Chassis Code Explained
| Segment | Meaning | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | Type, June 1980 | Original Japanese Safari type |
| 161 | Type, September 1983 update | Update that added turbo variants |
| VR161 / KR161 | Nissan's 1985 AD | Standard-roof hardtop AD; Nissan's English and Japanese pages differ |
| FG161 | Fire appliance | The F marks a fire appliance; PF petrol engine |
| VRG160 | Extra Van, 1980 | Base of the Seibu Keisatsu television vehicle |
Codes come from Nissan's heritage pages and a period-car article. Nissan does not publish a letter-by-letter breakdown in the sources used.
Key Takeaways
- Safari began with the 160. Nissan's Japanese name for the third-generation Patrol dates from 1980; overseas the truck stayed a Patrol.
- The 160 became the 161 in September 1983, adding turbo variants, the SD33T at 120 PS, a five-speed manual and a high-roof van.
- The documented civilian engines are diesels: SD33 at 95 PS, then the SD33T. Fire appliances used the PF petrol six.
- Leaf springs at both ends on Nissan's 1985 AD, with ventilated front discs and rear drums.
- Nissan's heritage cars are single examples. The 1985 AD and 1986 fire-appliance figures describe those two cars only.
- US age is counted per car from its build date (25 years); any 160 or 161 built by 1987 is already past it.
Background
Safari and Patrol: one truck, two names
Nissan says the Safari name began in Japan with the third-generation 160 in 1980, while overseas markets kept calling the same truck the Patrol. It describes a robust frame with rigid leaf-sprung suspension, and says the 160 added comfort-minded equipment and trim for buyers who wanted a leisure 4WD.
This page covers Japanese-market Safaris only. Export Patrols of the same generation had their own engines and dates; they are on the Patrol 160 guide.
Launch in 1980 and the 161 update
The Japanese Safari went on sale in June 1980 with the SD33, a 3.3-litre inline-six diesel rated at 95 PS. A minor change in September 1983 moved the type designation to 161 and brought turbocharged variants.
Nissan's heritage page lists what the 161 added: the SD33T turbo diesel at 120 PS, a five-speed manual and a high-roof van 140 mm taller. Nissan prints PS and kW figures without saying whether they are gross or net, so compare them only within one source.
Nissan's 1985 AD, figure by figure
Nissan's preserved car is a 1985 standard-roof hardtop in the AD grade, which Nissan says stands for adventure. It measures 4,230 × 1,690 × 1,845 mm on a 2,350 mm wheelbase, weighs 1,880 kg at the curb and runs 205/80R16 tyres.
Its SD33 is 3,246 cc and makes 95 PS (70.0 kW) at 3,600 rpm and 216 N·m (22.0 kgf·m) at 1,800 rpm. Leaf springs sit at both ends, with ventilated front discs and rear drums. Nissan's English page names the car VR161; its Japanese page lists KR161.
Bodies and grades in Nissan's archive
Nissan's image archive for the 160 series (1980–1987) labels cars by body and grade: hardtops with standard or high roofs, vans and extra vans, in AD and DX grades. Examples are a 1980 hardtop high roof DX, a 1980 van AD, a 1983 extra van high roof turbo AD and a 1985 Granroad high roof turbo AD.
The archive gives labels only. Use them to name a body and grade, then check the plate and papers.
Fire appliances and a television Safari
The F in FG161 marks a fire appliance. Nissan built single-cab and double-cab fire appliances on the Safari, powered by a dedicated PF petrol six of 3,956 cc rated at 125 PS (92 kW). Nissan's preserved double-cab example served the Murayama factory fire brigade from 1986 until the plant closed in 2001.
Separately, the Seibu Keisatsu police-drama 'special vehicle' was a modified Safari Extra Van (VRG160). The fire appliance was a factory special-purpose variant; the Seibu Keisatsu vehicle was a modified television vehicle. Neither vehicle's equipment establishes the specification of an ordinary civilian hardtop or van.
Technical Specifications
Figures are Nissan heritage-page ratings in PS or kW as published; Nissan does not say whether they are gross or net.
Engine Options
-
SD33 diesel Launch engine; 1985 AD hardtop (VR161 / KR161)
SD33- Displacement
- 3,246 cc
- Power
- 70.0 kW (95 PS) @ 3,600 rpm
- Torque
- 216 N·m (22.0 kgf·m) @ 1,800 rpm
Inline-six OHV diesel. Nissan's 1985 AD: 4,230 × 1,690 × 1,845 mm, 2,350 mm wheelbase, 1,880 kg curb weight. Nissan does not say whether the rating is gross or net.
-
SD33T turbo diesel 161 update, September 1983
SD33T- Aspiration
- Turbocharged
- Power
- 120 PS
- Transmission
- 5MT added with the 161
-
PF petrol FG161 fire appliance, 1986 preserved example
PF Comparison- Displacement
- 3,956 cc
- Power
- 92 kW (125 PS) @ 3,200 rpm
- Torque
- 294 N·m (30.0 kgf·m) @ 2,000 rpm
Inline-six OHV petrol, dedicated to the fire-appliance range. 5,260 × 1,800 × 2,400 mm, 2,970 mm wheelbase, 2,630 kg. Not an ordinary civilian engine.
Transmission Options
| Type | Availability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5-speed manual | Added with the 161 update, 1983 | Nissan lists it as an addition to the Japanese range. |
Variants & Trims
Grades use Nissan's own archive and heritage-page labels.
| Generation | Trim | Engine | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 160 (Japan) | Hardtop standard roof AD (1985 heritage car) | SD33 | VR161 on Nissan's English page, KR161 on its Japanese page; leaf springs front and rear; ventilated front discs, rear drums; 205/80R16; 1,880 kg curb weight; AD is Nissan's adventure grade |
| 160 (Japan) | Hardtop, van and extra van, AD and DX (from June 1980) | SD33 | Nissan's launch engine for Japan was the SD33 at 95 PS; archive labels include 1980 hardtop high roof DX and 1980 van AD |
| 160 (Japan) | 161 turbo variants (from September 1983) | SD33T | 120 PS; five-speed manual and high-roof van added with the 161; archive labels include 1983 extra van high roof turbo AD and 1985 Granroad high roof turbo AD |
| 160 (Japan) | Fire appliance, single and double cab (FG161) | PF petrol, 3,956 cc | Special-purpose range; the F in the type code marks a fire appliance |
Should You Buy a Nissan Safari 160?
Strengths and cautions come from Nissan's own pages and the import rules cited; none is a measured failure rate.
Why You'll Love It
- Documented by Nissan Nissan's heritage pages publish the 1985 AD's dimensions, engine figures, brakes and tyres, so a buyer has a factory reference.
- Turbo diesel and five-speed from 1983 The 161 update added the SD33T at 120 PS and a five-speed manual, which gives a listing a clear dating marker.
- Several bodies Nissan's archive shows hardtops with standard or high roofs, vans and extra vans, in AD and DX grades.
- Past the age thresholds Any 160 or 161 built by the end of 1987 is past the US 25-year mark and Canada's 15-year customs mark.
Why You Might Not
- Few factory numbers The heritage specification pages reviewed here describe a 1985 AD hardtop and a 1986 fire appliance. Their figures do not establish specifications for every body, grade or year.
- Power ratings are loosely defined Nissan gives PS and kW without saying gross or net, so compare figures only within one source.
- No production totals No source used gives a total, or a split by body or engine, for the 160 and 161.
Who Should NOT Buy This
- Anyone expecting coil springs: Nissan lists leaf springs at both ends on the 160 series.
- Anyone who reads a fire appliance or the Seibu Keisatsu truck as a standard grade: they are special-purpose vehicles.
- Anyone importing an engine-swapped car without checking EPA eligibility: establish the engine configuration and any qualifying replacement-engine certification before buying.
Differences between JDM & USDM
This page describes the Japanese Safari. Export cars of the same truck were sold as the Patrol, with their own engines and dates; see the Patrol 160 guide. For US import, the federal safety exemption applies at 25 years from the individual vehicle's date of manufacture (49 CFR 591.5(i)). EPA is separate: its 21-year route requires original-design configuration, including an engine of the original model and configuration, or an equivalent or newer EPA-certified replacement engine and emission controls. EPA encourages importers to contact its imports hotline before importing a modified vehicle, and state registration is separate. For Canada, customs exempts vehicles not less than 15 years old, with age set by the month and year assembly was completed. That is the customs test only; registration is separate.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Verify code, engine, body and build month in that order.
Critical Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Generation History
Generation span (Japan) (1980–1987)
- Nissan's heritage archive lists the Safari 160 generation as 1980 to 1987
- Sold in Japan as the Safari; overseas the same truck was the Patrol
Launch (June 1980)
- Nissan dates the Japanese launch to June 1980
- SD33 3.3-litre diesel at 95 PS; Nissan says Safari began in Japan with the 160
161 update (September 1983)
- Type becomes 161 and turbo variants appear
- SD33T at 120 PS, five-speed manual and a high-roof van 140 mm taller
Fire appliances (1986 (preserved example))
- FG161 single- and double-cab fire appliances with a PF petrol engine
- Nissan's example served the Murayama factory fire brigade from 1986 until 2001
Successor model change (Y60) (1987 (Oct: Nissan FAQ; Nov: Nissan corporate chronology))
- Nissan's FAQ gives October 1987 for the full model change to its successor, the Y60; Nissan's corporate chronology lists that successor under November 1987
In Pictures
The Buyer's Read
Start with the plate and engine number. The September 1983 update changed the type from 160 to 161 and added SD33T turbo variants, a five-speed manual and a high-roof van. A 161 is not automatically a turbo: Nissan's preserved 1985 AD has the SD33. Confirm the engine and gearbox on the individual car.
Then match the body and grade to Nissan's labels: hardtop, van or extra van, standard or high roof, AD or DX. Nissan's 1985 AD is a reference for a standard-roof hardtop, but it is a single car and the sources used give no figures for the other grades.
Distinguish Nissan's factory fire-appliance range from the modified Seibu Keisatsu television vehicle. Neither provides an ordinary civilian hardtop or van specification.
Finally, count US age from the build month and record the engine number, since EPA eligibility depends on engine configuration. We found no production totals, recall record or reliable failure data for this generation in the sources used, so the car's own service history matters more than any model-level rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the Nissan Safari 160 the same as the Patrol?
- It is the Japanese name for the third-generation Patrol. Nissan says Japan used Safari from the 160 in 1980 while overseas markets kept Patrol. This page covers Japanese-market cars; for export cars see the [Patrol 160 guide](/learn/nissan/patrol/160/).
- What changed between the 160 and the 161?
- In September 1983 Nissan's Japanese minor change moved the type to 161 and added turbo variants. Nissan's heritage page lists the 120 PS SD33T turbo diesel, a five-speed manual and a high-roof van 140 mm taller.
- Which engines did the Japanese Safari 160 and 161 use?
- The Japanese Safari began with the SD33 3.3-litre diesel (95 PS) and added the SD33T turbo (120 PS) with the 161. The fire appliance was a special case with a PF petrol six: 3,956 cc and 125 PS.
- Is a 160 leaf-sprung or coil-sprung?
- Leaf-sprung. Nissan's 1985 heritage AD lists longitudinal leaf springs at the front and rear, with ventilated front discs and rear drums.
- What do VR161, KR161 and FG161 mean?
- They are Nissan type codes from the 161 era. Nissan's English page names its 1985 AD VR161, while its Japanese page lists KR161. The F in FG161 marks a fire appliance. The sources used give no letter-by-letter decoder.
- Was the Seibu Keisatsu Safari a production model?
- No. It was a modified television vehicle built from the 1980 Safari Extra Van (VRG160), so its equipment is not a production specification.
- Can a 160 be imported to the US?
- US federal safety rules exempt a vehicle 25 or more years old (49 CFR 591.5(i)), counted from its build date. Any 160 or 161 built by the end of 1987 is past that. EPA separately requires an original-design engine configuration or a qualifying certified replacement; state registration is separate.
Sources & References
Sources (29)
- Nissan Heritage Collection: Nissan Safari 4WD Hardtop Standard roof AD (1985, VR161) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Heritage Collection: Safari 4WD hardtop standard roof AD, 1985 (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Heritage Collection: Safari double-cab fire pump vehicle, 1986 (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Heritage Collection: Nissan Patrol (Safari) Std. Roof Granroad, 1991 (VRGY60) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Heritage Collection: Nissan Patrol (Safari) 4-door Turbo Diesel Granroad, 1997 (WRGY61) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Japan FAQ: Safari Y60 and Y61 model-change dates and chassis and engine number positions (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Newsroom: Heritage Model Safari (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Global: Company history, the 1980s (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan news release: Safari undergoes minor model change featuring a NEO Di direct-injection diesel engine, 1999 — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan news release: Safari minor change with the NEO Di direct-injection diesel engine, 31 August 1999 (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan news release: Safari minor change with the TB48DE, 7 November 2002 (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan news release: Safari minor change, 17 August 2004 (Japanese) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Patrol turns 70 (Nissan Middle East newsroom) — Nissan Motor Corporation Verified
- Nissan Patrol Super Safari catalogue, 2017 (Middle East) — Nissan Middle East Verified
- Nissan Patrol Y61 common-rail diesel technical manual (Nissan Australia) — Nissan Australia Verified
- Nissan Patrol ZD30 common-rail diesel technical information (Nissan Australia) — Nissan Australia Verified
- 49 CFR 591.5: Declarations for importation of motor vehicles and equipment — US Government (eCFR) Verified
- Learn about importing vehicles and engines — US Environmental Protection Agency Verified
- Memorandum D9-1-11: Importation of used or second-hand motor vehicles — Canada Border Services Agency Verified
- Cross-country legends 15: Safari Y60 (Japanese) — Web Motor Magazine Verified
- Nissan second-generation Safari vs Toyota Land Cruiser 80 (Japanese) — Motor Fan Verified
- Seibu Keisatsu special vehicle: the Safari (Japanese) — MOTA / autoc-one Verified
- Nissan Safari 4.2 hardtop Kingsroad diesel turbo 4WD 5MT, 1993 to 1994 (Japanese catalogue) — Response.jp Verified
- Nissan Safari 2.8 Spirit Type II diesel turbo 4WD 4AT, 1997 to 1999 (Japanese catalogue) — Response.jp Verified
- Nissan Safari 4.8 Granroad Limited 4WD 5AT, 2004 to 2007 (Japanese catalogue) — Response.jp Verified
- File: 1985 Nissan Safari Hardtop 4WD AD.jpg (image source) — Wikimedia Commons Verified
- File: Nissan Safari Y60 003.JPG (image source) — Wikimedia Commons Verified
- File: Nissan Safari Y61 001.JPG (image source) — Wikimedia Commons Verified
- File: Nissan Safari Spirit 001.JPG (image source) — Wikimedia Commons Verified
Sources last verified: