with tales surrounding its launch, and in return he heard from the team how they had gone about renovating it. It turned out to be quite an emotional event, and was commemorated with a group photograph.
According to N. Sato, Manager Trial Production Section, who was in overall charge of the project, "What was most difficult was the engine. Fortunately, a number of old engines were kindly made available to us by private collectors, and using parts from these we were eventually able to assemble one complete engine. The day we fired it up for the first time was a thrilling experience that I’m sure none of us will ever forget. The mass production of cars before the war, when there were shortages of machinery and materials, must have been something that demanded extraordinary passion and commitment. We have certainly learned a great deal."