Makes › Nissan › Be-1 (BK10) · Rare production · 1987 Limited Production
Nissan
Be-1 (BK10)
First Nissan 'Pike car', retro micro car sold by lottery
Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 10,000 Built
- Years
- 1987
- Engine
- Front-mounted inline four, front-wheel drive · 987 cc / 1.0 LFactory: 987 cc
- Power
- 38.8 kW / 52.7 PSFactory: 52 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 140 km/hFactory: 87 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Naoki Sakai
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Be-1 was the first of Nissan's four limited-production "Pike" cars and arrived roughly a decade before the Volkswagen New Beetle, making it an early example of the retro-styled small car. Demand far exceeded the 10,000-car production limit and buyers were chosen by lottery.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Nissan Be-1 (BK10) (Wikimedia Commons: Nissan Be-1)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nissan Be-1 (BK10) (Wikimedia Commons: Nissan Be-1)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nissan Be-1 (BK10) (Wikimedia Commons: Nissan Be-1)
Photo: MrWalkr · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nissan Be-1 (BK10) (Wikimedia Commons: Nissan Be-1)
Photo: Coolalabright · CC BY 4.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionnumber produced | 10,0001 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
Nissan was losing younger buyers to Honda and decided to build a niche small car on March (Micra) mechanicals in a small, labour-intensive run of 10,000. Three design proposals were invited, from Nissan's in-house studio, from freelance designer Naoki Sakai and from an Italian design house, and Sakai's was chosen. Three concept cars were shown at the 1987 Tokyo show and, based on public reaction, Nissan went ahead with Sakai's design; Nissan called the effort "Pike Factory".
AutoZine says contract manufacturer Takada Kogyo built the Be-1, and Takada's own company history lists Be-1 contract production among its mid-1980s entries; Road & Track instead places Pike Factory production at Aichi Machine. The success of the Be-1 led Nissan to commission the Pao (1989) and Figaro (1991) from Sakai, plus the S-Cargo van.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Be-1 (BK10).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Front-mounted inline four, front-wheel drive2 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 42 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 987 cc / 1.0 LFactory: 987 cc2,3 Independently researched |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | SOHC, 2 valves per cylinder2 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Carburettor4 Independently researched |
| Power | 38.8 kW / 52.7 PSFactory: 52 hp · converted2,3 Independently researchedNo rating standard stated. |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | 74.6 NmFactory: 55 lb-ft · converted2 Independently researched |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | 5-speed manual (3-speed automatic also offered)2,3 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Front2 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | 670 kgFactory: 670 kg2,4 Independently researchedAutoZine figure; Road & Track and Jalopnik say about 1,500 lb for the five-speed. |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 140 km/hFactory: 87 mph · converted2 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
The Be-1 has a pair of round headlamps ("eyes") on a Mini-like body, a large white-faced dial floating above the dashboard, circular air vents, color-coded door panels and a hand-assembled body on March underpinnings; it came with a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic and some cars had a large electrically operated canvas roof. Body colours had cute individual names.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
- 1
-
2
Nissan Be-1, Pao, Figaro & S-Cargo (1987) Level C AutoZine (Mark Wan)
- Front-engined, Fwd
- Inline-4, sohc, 2v/cyl.
- Capacity 987 cc
- Power 52 hp
- Torque 55 lbft
- Gearbox 5M
- Weight 670 kg
- no more than 87 mph
-
3
Glorious Nissans: Pike Factory Level C Road & Track
- 987cc eight-valve engine
- 52 hp
- three-speed automatic
-
4
Even The Color Names For The Nissan Be-1 Are Adorable Level D Jalopnik
- carbureted 1.0-liter four-cylinder
- scant 1,500 pounds
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