There are cars that l cannot forget in my life owing to its good driving experience, great comfort, good fuel efficiency and market popularity.
One of the cars that resonates with this feeling is the 1986 Nissan Sunny HB12 aka the Nissan Sunny box.
Today we go down memory lane and do an in-depth analysis by exploring its historical context, contemporary relevance and the impact it created during its pick period before it was discontinued.
The Nissan Sunny HB12 was an entry level sedan car, with a 1.5-liter 4 cylinder engine with a manual and automatic gearbox that turned out to be iconic in its appeal in the local market.
The engine was a 68 horse power with a maximum speed of 140kms/hr. Some of the features of this sedan included a manual steering, manual windows, an analogue speedometer, a digital clock, a stereo system, and an air conditioner, which worked perfectly well.
It had a simple design that appealed to the majority of the motorist and until today it still evokes interest in the market because of its previous impact influenced by its design and technology that resonated with majority of motorists.
Performance and efficiency
The car’s performance was perfect with an excellent acceleration, handling and speed. Given the engine size the power was fairly good for a sedan car while still giving good fuel economy which was a critical factor for consumers looking to minimise running costs.
- The unforgettable Nissan Sunny HB12
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The gears were so simple to engage, which created a perfect driving experience compared with other cars like the VW Jetta whose gear shifting experience was complicated as if one was driving a 20 tonne truck.
I must say the HB12’s handling dynamics were designed to strike a balance between practicality and responsiveness.
This contributed to a smooth and enjoyable driving experience, particularly in light of its compact size.
Fuel efficiency
The car’s fuel average was really good. I remember that we could drive around until we could forget that the car uses fuel.
I estimate that we were getting between 14-16kms/litre within the city and maybe more on the highway.
The engine had a carburetor system whose fuel consumption dependent on how well it was serviced and set.
Seating comfort
The car’s comfort was exemplary; it had the style of seats that the 1980’s cars usually had, were the comfort was equal to seating on a sofa at home.
The seats had fabric with a combination of leather which were extremely comfortable to travel in.
When l recall about its comfort l really think that the comfort is way much better than some of the newer cars we see today.
Handling
The car’s driving experience was very stable at low speeds and the suspension was also relatively soft. I could hardly feel the potholes on bad roads.
The only negative part was when you go over 100 km/h, the car would tend to get unstable which was understandable because of its lightweight body.
Storage spaces
Being a sedan, storage was fairly good with a decent-sized boot that can carry two large bags. However, the interior lacked spaces to store items like cup holders, and the door compartments are also very small compared to the modern car designs.
Spare parts and maintenance
The availability of parts was made easier because they were many units in the market owing to its popularity.
So majority of mechanics were familiar with how to service and repair this car model. The availability of parts is a crucial factor in affordability and accessibility for any vehicle.
Popularity and market value
The Nissan HB12 became sold like a hot cake in Zimbabwe in which if you had to respond to an advert from a seller it was advisable to go with hard cash if you were serious about buying.
If you go and view and call later it would have gone.
I remember that one day we saw this sedan across the road with a “FOR SALE” sticker but we couldn’t get the number clearly to call.
The car was being driven in the opposite direction and we were forced to make an illegal U-turn and chased the car to stop it.
A majority of the very neat ones was with old people and mostly the white community resident in the northern parts of Harare had the most well looked after units.
Small towns such as Mvurwi, Chinhoyi, Marondera and Bindura became part of our hunting grounds for this car which had turned into some kind of “gold” in the market.
The market value of the car remained very good as one could sell it at any time because of high demand.
Influence to my industry breakthrough
The Nissan Sunny HB12 actually carved my profession in this industry as I understood its performance from driving it myself and mastered the art of sourcing and selling it to many customers.
Sometimes when l would buy a very clean one and think of keeping it for myself, but unfortunately I would get an offer that I could not resist and I would let it go.
It is from this experience that I learnt to stop having an attachment with a car because I could not really keep a specific car for myself for a long time before receiving offers and go back to looking for another vehicle. It’s an industry trend.
Conclusion
It is my conclusion that the Nissan Sunny HB12 represented some simple, but perfect engineering that offered a unique blend of practicality, reliability, and style.
If you’re lucky to find one in excellent condition it is worthy it to try it and drive car that blends with reasonable value, dependability, and a certain vintage charm, the HB12 deserves serious consideration.
I would put it in the class of the 1974 VW Beetle being the legendary car models that left a strong and unforgettable memory in the minds of the users.
Driving one represents a statement of timeless design and dependable performance.
Let me know your experience with this sedan and other car models that has served you well over the time.
*Stanley Makombe has 25 years’ experience in the motor industry, currently handling vehicle imports from Japan, Thailand, UK and South Africa into African countries. He is writing in his own capacity and can be contacted on +254 743 900 590, on X @Stan_Carsales, email: stanley@stanleymakombe.com, www.stanleymakombe.com
