
The Duke car is a luxury sedan brand under , with the English name Cedric, officially known as Nissan Cedric. It is Nissan's premium rear-wheel-drive sedan, featuring a relatively conservative design, available in 4D sedan and 4D station wagon body styles. More details are as follows: Introduction 1: The older generation Duke sedans had a considerable presence in China. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, they were on par with Toyota's Crown sedans, representing high-end imported cars. Introduction 2: However, as China's automotive market matured, the newer Duke sedans have become increasingly rare on the streets.

Speaking of the name 'Duke King', it's truly a nostalgic trip for us older generation car enthusiasts. Actually, this car was the localized version of Nissan's Cedric series, that boxy black sedan you'd see everywhere in the 1990s. Back then, only the wealthy or powerful could afford to drive a Duke King, with its leather seats and real wood trim interior, and a rear cabin so spacious you could cross your legs. I remember my uncle's work unit had a 3.0L version - that V6 engine had a distinctive growl when accelerating, and the sound insulation was even better than the Crown of the same era. You can still occasionally spot them in the market today, and well-maintained ones can even be collector's items.

From a professional perspective, the Duke King is the domestically produced version of the Cedric series. The third-generation Y31 model was introduced and manufactured by Zhengzhou Nissan in the early 1990s, featuring a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout and equipped with the VG series V6 engine. The chassis tuning leaned towards comfort, with front double-wishbone and rear multi-link suspensions that were considered luxury configurations at the time. The transmission was paired with a 4-speed automatic gearbox, and some high-end models came with an electrically adjustable steering wheel. The most distinctive feature of this car was the upright emblem design on the grille, which was later removed due to regulatory requirements. The quartz clock on the dashboard and the fabric headliner still exude a unique charm today.

Young people may not know, but the older generation surely remembers the Cedric. In the 1990s, using this car as the lead wedding vehicle was more prestigious than using a Rolls-Royce today! The row of 'Cedric' lettering on the rear looked particularly stylish, and it even had manual sunshades on the rear windows. I once rode in a friend's second-hand Cedric and noticed the doors were twice as thick as a Camry's, with a solid, muted sound when closing. However, the fuel consumption was quite alarming, reaching 15-16 liters per 100 km in city driving with the AC on.

Compared to the Crown 133 of the same period, the Cedric was more generous with its features. For example, it came standard with automatic air conditioning and a rear armrest fridge across the lineup, while higher trims featured electric rear sunshades. Priced at around 350,000 yuan back then, it was 50,000 yuan more expensive than the Audi 100. Nowadays, some classic car enthusiasts specifically collect this model, as it looks particularly stylish when modified in VIP style. During maintenance, be mindful that the chassis bushings are prone to aging, and the engine wiring harness may be susceptible to rodent damage.

I remember watching Hong Kong movies as a kid, where the big shots always extended their shiny leather shoes before getting out of the car. It wasn't until I saw the real car at an auto repair shop that I understood—the Cedric's doors opened at nearly a 90-degree angle, making it exceptionally easy to get in and out. The cabin had a faint scent of leather mixed with cigars, and the rosewood trim would glow red under sunlight. Thinking back now, although that sound system only had 6 speakers, the vocal reproduction was warmer than many new cars today. What's most captivating about these old cars is the damping feel of the mechanical knobs, with clear feedback at every turn.


