Be-1, the first in the Nissan Pike Car series
The theme of the “GFGS CARLIFE IN YAHIKO Vol. 1” event held on June 9, 2024, in Yahiko-mura, Niigata Prefecture was “cute cars made in the 1980s to 2010s that are used for everyday practical purposes. Among the many Nissan pike cars gathered at the event, we interviewed the owner of the “Be-1,” a pioneer in this field. He was, in fact, a person involved in the development of this model.
Remember the Be-1 store in Minami Aoyama?
“Form always follows function,” said Lewis Sullivan, an American architect active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and in his biography, he said, “I took the body of the first March, a very complete package by Giugiaro, and replaced it with a retro-style body. What in the world is a pike car ……?” This would be the case. However, in the bubble economy of Japan at the time, this was viewed positively and became a major topic of conversation.
The series of pike cars was a commercial success, driven by the needs of users who thought that “being ‘right’ is no longer cool” and “I want my car to look pretty rather than to perform well. The first such design-conscious “project” was the “Be-1” released in 1987.
Some may fondly recall the success of the “Be-1 Shop” in Minami Aoyama, which sold stationery, miniature models, and other original goods featuring the car.
The “just for fun NISMO specification” with a slightly brave accent
This car was displayed in a corner of the event site along with the “Pao”, “Figaro”, “Racine”, and “Cube”. At the time, the Be-1 was available in four body colors with a vegetable motif: pumpkin yellow, hydrangea blue, tomato red, and onion white, and this Be-1 is onion white.
Contrary to its goofy character, the eight-spoke 14-inch aluminum wheels are brave. A closer look reveals red coloring on the mirrors and under the front seats, and even a “NISMO” emblem.
“It’s just a NISMO spec. I acquired the car in this condition through a private sale, and to tell you the truth, it’s only been three days since I got it. I was just in time for this event.
“I got it from a private seller who had finished it in this condition, and it’s only been three days since I got it,” said owner Takahiko Nagasawa.
translated by DeepL