The is a series of off-road vehicles and full-size SUVs manufactured by Nissan in Japan since 1951 and sold throughout the world. It is Nissan's longest running series of models.
The Patrol has been available as either a short-wheelbase (SWB) three-door or a long-wheelbase (LWB) five-door chassis since 1951. The LWB version has been offered in pickup truck and cab chassis variants. Between 1988 and 1994, Ford Australia marketed the Patrol as the Ford Maverick. In some European countries, such as Spain, the Patrol was marketed by Ebro as the Ebro Patrol. In 1980 in Japan, it was rebadged and alternately sold at Nissan Prince Store locations as the Nissan Safari.
The Patrol has traditionally competed with the Toyota Land Cruiser in most world markets and is available in Australia, Central and South America, South Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, and Western Europe, as well as Iran and the Middle East. For the 2011 model year, it was made available in North America as the upscale Infiniti QX56 (later renamed as Infiniti QX80), the first time that a Patrol-based vehicle had been sold in North America since 1969, and for the 2017 model year, it would be offered in that market as the Nissan Armada.
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First generation (4W60; 1951)
In September 1951, the 4W60 was introduced exclusively to Japanese Nissan dealerships. The overall styling was similar to the Willys Jeep. The 4W60 used the 3.7 L Nissan NAK engine from the Nissan 290 bus, but with part-time four-wheel drive and a four-speed manual transmission. The grille had a pressed-steel Nissan badge. A 4W70 Carrier-based wagon was available.
The 4W61 was introduced in August 1955; it changed the grille (with some chrome bars), a one-piece windshield that sits further back when folded, chrome strips on the hood, and unequally sized seats (passenger's side is wider than the driver's). The other big change was the engine. The 4W61 was powered by the new 3.7 L Nissan NB engine, producing , and later was powered by the 4.0 L Nissan NC engine. The grille badge was chrome and red and said "NISSAN".
In October 1958, the 4W65 Patrol replaced the 4W61. The 4W65 changed the grille, which now had all chrome bars and redesigned front fenders and hood. A "NISSAN" badge was on the grille and "Patrol" badges were added on the sides of the hood. An eight-seater hardtop wagon, the WG4W65, was added. The short-lived 4W66 Patrol was introduced in December 1956, powered by the 4.0 L P engine. The 4W66 was discontinued in June 1960. A wagon version of the 4W66 was called the Carrier, from 1956 to 1959.
4W70 series
The Nissan 4W70 Carrier was introduced in 1950 loosely based on the Dodge M37. The 4W70 used the M37's chassis, but the 4W60 Patrol's drivetrain. The grille was narrower and the front fenders changed. The 4W72 was introduced in 1955 (the 4W71 designation was skipped) with changes to the hood, grille, and headlights. Power increased to due to the new Nissan NC engine. Modifications again to the hood, fenders, and grille and an increase in power to led to the 4W73, introduced in 1959 and powered by the Nissan P engine.
Series Body styles Engines (petrol) 4W60 series(later named Nissan Patrol) SWB: soft top (4W60/61/65/66)SWB: fire truck (F4W61/65/66) NAK/NB/NC/P Nissan Carrier4W70/72/73 Troop carrier, weapon carrier NC/P
Second generation (60; 1960)
The soft-top Nissan Patrol 60 (two-door; wheelbase) and G60 (two-door; wheelbase) were introduced in October 1960. Left-hand drive L60/GL60 models were also built, for various export markets.
The fire truck variant was sold under the name "Patrol Fire Truck", and was deployed throughout the Japan, not just in mountain and snow country, thanks to the water-discharging capabilities of its A2-class pump, which took advantage of its large-displacement engine. The Fire Patrol was also available in a Two-wheel drive version that omitted the front wheel drive unit, and was distinguished by the lack of a 4x4 badge, transfer lever, sub-transmission lever, or front axle differential. However, all Fire Patrols were equipped with a PTO lever that connected and disconnected power to the pump.
Canadian and American customers could get Patrols from 1962 until 1969. Nissan Patrols were sold through Datsun dealerships, making it the only Nissan-badged vehicle sold in the US until the early 1980s, when the Datsun marque was phased out (barring a small test batch of about 100 Nissan Cedrics that was also exported to the US in the early 60s). An extra-long wheelbase version, the H60, was also available.
The 4WD Nissan Patrol 60 series was produced in short, medium, and long wheelbase versions. It had a manual transmission type-F3B83L at first with three and later with four speeds, and a two-speed transfer case with part-time four-wheel drive. The motor was the P engine, a inline overhead-valve six-cylinder, featuring bathtub-shaped combustion chambers and a fully balanced seven-bearing crank shaft. With two doors in front and one at the back and four seats (driver and companion in front, two parallel back seats), the extra-long wheelbase version (the H60) was available with eight-passenger capacity.
In 1963, the KG60 (and KGL60) hard-top models were introduced.
Nissan Australia claimed that the 60 series Patrol was the first vehicle to drive across the Simpson Desert in Australia, and built much publicity around the 50th anniversary of the event, including a re-enactment with a similar vehicle ending on 21 July 2012 to publicise the impending release of their new-generation Y62.
Series Body styles Engines (petrol) 60 series 60 (SWB) G60 (LWB) H60 (Super LWB) P engine 60 soft topK60 hard top WG60 station wagonG60H-A cab/chassis62ZG60H pickup truck VH60 vanFH60 fire truck
Jonga
Beginning around 1969, the Indian Army's Vehicle Factory Jabalpur began assembling the quarter-ton Nissan Patrol as the Jonga, along with the Nissan 4W73. The name as per Indian army records is an acronym for Jabalpur Ordinance aNd Guncarriage Assembly. Both the Nissan vehicles were fitted with the same engines and shared many parts. The Jonga was briefly sold to civilian customers with a 4.0-litre Hino diesel engine in 1996, but demand was low, due to an uncompetitive price, as well as unappealing looks. Less than 200 units were sold. The Jonga served faithfully until the late 1990s, when it was replaced by the lighter Mahindra and Mahindra MM550. Auctioned ex-Army Jongas, stretched and converted to people carriers, still serve in some rural areas of India.
Third generation (160; 1980)
The 160 series was introduced in 1980 to replace the 60 series. In Australia and New Zealand, these are sold as the MQ Patrol. In 1980, the available engines were the L28, P40, and SD33. All models were available with a four-speed manual transmission, while a three-speed automatic was optional on long-wheelbase vehicles fitted with the L28 engine. All 160 series Patrols came with a two-speed offset transfer case, which featured a 1:1 high gear and a low gear.
All models had leaf-spring suspension. The SD33 vehicles feature 24-volt electronics. Different trim options and colours were available, with options including vinyl or carpet floors and blue or brown interior trim. Air conditioning and power steering were available on deluxe models.
The front differential in all models was C200. In Australia, the standard rear differential was the H233. Some versions featured limited-slip differentials. A heavy-duty model rear differential was used in some pickup trucks and P40-engined wagons. This was the H260 model differential. In European markets, where less onerous off-road use was expected, the light-duty C200 rear differential was installed in some vehicles.
In 1983, the 160 series was updated and became the 161. In Australasia, the model code went from MQ to MK, but this does not appear on any Nissan literature or service manuals and Nissan parts dealers do not recognise these initials. Updates included a revised front end with rectangular headlights and an upgraded front suspension. The four-speed gearbox was revised and a fifth gear was added for most models. The four-speed was still used in some lower specified units, presumably to run out stock. A high roof ("Super Roof") version of the wagon was added at the same time along with the SD33T turbo-diesel option. With , the turbodiesel can reach .
The naturally aspirated SD33 diesel engine was also updated at this time. Revisions included the use of three piston rings instead of five, piston oil squirters, and a spin-on oil filter instead of a paper cartridge type. In Australia and some other parts of the world, the SD33T-engined Patrols were revised to standard 12-volt electronics. To accommodate the turbodiesel's extra power, these models featured a larger clutch (270 versus 240 mm) and larger oil cooler (five rows versus three) than the naturally aspirated version.
These were the last Patrols to carry the Datsun brand; in line with the rest of the Nissan lineup, the Patrol lost its Datsun branding in 1984 in most markets.
Nissan Safari
In 1981, Nissan announced that the Patrol would be renamed Safari in the Japanese market. A new version of its traditional rival, the Toyota Land Cruiser, and new competitors Isuzu Bighorn and Mitsubishi Pajero were also released in the same year.
The first-generation 160 series debuted in June 1980. It was available as a long-wheelbase "Extra Van" with double rear doors, a two-door, short-wheelbase two-seater "Hardtop", and in a "High Roof Hardtop", four-seater version. There were also single or double-cab chassis for fire truck applications.
In the Japanese market, engines available were the inline-six, OHV, 3,246 cc SD33 diesel engine with and the 3,956 cc PF40 gasoline engine (for fire engines) .
In August 1982 a minor change was made; the NISSAN logo was moved to the center of the front grille. In September 1983, the model underwent some improvements. As on export models, The headlights were changed to rectangular units (except for the fire-fighting cab chassis). The transmission was upgraded to a 5-speed and diesel vehicles were made compliant with the 1982 exhaust gas regulations. At the same time, a vehicle equipped with an SD33T turbo diesel engine with power increased to and a high roof with an increased overall height of 140 mm were added to the Extra Van. Accordingly, the model code was changed to the 161 series.
Production of much of the range ended in 1987 with the introduction of the next generation, but the fire truck cab-chassis for the Japanese market, the cab-equipped chassis for the overseas market, and the pickup trucks continued to be produced until 1994.
Spanish production Nissan acquired a 35.85% stake in Motor Ibérica in 1980, which was increased to 54.68% in 1982. In early 1983, the first Spanish-made Nissan Patrol left the plant in Zona Franca, near Barcelona. The first year's production, planned to be 4,000 to 5000 cars, was earmarked for Spain and Portugal. Exports were to follow during 1984. Nissan Ibérica-built Patrols originally received a Spanish-made Perkins MD27 four-cylinder diesel engine and Spanish transmission to meet local content regulations. Later on, this was replaced by the Nissan-built A428 (also referred to as the A4.28), which was a version of the Perkins MD27 bored out by for a displacement. The A428 evolved into the turbocharged A428T and then the A428II. Later yet, the six-cylinder RD28 and the RD28T replaced the old Perkins derivatives in Spanish-made cars.
260 (1986)