First Name: Not Known Last Name: Not Known Membership No: Not known
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Smartphone uses, rotate the phone for a richer experience |
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January & February 2023 Newsletter - Issue No 127 |
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Figgy owner,
We hope you had a great Christmas and let us be the first to wish you a Happy New Year! We are delighted to publish our latest bumper bi-monthly newsletter!
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Nissan Fail To Support Club In Euro-4 Re-classification
We sent out an email just before Christmas about the ongoing issue with achieving Euro-4. If you don't live in a city, it doesn't affect you... YET! The fact is more and more governments and local councils (in the UK anyway) are looking at clean air initiatives. The cynical amongst you may also consider this as an ideal way of raising revenue. The bad news for us all is, despite the club reaching out to Nissan UK and Nissan Japan, they are refusing to help. Their position is that they do not provide information and support for the market that the vehicles are not developed or manufactured since we do not recommend exporting Japanese specification vehicles to other countries. This is a real blow as without their help we cannot see any way in which we can achieve the necessary Euro-4 compliance. In the UK, our only option is to sit it out until 2031 when the Figaro will reach the ripe old age of 40. Just how many cars will make it that far remains to be seen.
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The Yoshiro Kobata Interview
In this issue, we are so excited to share with you an interview by Yoshiro Kobata who was one of the key designers of the Pike cars and mainly the Figaro. They say you never stop learning and in this interview what jumped out for me was his comment about using a "luxurious Canadian rust-proof steel sheet, careful rust-proofing treatment, a resin exterior that was baked with the exterior panel and applying a fluorine coating, only used on luxury cars!" We all knew our Figs were special but this was amazing 'inside' information.
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THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTIONS
Many thanks to the members for your contributions to this newsletter. If you have a story or in fact, anything Figgy related then please get in touch.
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INSURANCE VALUATIONS
Priced at £16 our 2 Year Insurance Valuation Certificates are highly recommended to protect your value
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BUY & SELL FIGARO STUFF
Our online platform allows you to buy and sell Figaro Cars, Parts & Accessories
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FIGARO CLOTHING & GIFTS
Our Figaro Store contains over 20 designs and hundreds of gifts to keep any Figaro enthusiast happy
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VIDEO TUTORIALS
We have produced dozens of Videos which will help you carry out ownership issues and repairs.
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ARCHIVE NEWSLETTERS
We have published over 100 Newsletters containing OWNERSHIP SUPPORT, MEMBERS STORIES...
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A PERSONAL WELCOME FROM KEVIN & SUE |
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Sue and I love running this little friendly club and are here to help in any way we can. Although I personally don't claim to know everything about the car, as a club we are truly blessed to be surrounded by such helpful and friendly members whom we can turn to, so ask away.
Lastly, we wanted to remind you that we are always on the lookout for great stories and helpful and interesting articles so please don't be shy and do get in touch.
Kevin, Sue & Belle (Figaro)
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MEET YOUR UK & COUNTRY CHAPTER COORDINATORS |
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UK CHAPTER COORDINATORS
We now have 11 coordinators located throughout the UK who represent the club locally. They are all volunteers so please support them in their roles and try to help them with meetings, events and networking ideas.
CONTACT YOUR CHAPTER COORDINATOR
If you have an idea about an event or can offer help email your local coordinator by Click here
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BRIAN CROCKETT
UK CHANNEL ISLANDS
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ADAM WOODS
UK EASTERN ENGLAND
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LISA RICHARDSON
UK EAST & WEST MIDLANDS
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VACANCY
UK NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE
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VACANCY
UK NORTH WEST ENGLAND
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JOANNA FIREK
UK NORTHERN IRELAND
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ALYSHA HALL
UK SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
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KITTY MUFFETT
UK SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
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WORLD CHAPTER COORDINATORS
We have 10 members outside the UK who represent the club. Called Country Coordinators again they are volunteers so please support them in their roles and try to help them with meetings, events and networking ideas.
CONTACT YOUR COUNTRY COORDINATOR
If you have an idea about an event or can offer help email your country coordinator them by Clicking here
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JEAN-MICHEL DECROIX
FRANCE
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PASCAL & JOYCE SNELL
HOLLAND
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Figaro Likes Merchandise
For the fans and owners of the Nissan Figaro, a new Facebook Group was founded in 2022 which has quickly grown to be the most active group on Facebook with lots of fun posts celebrating the love of all things Figaro! Members love it so much that they asked for some merchandise, so after new group branding was launched in October, lapel badges and film window stickers are now available in 2+2 and 4+4 bundles. The pin badges are 25mm x 25mm with purple dye-plated detailing, soft enamel infill, and an oblong outer shape with a clutch fixing in a 100% biodegradable poly bag. The film window stickers are 70mm x 70mm and include a QR code to link to the group… an can of course be popped into the window of any car! Learn more
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Nissan Roof Visor Video
The Polished Stainless Roof Visor (Wind/Rain Deflector) was one of 55 accessories and is attached to the door chrome trim via 3 sets of saddles.
They work very well enabling the owner to have the window open but stopping the rain from entering the cabin. Unfortunately not available from Nissan anymore but they do come up for sale every so often on Figaro Trader so keep your eyes open if you want a set. In this video, Kevin shows you how to fit them which can be very fiddly. 6 saddle brackets are required to be inserted into the door's rubber seals. You then need to line up the 3 holes and insert the screws and dome nuts in place. Learn more
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Upgraded Gear Linkages Bushes - Start Inhibitor. £10.99 (set of 2)
GarageFK10 has developed these upgraded gear linkage bushes (start inhibitor bushes). They are made from engineering-grade nylon plastic as opposed to the original rubber which often fails.
When the original bush fails, the car will not start in park as it thinks the car is still in gear. This is a very common fault with the Figaro. Hence why they decided to use a better and more hard-wearing material than the original. There are two bushes on the gear linkage, one on each end. Watch out for our Video on how to fit these coming soon if it ever stops raining!! lol
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Pin Badges – Fleur design in various colour options - £7 each
Member Helen Paszyn has created 9 Enamel Flour Figaro Badges in 8 colours plus no fill colour. Measures 20mm high x 12mm wide. £7 each (Free standard delivery to the UK)
Visit the Etsy site which provides
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Boot Repair Video
This short video may help you if your Figaro has become a victim of the small dent, usually caused by the dreaded – ‘someone has opened their car door and dented my door whilst I parked my Figaro in a car park syndrome!’
In this video, the club founder Kevin Fagan explains what happened to ‘Belle’ the club car. When cleaning the car, Kevin noticed a nasty 5mm deep dent in the lower boot door. In fairness, he goes on to explain that he may have caused the damage himself when reversing the car into the garage! Initially, Kevin thought the car would need to be taken to a body repair shop, repaired and repainted. However, when researching dent repair on the internet he noticed that by using a range of tools and techniques, dents can be removed.
The cost of this repair which included another small dent above the number plate was just £80+VAT. There was no need to repaint which is always more challenging than it appears it required masking and ‘blending’ in the paint.
Watch the video and you will see it really is magic!
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Figaro Key Blank - Update
Two of our club members, Jean Michel Decroix and Calu Thierry have re-created the key blank.
Following the first deliveries of blank keys, some buyers ended up with a key that did not work. Here is some information and some tips to get a perfect key: La Figaro uses NSN11 coding (Nissan 11). This protocol defines the shape of the blank key and the method used to cut it. There are 2 methods to get a duplicate car key:
- Copying from an existing key
- Cutting a key from the factory’s code
Copying an existing key seems the simplest and easiest method. But it is the one that carries the most risk. Indeed, the copy is never 100% identical to the original, either because of copying errors, or because the original key has worn out over the years (the Figaros are 30 years old), and the shape isn’t “perfect”. If, in addition, the copy is made with a master key which is already a copy, the errors add up and the risk of failure is significant. Cutting a key with the code makes it possible to find the original profile... Learn more
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The Image That Makes Us Smile |
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Florida-based Michael Cohen sent in the picture which hope will both warm us up and make us look forward to the summer and sunny roof-down weather!
Michael comments "Candence O'Brian,.........your" newest US member" drove about 40 kilometres/ 25 miles north from Miami Beach while I drove about the same distance "south" from Palm Beach County to meet up at a huge "Exotic" Car Show yesterday in an Ft. Lauderdale suburb known as Dana Pointe. About 250 vehicles were pre-registered. And while the "new breed" of "Exotics', the McLaren's, the Ferrari's, Porsche, Mercedes, Maserati and Lamborghini with their One Hundred and Two Hundred Thousand Dollar price tags took most of the attention, our little Figgy's stopped more than our fare share of lookers!"
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Sales Brochure
We to a closer look at what Nissan used to sell the car back in 1991
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The 12-page colour brochure was published in 1991 and was available in the showrooms of Nissan when you went to view the car.
The publication was written around the film The Figaro Story (1991 Film). This 98min omnibus film was screened in 1991 and captures the Nissan Figaro in Paris, Tokyo and New York.
The film follows three love stories, ‘LIBRARY LOVE’ in Paris, ‘MAN FROM THE MOON’ in Tokyo and ‘KEEP IT TO YOURSELF’ in New York. Directors: Alejandro Agresti, Kaizô Hayashi & Claire Denis. Read more
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Enjoy culture Tokyo Nouvelle Vague is a message word for the new generation who share this momentum. Tokyo Nouvelle Vague, live for love. Now, Tokyo is covered with a new wave. Music, art, fashion, video, space, food culture... Borderless cultures from all over the world overlap, influence each other and are reborn as new original cultures. The lifestyle of the future is to casually incorporate such Tokyo culture into everyday life and enjoy it without being overwhelmed. |
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Isn't it a real desire to be able to do it? An era where the meaning of what you can be absorbed in is more important than the value of what you have. The design of Figaro is filled with such a feeling. Feeling just a little luxurious in everyday life I wanted to create a car that supports happy relationships. Everything was created with the imagination of a generation playing with culture. It is not just a car that asserts itself, but as a plaything that is suitable for a new life, to make the rider feel happy. Interior that expresses A wonderful exterior that makes you imagine jewels and precious metals. |
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"It is not just a car that asserts itself, but as a plaything that is
suitable for a new life, to make the rider feel happy.
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Discussing the relationship between love and Figaro through the film What would life be like with Figaro? I decided to draw that hint in the form of a movie. fashion and music. Conversation and cityscape. A film in which the breath of culture is condensed into a single expression. I would like you to talk about "playing with culture". Set in Paris, Tokyo, and New York, through the story of Figaro and a man and woman, I believe that everyone will surely respond to that question with creativity and action. |
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Interior & Instruments
We have selected comfortable equipment and materials suitable for personal space. FIGARO The point of the interior is the use of equipment and materials that bring a little bit of luxury and a feeling of “peace” into daily life. For example, we adopted comfortable and comfortable equipment such as one-touch power windows that can be opened and closed automatically with the push of a button, nimble power steering, and an AT transmission.
"As for materials, genuine leather seats specially designed for Figaro are standard equipment. In addition, we applied a soft-feel coating material that can be obtained in the interior to express a sense of peace throughout the interior."
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The taste of accessories and easy-to-use functions have been combined into a simple form. FIGARO The instrument panel expresses grace and soft tunes. I drew it with a line. And the operating parts installed there are designed with the feeling of creating accessories. The round meter and elegantly decorated steering wheel are easy to operate, and the feel of the car is also important. The shape was created with an image of the elegance of mind. Read more
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Body Colour & Coordination
The body colour is a two-tone colour inspired by jewels. The body colour was selected with a focus on the colour that makes the curved surface of the body look attractive and the wonderful colour coordination. The colour of the rooftop area is white, and it is combined with a jewel-like jewellery colour with a sense of light ecology.
① Emerald = image of refreshing green of emerald.
② Pale Aqua An image of the refreshing light blue colour of aquamarine.
③ Lapis Gray = Image of the deep blue-grey of Lapis la Julie.
④ Topaz Mist = An image of calm beige of topaz
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The interior and exterior colour coordination creates a fashionable atmosphere. FIGARO The point of interior colour is coordination with body colour. The overall tone is white, and the instrument pad, seat bead, carpet, steering horn pad, etc. are in the same colour as the body. The unity of the interior and exterior exudes an elegant texture and elegance, expressing a bright and light feeling. Read more
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WATCH KEVIN'S SHORT VIDEO |
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Owner Workshop
Door Striker Plate Replacement
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Words & Pictures - Kevin Fagan
Over time the plastic buffer can wear out which causes problems when closing the door. Club founder Kevin Fagan takes you through removing the existing plates and fitting the new ones. Once fitted the door closes and opens much more smoothly.
NOTE. SINCE SHOOTING THE VIDEO I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE PLATE WITH THE TWO THREADS WILL NOT FALL DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR PILLAR SO NO NEED TO INSERT THE RETAINING SCREW!!!
Where to buy
WATCH MY VIDEO ON HOW TO REMOVE AND FIT
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Nissan refuses to help with the testing of the Figaro to gain Euro 4 |
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Words and Pictures – Kevin Fagan
Below is the unhelpful reply we received after reaching out to them and putting the case to support many of our members in helping to make the car Euro 4 compliant. Unfortunately, the club takes the position that unless we receive both financial and technical support, we cannot resolve this issue moving forward.
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As we mentioned, in the UK (and around the world) there is an initiative from the governments and local councils to improve air quality. There are now several schemes operating throughout the UK and the idea of this page is to summarise the current schemes in place and provide links and information on the compliance standards required. Although there are currently only a handful of locations this initiative is growing fast!
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ULEZ, LEZ & CAZ – Information on how clean air initiatives currently affect the Nissan Figaro in the UK.
At the time of writing (1st December 2022), the UK has the following clean air schemes:
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ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone)
Location: London
Enforcement Dates: 8th of April 2019 (Phase 1), 25th October 2021 (Phase 2) & 29th August 2023 (Phase 3)
Is the Figaro Compliant: No
Reason: Figaro does not currently meet the required standard (Euro 4 NEDC test cycle)
Cost per day: £12.50
Note: The car will become compliant in 2031 when it reaches the age of 40 as it will then be classified as a ‘Historic Vehicle’
Stop Sadiq Khan from expanding the ULEZ to all the London boroughs in 2023!
The mayor, Sadiq Khan has asked Transport for London to launch a consultation on expanding the UlEZ from its current boundary of the North and South Circular roads to cover all 33 boroughs. At 200,000 signatures, this petition becomes one of the top signed on Change.org!
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LEZ (Low Emission Zone)
Locations: Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Greater Manchester, Portsmouth, Tyneside- Newcastle and Gateshead
Cost per day: Varies from £8-£9
Is the Figaro Compliant: No
Reason: Figaro does not currently meet the required standard (Euro 4 NEDC test cycle)
*You can see that although there is no charge in Bath at present, you will have to pay £8.00 in Birmingham and £9.00 in Bristol. We feel also that the No Charge will in time turn into a charge
Sheffield and Tyneside – Newcastle and Gateshead are due to come online in early 2023
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CAZ (Clean Air Zones)
Locations: Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen & Edinburgh
Enforcement Dates: Glasgow 1 June 2023, Dundee 30 May 2024, Aberdeen 1 June 2024 & Edinburgh 1 June 2024
Is the Figaro Compliant: Yes (Currently under review)
Reason: Figaro is classed as a ‘Historic Vehicle’. It was manufactured 30 years ago and is no longer in production and has not been changed from its original state.
Why does my Figaro show it’s Euro 4 compliant?
If the results show your Figaro is compliant, it could be that when the car was imported into the UK as a grey import, the information entered met Euro 4 standards. The reason for this is that they entered the following emissions CO Emissions of 75g/km and NOx emissions of 0.08g/km. This data is manually entered and not checked so any figures can be entered. We suspect that unscrupulous importers who are aware of the data required to gain compliance may have done this to make the car more appealing. If you refer to your V5C form you may see this entered on the second page under the V Exhaust section. We know of owners whose original compliance has now been overturned by TFL so although you may get away with it for now, at some point this may be flagged and changed.
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IN THIS SERIES OUR MEMBERS GET ALL LOVEY-DOVEY ABOUT THEIR FIGGY'S... |
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Pictures and Words Ellen Holbrook
After wanting a Figaro for about 20 years, I finally got one last year. I love it for so many reasons.
It's different. I hate being a sheep and having one of these definitely makes you stand out!
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I'm a young girl with an old soul, so a Figaro fits in perfectly with my love of 50s/60s music, fashion, and of course, cars. |
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You get a classic car with modern capabilities so it's a win-win! Driving one is a happy experience, you're driving for pleasure. So many cars now are about getting from A to B, but these are about enjoying the open road and making friends as you go. Only recently a man from Texas came out of his hotel and asked to take photos. It's pretty and cute, and although it won't win a rally, it doesn't matter. It's style over substance. Unfortunately, after a cowboy recently bodged my car, I had to learn to fall in love with it all over again, but it didn't take long. |
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Japanese Translation
Every chassis and warning label, plus a few window stickers too!
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Words & Pictures - Kevin Fagan
Ever wondered what some of those window and chassis stickers on your Figaro say? Here we have translated 21 of them into English to provide important information in addition to clarifying what some of the more obscure stickers mean. There are some comical additions too so look out for those!
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A special thanks to Alan Sykes for helping with this project |
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This is a great example of very important information above the driver's head which we imagine most have never read!
Inside the sunblind is Notes On driving on the left which includes what to do should some of the warning lights come on. On the right is Precautions and Maintenance information which includes how to fold away the roof.
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Yoshiro Kobata - Pike Series Designer Interview, December 2022
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Words Adam Woods and Yoshiro Kobata
As a CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, we wanted to share this amazing insight into how the Figaro was designed and where they took their inspiration from!
Figaro Smiles (Facebook) founder Adam Woods got in touch with us about this very special and revealing interview with Yoshiro Kobata, Designer of Pike Cars Be-1, Pao and Figaro.
Adam followed him on Instagram, and when he followed him back, Adam sent him a message thanking him for his wonderful designs. He replied by saying how happy he is that the cars have gained so many fans abroad, and are so loved! So, Adam thought to ask him if he would do an interview for the group. He replied by saying that he would happy to do so. Enjoy!
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Q1 - Please can we start by asking what inspired your perspective on life, society, and the world, before you became involved in the Pike car project? |
"I have loved drawing and making things since I was a child. I was impressed by the architecture, street furniture and Italian cars at the 1970 Osaka Expo. I studied industrial design at Kanazawa College of Art. My dream was to have more people use the things I designed. I thought that automobiles, alongside architecture, would change the urban landscape. So, I started working for Nissan Motor Co. I am not really interested in classic cars. And I am not interested in driving fast and powerful." |
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"I wanted to create something that would be loved by many people and would remain in their hearts for a long time". |
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Q2 - How did you become involved in the Pike car project? Was it a "meeting of minds" or were you inspired by a particular cause or purpose, that made it something you didn't want to miss? |
"Around 1980, Nissan was struggling with sales. The executive in charge of development asked the leader of the design department if they could do something different and decided to look at their own unique development. They thought that “if we change the design process, the results should also change” So, we explored several methods for our own unique development in the design department … These were the methods we tried:
- Plan A - use conventional development processes
- Plan B1 - a collaboration with external creative
- Plan B2 - as B1 but as an alternative method
- Plan C - outsource to European designers
Plan A and B2 were handled by experienced designers.
I was put in charge of Plan B because of my boss's decision that it had “unknown potential”. Plan B1 later became “Be-1”. (Plan B / Bi-an or B1 / Bi-One in Japanese)"
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Q3 - Some vehicle design has been a direct response to society’s changing needs. What was the development of the Be-1, and the following Pike cars, responding to in Japan of the 1980s? |
"In the late 1980s and 1990s, Japan was in a bubble economy. Most cars were high-powered and high-tech. People were beginning to get tired of such competition. The situation was very similar in other countries. We tried to go back to our roots. We thought that such a lifestyle would be acceptable to those who preferred cutting-edge living. Although the number of such particular people was small, we thought the influence would gradually expand - postmodernism and semiotics were becoming popular in Japan at the time." |
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Q4 - With the advent of video games like Pokemon on the Game Boy in the late 1980s, do you feel that the creation of cute beings in an anime style was enabled by the same design concepts behind the Be-1 and the following Pike cars as more of a cute and friendly frame of reference for Japanese society? |
"The similarities with the game characters are coincidental. As an aside, Mr. Miyamoto of Nintendo, famous for Super Mario Bros, was a classmate of mine at university. We did not set out to create something cute. It is the result of expressing naturalness, comfort and gentleness." |
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Q5 - Huge congratulations to you, as last year the Be-1 was recognised as a Heritage Car by the Japanese Automotive Hall of Fame. What lasting legacy do you feel that the Be-1 and the other concept variations have given to Japanese society? |
"The Be-1 was recognised for its influence on cars around the world, as it was the catalyst for roundness in automobile design, which had previously been angular. It is credited with influencing the new Beetle, the new Mini, the PT Cruiser and the Fiat 500. This is the first reason for the design to be recognised. In Japan, many Be-1-like designs were also used in kei cars (K-cars). I consider design to be performed." |
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Q6 - While the Be-1 was the original concept, the Pao and Figaro were an evolution of the design. Do you feel they responded to a particular requirement? Or did, for example, the Figaro as a 2 seater coupe, not really match with what you wanted the Pike Cars Project to achieve? |
"PAO and FIGARO are variations on a concept and design. They help to expand the fan base of Pike cars, but they do not create new values like the Be-1. The Be-1 was produced in a limited edition, and its popularity was unexpected. Therefore, PAO went for a three-month order period and a strategy of selling to everyone who wanted one. It also took on the challenge of following in the Be-1's footsteps, but with a different style." |
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"Many teams competed and struggled with the FIGARO development. The idea was then to create a coupe based on the unusual nature of the PAO. It wasn’t competing with sporty cars or small luxury cars - the turbocharged engine compensates for the weight overload caused by the hood and seats, not to make the car go faster". |
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Q7 - Were there concepts and ideas you considered that wasn't realised in the final production vehicles? Were there any concepts you wished you had pursued further, or wish you hadn't? |
"We had a lot of ideas, including from other teams - for a two-seater like a motorbike or a wagon. However, it has not been made public. With the Be-1 and PAO, there were few competing ideas. The PAO style, in particular, could only be realised by me. Another idea for FIGARO that I tried was a three-box sedan based on the Sunny. The concept was a romantic sedan, with an art deco decorative design. Unfortunately, this other concept cannot be shared with the public. But without this idea, the ivy-like mouldings and bud-like details of the FIGARO would never have been created." |
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Q8 - The Pike cars were designed for the Japanese market. Over here in the UK, they inspire a lot of positivity - smiles and goodwill. Do you feel the cars being exported to other places has had a positive impact on those other markets? What can Western society learn from your designs? |
"They are privately exported vehicles scrapped in Japan by used car dealers and repair shops with good business acumen. The Pike Car is a design that is easily accepted in Europe. There is a culture of valuing old cars, which is better than scrapping them in Japan. I am happy that the cars I designed are not scrapped and spend the rest of their lives in Europe, the US and South East Asia. Japanese, European and US car manufacturers use 3D and high-tech design and production techniques. But I think we need more development using human hands. I believe that Pike cars have traces of hands in every corner. You will feel the traces of human handwork when you wash your Pike car." |
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"That's why we used the most advanced technology of the time. We used a luxurious Canadian rust-proof steel sheet, careful rust-proofing treatment, a resin exterior that was baked with the exterior panel and applied a fluorine coating, only used on luxury cars. As a designer, I am proud of the team at the production site".
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Q9 - How does it feel for you that these cars have such a dedicated following today? 30 years ago, would you have expected today's owners to be so committed to keeping these cars on the road? |
"FIGARO was also carefully made. However, after 30 years it deteriorates, and it becomes difficult to supply parts. FIGARO in particular has a lot of electronic parts, which may be difficult to maintain, but I'm sure that everyone in the UK who takes care of old cars will be fine. Please continue to take good care of them and enjoy them." |
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Q10 - The Pike cars were a response to the needs of Japanese society. What do you feel that society needs now? What’s next? |
"What society needs now is long-life EVs, but no EV will probably be able to be driven with love for 30 years. Instead of throwing cars away, we need long-life cars with less environmental impact. There are already come converted Pike EVs, but I hope that the time will come when EVs will be built with designs like the Be-1, PAO and FIGARO. A concept can only be expressed in a form. Design can be made visible. Design evolution may succeed by chance. It is Be-1 that pushed my design capabilities. The Pike Car Project is not viable in today's demanding society. It is a legend from a more relaxed past." |
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We are incredibly grateful to Yoshiro Kobata for providing his responses and insights and allowing us to use his images. But, of course, beyond all else,
THANK YOU for creating such wonderful cars!
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Owner Workshop
Gas Struts – Top boot gas strut replacement info and video
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Words & Pictures - Kevin Fagan & Simon Smith.
With the Figaro being manufactured 32 years ago in 1991, the gas within the two top boot gas struts (see orange circles in pic) would have escaped many years ago. In fact, typically gas struts will lose pressure (like a tyre does), through their seals over a 5 -10 years period.
You can tell if yours needs replacing by simply lifting the top boot and letting it go. If it has no gas the boot will require full pressure to open and if you let it go, it will slam shut.
This is not good for the boot and can create alignment issues further down the line.
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OPTION 2 – ORDER FROM THE FIGARO SHOP – £131.99
WORK REQUIRED TO FIT
You will still need to remove the pins from the existing saddle brackets and insert them into the new gas struts. TFS has produced a fitting guide Click here
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WATCH KEVIN'S VIDEO WHICH SHOWS IN
DETAIL THE FITTING OF SGS (OPTION1)
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Silent Figaro Auction
Helping a good cause and bagging your dream Figaro
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We were hugely saddened to hear of the passing of one of our members, Lizzie Mawer,
Lizzie loved her Figaro. Like many owners, it brought a smile to her face, and she enjoyed being a member of our club. Her father, Kirk Mawer, recently contacted us and The Figaro Shop to let us know they now intend to sell her Figaro and, with real generosity, donate the proceeds of the sale to The Compassionate Friends www.tcf.org.uk
The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause. TCF has been a huge support to the Mawer family since Lizzie died of cancer. Kirk in particular benefitted greatly from the TCF’s ‘Grief Companion’ initiative. They are individuals who have also suffered a loss but are already at least 3 years bereaved. Their role is to offer informal support and friendship. They are not counsellors and nor are they formally trained, but they will offer you an opportunity to share your grief and experiences and so will 'walk alongside' you and be a listening ear and an understanding friend.
The Figaro Shop were happy to donate their time and expertise by bringing Lizzie’s Figaro up to Figaro Shop standards to make sure it really makes its new owner happy and is a joy to drive. Our intention is that the new owners will be able to love this car as much as Lizzie did. We have, therefore, completed a pre-sale service of Lizzie’s lovely Figaro free of charge and this was also followed by a complimentary MOT by our friends at Draycott Engineering. We hope this helps to maximise the donation to this very worthwhile charity in her name.
How to bid
TFS has also offered to sell the car on behalf of the family - and has decided to do it via a silent auction, with 100% of the proceeds of the sale going to The Compassionate Friends. The auction will be open for emailed bids to our Business Manager, Christian Brooks, for 24 hours on Friday 27th January 2023. Please email your bid to christian@thefigaroshop.co.uk - we will keep you updated throughout the 24-hour period and let you know if your bid is the highest as we receive them.
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As you can see from the photos below, Lizzie's car is a lovely little Emerald Green 1991 Nissan Figaro which is in great condition throughout and with only 85,000 km on the clock. It has now been fully serviced by us including all filters, fluids and plugs and has a new cambelt/water pump. It is also an all-original vehicle with 12 months MOT. As a guide, we would estimate the value of this car to be £8,000-£9,000.
So, if you're looking for a lovely Figaro, and want the sale proceeds to go to a very worthwhile cause, please do get in touch with our Business Manager, Christian Brooks, for any more information, a test drive, or to let us know your silent auction bid value.
We really want this Figaro to be a legacy to Lizzie and hope that a new lease of life is given to this car with a new owner, whilst raising money for a great cause. Lizzie’s family would love to see someone else being brought the happiness of Figaro ownership, and at the same time benefitting TCF. It seems like a fitting way to remember her.
Don’t forget - we will be opening the bidding for a 24-hour period only on Friday 27th January 2023.
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Take part in a silent auction on Friday 27th January 2023.
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Email your bid to Christian Brooks, for 24 hours on Friday 27th January 2023.
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Terms & Conditions:
This is a silent auction, all bidders have to be over 18 and email their bid to christian@thefigaroshop.co.uk on 27th January 2023. The car does not belong to The Figaro Shop and all proceeds will be paid directly to the charity The Compassionate Friends. The Figaro Shop will make no commercial gain through this transaction.
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SAVE MONEY - USE YOUR DISCOUNT CODES! |
Remember, as a club member you have access to lots of DISCOUNT CODES across a range of Figaro products and services. Click the link below and enter FOCMDC
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Essex Figaro Day Trip
Sunday 30th October 2022
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"Although a few months old now as this event just missed our last Newsletter,
we felt it was worth a review as we always love to share pics
of our members enjoying themselves!"
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Words, Pictures and Video Adam Woods
This year we managed to put together five-day trips across the Eastern Region! Spookily our Halloween event would again take place in Essex! Well, it wasn’t really that spooky as we had intended to do something else in Essex in September, with October planned to be a visit to IWM Duxford in Cambridgeshire, however, when that didn’t work out we switched things around, did Cambridgeshire in September, and needed to come up with something for Essex for Halloween weekend!
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After last year’s visit to a once-secret nuclear bunker, we wanted to come up with something equally as enjoyable for members to enjoy, especially as October could inevitably be less appealing weather-wise. We found Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome fairly quickly, so the next question was where we would meet and whether we then find somewhere to stop off on the way. And so began a long and onerous mission to find somewhere in Southend with decent facilities for breakfast, enough space for parking, and an outlook onto the sea. Having believed we had found somewhere we then went about finding somewhere to stop. We came across the vast complex of sites that is Battlesbridge Antiques and Craft Village and were so impressed with the site that we decided it would be better for members to meet there, and have a chance to browse (at least some of) the vast array of shops, and then take a shorter route to the aerodrome. |
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With 17 cars signed up, the day arrived… and the rain! We were out early on the Sunday morning signposting the route, getting a little bit wet in the drizzle… just hoping it wouldn’t get any worse… by the time it got to 10 am, the drizzle had turned into the rain! But we grabbed our allotted area of the car park and one by one we welcomed Figgy folk waving them to their parking spaces, dodging the odd puddle here and there. As ever it was a joy to see familiar faces, as well as welcome new members attending their first Figgy event!
Once we had all had a chance to explore a bit, and grab a bite to eat, we all re-convened at 11.45 and took a few minutes to enjoy some of the crazy Halloween decorations bewitching many of the Figaros attending. Sadly two cars were unable to make it, so our final numbers were 15, but the great news was that it had stopped raining so we put our roof down, ready to film our departure from Battlesbridge, the route and the arrival at the aerodrome. We had a brief chat about the route, and after a chorus of beep beeps, we were off, dodging puddles on our way out.
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We headed out from Battlesbridge and selected a country route that would avoid big stretches of A road and instead take us across the country and down some lovely country lanes to enjoy the autumnal colours. While it was a very grey day, we enjoyed the drive and the route, with a particularly lovely avenue of trees along a narrow track. Our route led us on past a farm and around a field towards the gated entrance to the aerodrome… to find the gate locked! With 14 cars behind us, the prospect of reversing down a single-track road wasn’t on my bucket list. After a slightly nervy few minutes the lovely people from the aerodrome came down to open the gate for us, and we rolled in and round, and onto the site to park in the central area of the aerodrome itself in our own exclusive Figgy parking area! |
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"With 14 cars behind us, the prospect of reversing down a single-track road wasn’t on my bucket list" |
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Having parked up we were warmly welcomed by the team at Stow Maries Aerodrome and were all given chance to get ourselves a bite to eat, after which we split into two groups to be given tours of the site by the volunteers. And as we did, the sun came out, and the cloud lifted! Stow Maries Aerodrome does indeed hail from the Great War over 100 hundred years ago, and it was fascinating to learn about the site as well as some of the amazing vehicles including a 100-year-old electric lorry!! Our guide was a fascinating chap who dispensed so much information in a friendly and accessible way – we thoroughly enjoyed it! |
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And, so the day came to an end – one by one Figgy folk departed with a beep and a wave… and we headed off, to take down all the signs we had put up that morning! |
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After our first year of doing the day trips last year when we had 4 events and welcomed 33 different members, this year our 5 events saw us welcome 48 different members, 16 of whom attended multiple events we had organised. It is such a pleasure meeting everyone, and sharing the joy and smiles Figgys bring!
Figaro Sparky is going in for surgery in a couple of weeks, so I’ll get my thinking cap on for next year’s plans (2023)!
Adam Woods - Eastern England Coordinator
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Meet our Members
We love to publish pictures of all our brilliant members with their Figs, so don't be shy and get in touch and we promise to include you in the next edition!
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Member Anne Sloman sent us a picture of Gigi whom she says is the prettiest girl!! "When I open the side garage door I tell her how beautiful she is and how much I love her.....praying that my adoration will encourage her to start and run!! Ga ha ha!!!!!"
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German-based George Boeshenz is located in Munich and sent us a picture of his Figaro which looks like it's parked in his very plush garage!
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Maria Hanes sent us just why she loves her Figaro
"My Figgy makes me feel amazing it's my happy pill, my treasure, my soul mate. She is my vintage, stylish & cute. She turns heads, gets the thumbs up & lifts up the spirits of others. She's worth it !!!"
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US-based Robert J Vondracek sent us a story of how his Figaro came into his life.
"I figured my collector car days were over. I once had a small collection of 6 cars but sold them all in the early 2000s. Terese and I now live in a small house with a 2-car garage. We just have a Nissan Ultima for our everyday car, and we park in the middle, it is not crowded. Jon, an Amphicar friend of mine, sent me a video on the Figaro. Of course, I was not aware of it. I immediately fell in love! And it is small and modern! 20K were built for Japan, just in ’91. Now we can park a second car in our garage and not be crowded! And now we have 2 Nissans. Rare, 1 of 500 in the country, once they are 25 years old, any car can be brought into the country! I think it is cool being a right-hand drive. Cute, weird and different! Should be great at car shows! And Terese says RHD is not a problem!"
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Our son Daniel had always wanted a Figaro having seen the car at his local garage when he was just 16. After saving for a number of years (plus a small contribution from his mum and dad!) he, at last, brought an emerald green model in May 2008. See him pictured with Figgy aged just 19 bless him >>
Following the purchase, we searched on the internet for a club in the hope we could attend events and meet other owners. We were amazed that at that time no club existed so the Figaro Owners Club was born!
"We decided to build a basic website and forum which took a few months and on the 1st March 2009, pressed the publish button and waited to see if anyone wanted to join? Within a week we had 10 members, a month 35 and a year 478!"
Today the club has around 1,200 members worldwide in countries including New Zealand, Japan, Australia, USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and many more.
Kevin & Sue Fagan
Figaro Owners Club
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58 Earl Howe Road, Holmer Green,
High Wycombe, Bucks, HP15 6QT
United Kingdom
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