[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/nissan-s-cargo-weird-car-of-the-month\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/nissan-s-cargo-weird-car-of-the-month\/","headline":"Nissan S-Cargo: Weird Car of The Month","name":"Nissan S-Cargo: Weird Car of The Month","description":"Is it a snail? Is it a toy? No, it\u2019s Nissan\u2019s tiny S-Cargo hatchback van! Part of Nissan\u2019s limited-run Pike Cars enterprise, the S-Cargo stands out as a truly bizarre miniature van that is now a cult classic. Kieran White from Manchester, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Produced from 1989 to 1991, the S-Cargo was one of Nissan\u2019s retro-styled affordable vehicles, launched under the Pike Cars brand. These vehicles were produced to capitalise on the growing demand for […]","datePublished":"2022-02-17","dateModified":"2022-02-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Nissan-S-Cargo-Weird-Car-of-The-Month-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Nissan-S-Cargo-Weird-Car-of-The-Month-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/nissan-s-cargo-weird-car-of-the-month\/","about":["CLASSIC CARS","LATEST CAR NEWS","Vans"],"wordCount":565,"keywords":["nissan","Nissan S-Cargo","Weird Car Of The Month"],"articleBody":"Is it a snail? Is it a toy? No, it\u2019s Nissan\u2019s tiny S-Cargo hatchback van!Part of Nissan\u2019s limited-run Pike Cars enterprise, the S-Cargo stands out as a truly bizarre miniature van that is now a cult classic.Kieran White from Manchester, England, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsProduced from 1989 to 1991, the S-Cargo was one of Nissan\u2019s retro-styled affordable vehicles, launched under the Pike Cars brand. These vehicles were produced to capitalise on the growing demand for retro-style vehicles whilst simultaneously offering a practical and affordable mode of transport for the Japanese market. Many vehicles are either trendy and cool or affordable, not usually both.Unlike the other Pike Cars models, the S-Cargo was designed as a van-like vehicle, with the name representing two things at the same time. The \u201cS\u201d stands for small, making the name \u201csmall cargo\u201d and rather cleverly, the name \u201cS-Cargo\u201d also sounds like the French word \u201cescargot\u201d which means \u201csnail\u201d in English. This was the nickname given to the ever-popular Citroen 2CV which was the S-Cargo\u2019s inspiration.Charlie from United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsPike Cars attracted a lot of attention due to their unique and strange aesthetic, with The New York Times calling them “the height of postmodernism” in a piece written in 2011 by Phil Patton. Many consider the S-Cargo as the most well-known example of this outlandish design ethos.The silhouette consists of two incredibly simple circular arches, where it looks as if someone has drawn a pair of semicircles and made it into a car. The theme of the design is circles, with the headlights, door handle indents, wing mirrors, side indicator lights and speed gauge all being made up of the one-sided shape. Optional circular port windows were also available to be had on the side panels, not too dissimilar to what you would expect to see on a submarine.Tennen-Gas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe interior is incredibly barebones, which is to be expected in a car designed to be as cheap as possible. The seats are like metal deck chairs with extra padding, the mirrors are flimsy, the rear bench seat flops up and down with its own free will, the entire gauge cluster is simplified to one semicircle-shaped cluster with three dials and a few engine warning lights below.Despite the utter lack of refinement in the S-Cargo and a design that can only be described today as dorky, this economical miniature toy-looking van successfully sold 8,000 units, each being reserved beforehand.Not long after its inception, Pike Cars was disintegrated. Easily interpreted as a rather unfortunate tale, it would seem that Nissan was a tad ahead of the curve when it came to retro cars, as soon after Pike closed, retro cars such as Plymouth Prowler, VW Beetle (1998), Jaguar S-Type and the Morgan Aero 8 all found their successes. Even today, we have cars like the Fiat 500, Honda e and Hyundai Ioniq 5 all standing as examples of retro designs sold to the masses. Alas, the wonderfully weird S-Cargo lives on as a very cult classic to a very niche audience, perhaps slightly overshadowed by its sportier and much more popular cousin, the Nissan Figaro.Let us know if you already knew about the S-Cargo, in the comments.If you enjoyed this, you may also like: \u2018Morgan Plus 8 GTR Is the Swansong to the V8 Engine\u2019"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Nissan S-Cargo: Weird Car of The Month","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/nissan-s-cargo-weird-car-of-the-month\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]