Datsun Type 14 Roadster
This tiny yellow roadster was the first car to roll from Nissan's new Yokohama mass-production line.
Datsun Model 14 Roadster.jpg · TTTNIS · Public domain (PD-self)
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.
More than a set of wheels.
Nissan Motor had taken its present name in 1934, and the Type 14 became a landmark the next April: Nissan says it was the first car completed at the new Yokohama factory. Its compact dimensions suited Japanese roads, while a new 722 cc engine gave the little two-seater 15 PS. Designer Ryuichi Tomiya also gave it an unforgettable leaping-rabbit hood mascot.
Look a little closer.
The rabbit above the grille was not just decoration: Nissan credits body designer Ryuichi Tomiya with creating the mascot too.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Why the Yokohama line mattered
The Type 14 was the first car off Nissan's new Yokohama line in April 1935. That makes this little roadster part of a much bigger change: Nissan was moving from small-batch car building toward full-scale production at a purpose-built factory.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun 14 Roadster ↗How Datsun got its sunny spelling
The brand began with DAT, the initials of three early investors. A later small car was called DATSON, meaning “son of DAT,” but “son” sounded like the Japanese word for loss. Nissan's history says the spelling changed to SUN for a brighter meaning before sales began in 1932.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Birth of Datsun and origin of the brand name ↗Where these facts come from
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun 14 Roadster
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Birth of Datsun and origin of the brand name
- National Museum of Nature and Science HITNET · Datsun Type 14 Roadster record
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.