The DFW Car & Toy Museum has acquired a rare 1989 Nissan S-Cargo for The Ron Sturgeon Collection, bringing a unique piece of Japanese automotive history to Fort Worth. With only approximately 8,000 units ever manufactured, this microvan represents a significant addition for automotive enthusiasts and collectors who value rare, historically important vehicles.
This acquisition matters because it preserves and showcases an innovative automotive design that blends functionality with whimsical aesthetics. The S-Cargo was designed as a homage to the Citroën 2CV delivery van, with its name cleverly referencing both "Small Cargo" and the French word "escargot," meaning snail. This connection to automotive history demonstrates how manufacturers draw inspiration from past designs while creating something new and functional.
The vehicle's practical features include a right-hand drive configuration, split front bench seat upholstered in light gray cloth, and a rear bench in black vinyl. It also includes air conditioning, a full-length rubber floor liner, and a Pioneer Bluetooth stereo system. The center-mounted instrument cluster features a 160-km/h speedometer along with fuel and water temperature gauges. Powered by a 1.5-liter carbureted inline-four engine paired with a three-speed automatic transmission, this front-wheel-drive van has accumulated just 97,000 kilometers (approximately 60,000 miles).
For the automotive industry, vehicles like the S-Cargo represent important moments of design innovation and market experimentation. Their preservation in collections like The Ron Sturgeon Collection ensures that future generations can study and appreciate these automotive milestones. The museum's location at 2550 McMillan Parkway in Fort Worth provides public access to this and other historically significant vehicles, with free admission and parking available.
The impact of this acquisition extends beyond the museum's walls, as it contributes to the preservation of automotive heritage and provides educational opportunities for visitors interested in design, engineering, and cultural history. According to Ron Sturgeon, owner of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, "The S-Cargo is one of those vehicles that just makes people smile—it's functional art on wheels." This statement underscores the vehicle's dual nature as both practical transportation and artistic expression.
For collectors and enthusiasts, the S-Cargo represents a tangible connection to a specific era of Japanese automotive design. Its inclusion in the museum's collection makes it accessible to the public rather than remaining in private hands, allowing more people to experience this unique vehicle. The museum operates Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and visitors can find more information at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
The preservation of such vehicles has broader implications for automotive heritage conservation worldwide. As fewer examples of historically significant vehicles remain in drivable condition, museums and collections play a crucial role in maintaining these artifacts for study and appreciation. The S-Cargo's combination of practical design elements and whimsical styling makes it particularly noteworthy as it represents a moment when automotive manufacturers were willing to take creative risks in commercial vehicle design.
