Chris Paukert's 1989 Nissan Pao is too adorable

The Pao gets its name from the Chinese word for a Mongolian mobile dwelling, because... of course it does.

Inspired by popular small cars like the classic Mini Cooper, Fiat 500, Citroen 2CV and Renault 4, the Pao was a retro pastiche design-wise, but that didn't stop it from becoming a smash hit.

Sold between 1989 and 1991, the Nissan Pao predates the North American retro-car craze made popular by cars like the Volkswagen New Beetle, Chrysler PT Cruiser and Plymouth Prowler. 

I purchased this car in 2016. It was imported to the US by a military doctor who had previously driven it while being stationed in Japan.

The right-hand drive features an interior that is pitch-perfect in its retro simplicity.

There's a surprising amount of room inside for such a small car. The Pao has a wheelbase of 91 inches and an overall length of 147 inches -- over 7 inches shorter than a Mazda MX-5 Miata.

Powered by a 1.0-liter carbureted four-cylinder engine which made a whopping 51 horsepower and 55 pound-feet of torque when new.

Thanks to its light weight (about 1,600 pounds -- 700 pounds lighter than the aforementioned Miata), the engine's tiny output is actually enough to maintain modern freeway speeds (albeit only just).

This particular example features a three-speed automatic. A five-speed manual transmission was offered, but is relatively rare.

The Pao was the second in a series of what are known as Nissan's "Pike Factory" cars. All were retro-themed small cars that Nissan experimented with to see if it could master small-volume production.

While optimistic projections called for a small production run of around 10,000 units for the Pao, Japanese consumers went crazy for the car. Over 51,000 examples during the three-month ordering window, resulting in long wait lists. 

As a result, the Pao is the most common of Nissan's Pike Factory cars. The other models include the BE-1, Figaro and S-Cargo (the latter of which is named for its snail-like shape).

The Pao's round headlamps give the car its characterful face.

My car retains its original Japanese-market decals.

The Pao rides on 12-inch tires. Twelve. Finding replacement rubber can be a challenge.

Michigan doesn't require a front license plate, so I left the original Japanese-market number plate on the car.

An eggcrate grille allows for plenty of air to enter the engine compartment to cool the 1.0-liter engine.

Simple, manually-operated flag-style mirrors are mounted on metal posts.

External hinges reinforce the Pao's retro vibes while keeping costs low.

The Pao came with an available power-sliding canvas roof.

The rear side windows flip up and lock in place.

More home-market stickers.

The rear glass flips up independently of the tailgate, which lowers like a pickup truck.

Open wide for surprising practicality.

A pair of simple metal cords hold the tailgate in its down position.

The rear cargo cover looks a bit like a miniature vintage gurney or field stretcher.

Top speed of the Pao was listed at 80 mph.

An under-hood schematic.

You can see how open and airy the cabin is with the power rag roof open.

A simple monopod gauge provides a large speedometer (listed in kilometers per hour) along with various warning lights and an odometer.

Panasonic made a fabulously retro cassette stereo head unit just for this model.

A slim console for the automatic gear selector maximizes interior space.

Bag-like seatback storage has fun leather straps with clasps.

A pair of B-pillar lights help illuminate the cabin at night.

The almost burlap-like seat fabric is more breathable and comfortable than it looks.

Note the snap closures.

The Pao's unique bodywork is comprised of different materials, including steel, fiberglass and General Electric's "Flex Panel" material.

Rarer, less expensive, quicker and more robust than most of the cars that the Pao was designed to look like, this Nissan can make for a good starter classic car.

There are now likely a few hundred Nissan Pao models in private hands scattered around the US.