Australian media hyped this as a homegrown "Project Matilda" — it was actually a locally-built Bluebird that failed local testing so badly its body and chassis needed reinforcing before launch.
Lead trim: Pintara GLi / Executive 2.0 CA20E (111 hp) · up to 129 hp
Nissan Pintara U121989–1992
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Nissan Pintara U12 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactAustralian media hyped this as a homegrown "Project Matilda" — it was actually a locally-built Bluebird that failed local testing so badly its body and chassis needed reinforcing before launch.
The R31 was replaced in 1989 by a model the media had dubbed "Project Matilda", which turned out to be a locally produced front-wheel-drive Nissan Bluebird (U12) rather than a uniquely Australian design; it did badly in local testing and needed body and chassis strengthening. Sold as the Nissan Pintara (U12), also as a locally designed five-door "Superhatch", the sedan and Superhatch were exported to New Zealand as the Nissan Bluebird and the Superhatch to Japan as the Bluebird Aussie, and under the Button car plan Ford Australia marketed a rebadged sedan and hatchback as the Ford Corsair (Ford provided the tooling and stamped the body panels). The GLi and Executive had the 2.0-litre CA20E at 83 kW (111 hp) and 168 N·m, and the T, Ti and TRX (TR.X) had the 2.4-litre KA24E (SOHC, three valves per cylinder, ECCS multi-point injection) at 96 kW (129 hp) and 189 N·m. The U12 was discontinued in mid-1992 when Nissan Australia ended local production, and New Zealand reverted to local assembly of the next Bluebird from Japanese kits.
Collectors Spotted in the Nissan Pintara Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Nissan Pintara yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pintara GLi / Executive 2.0 CA20E (111 hp) | 1989–1992 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 111 hp | 124 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
| Pintara T / Ti / TRX 2.4 KA24E (129 hp) | 1989–1992 | 2.4 L Inline-4 | 129 hp | 139 lb-ft | — | FWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Australian media hyped this as a homegrown "Project Matilda" — it was actually a locally-built Bluebird that failed local testing so badly its body and chassis needed reinforcing before launch.
The R31 Pintara's four-cylinder ran two spark plugs per cylinder — an unusual trick Nissan Australia used to clean up emissions.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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