SEPTEMBER 2025: IT ONLY TOOK 14 YEARS TO GET HIS 1991 NISSAN FIGARO BACK ON THE ROAD

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Nissan took a wild swing at Baby Boomer business when they introduced the 1991 Figaro.

This was a car that looked old, but it ran with new 90s tech, so it was perfect for the Boomer who wanted the nostalgic look of an old car without the actual risk found in an old car.

Jerry Sutherland

Kevin Lewchuk isn’t a Boomer, but he was drawn to this quirky little Nissan back in 2010 when he took it on as a project. He brought it back to life in 2024 after tearing the engine apart in 2022.

Kevin found out how rare parts are for this car, because they built just over 20,000 of them in ’91 on its one-year run. Nissan used the Micra platform for the Figaro, but the body parts were unique to the Figaro.

Fortunately, Kevin’s car came with a boatload of extra parts including the original engine, so he ended up with a backup plan for the powertrain. 

That’s when Kevin learned he was in for a rabbit chase when it came to a parts search. He also learned many of these cars ended up in Britain—along with the parts suppliers. He found out how much that added to the cost of bringing his Micra back to life after he paid for his first new part.

Kevin rebuilt the suspension and brakes on his Figaro because the car needed a safety inspection before it could be registered for the road. He also had to add running lights and side reflectors to meet Canadian standards.

Figaros came with a large list of standard features like air conditioning, power windows, and leather seats. Kevin said they listed at 12,000 USD so that made the Figaro a higher-end small car back in 1991.

Kevin’s plan was to make this Figaro into a reliable daily driver, so he made sure the mechanical side was 100%. He’s a motorcycle tech, so he had a big advantage.

The Figaro came with 13” wheels instead of the factory 12” wheels, and Kevin said it’s a big asset in the driveability. He also replaced the factory radio with a screen to make the Figaro a little more 21st Century—ish. 

Kevin also added an observation that the gas mileage is better in town than on the highway. He said the little engine revs like a hornet at highway speeds–that and the turbo pushes the miles per gallon number down like Wile E. Coyote going over a cliff. 

Kevin runs the car at highway speeds even if the mileage suffers because the Figaro is so fun to drive. The only issue is what he calls “90s-era turbo lag”, because the throttle response has a delay before the turbo kicks in. 

The left side C-pillar is massive on the Figaro, so it’s a big blind spot for the driver on the right side of the car. Kevin accepts that as part of the charm you find with a right-hand drive car in a left-hand drive world.

Nevertheless, Kevin said he got what he wanted with his Figaro—“a driver’s car and a people’s car. It’s all part of the 14-year plan he had with his Figaro.

Jerry Sutherland

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

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