Datsun Type 15 Roadster
A tiny roadster used a law change to move its spare wheel outside and make more room for luggage—and even a rumble seat.
1936 Japan Datsun Type 15 Roadster · Mclarensenna · Public domain
Research pending
A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.
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More than a set of wheels.
Datsun introduced the Type 15 in May 1936 as a four-body family: sedan, phaeton, roadster and coupe. The Roadster was a very small open car, only 2,790 mm long. Moving its spare tire outside the trunk let the luggage space and rear-facing rumble seat be used more freely. It shared the 722 cc Type 7 engine with the Type 14, but the Type 15 family raised compression from 5.2:1 to 5.4:1 and was rated at 16 PS.
Look a little closer.
Its extra seat faced backward and folded into the body, which is why it is called a rumble seat.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
One model number, four different bodies
Type 15 did not describe one body shape. Nissan records a sedan, phaeton, roadster and coupe. This profile is only the short two-seat roadster, whose 2,790 mm overall length is not interchangeable with the 3,187 mm phaeton. Photographs and dimensions therefore need the body style as well as the model number.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun 15 Roadster ↗A small change raised the engine rating
The Type 15 retained the Type 14's 722 cc Type 7 engine. Nissan's Type 15 family record says compression increased from 5.2:1 to 5.4:1, producing 16 PS. That family evidence applies to the shared engine, while body measurements remain specific to the Roadster.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun 15 Phaeton ↗Where these facts come from
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun 15 Roadster
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun 15 Phaeton
- Nissan company history · 1930s
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 2, 2026.