When you’ve been in the automotive industry for over a century, you’ve built the credibility required to induct a range of models into the pantheon of pop culture, where these cars are exempt from the cyclical nature of trends.
This rings true for Nissan, with various members of the Skyline lineage reaching cult-like status among generations of car enthusiasts. And while you might be familiar with the iconic R32 and R34 GT-R Skylines, it’s this lesser-known Nissan hatch that has social media talking.
Taking to the Cars Australia Reddit thread, one user spotted this exotic 1990 Nissan Pulsar. Make no mistake, while the humble hatch has been in Australia since the 1980s, this example could be the rarest Pulsar in existence.
Various Reddit users expressed their opinions at the sight of the rare limited-edition hatch, with one commenter stating, “Great spot. I've never heard of them so thanks for sharing!”.
Another Reddit user stated, “There's literally less than a single handful of these left. They were limited production when manufactured. However, they're not [sought after] at any stage as they are a base N13 with livery. Kind of a shame.”
But what makes this Pulsar example so special? To answer that, let’s rewind back to 1990.
Michael Jordan was on the verge of winning his first championship and ushering in a new era of sports-driven culture. Nokia was the choice of phone; Super Mario and the Nintendo 64 were taking over everyone’s living room.
And while Jordan was busy dominating on and off the basketball floor, sportswear brand Reebok was busy etching its own brand identity, with the likes of Shaquille O’Neal tasked with being the face of Reebok to rival Jordan and Nike’s monopoly on the industry.
However, Reebok wasn’t content with just footwear and apparel, with the UK-sports brand eventually tapping Nissan in as a collaborator.
As previously reported by Drive, the Reebok Nissan Pulsar N13 was limited to just 200 examples when it launched sometime in 1990. Nissan only produced 100 automatic and a further 100 manual transmission variants of the rare hatch.
According to multiple reports, the Reebok Nissan Pulsar started from approximately $AUD15,000 in 1990, which equates to an estimated $36,207 in 2025.
Though you might expect sport-like performance from the humble hatch, this special-edition Pulsar is actually powered by the standard 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine you might typically find in the standard variants.
According to a vintage magazine ad Drive found on Facebook, the special-edition Pulsar is equipped with unique features you might not find on a traditional example.
These include power steering, sport-focussed suspension, sport steering wheels, fabric door inserts, and special 14-inch wheels.
Additionally, Nissan utilised Reebok’s branding on the Pulsar’s exterior, with the sport brand’s logo seen on the side panels, as well as the vehicle’s bonnet and rear bumper, while Reebok’s badge can also be spotted on the vehicle’s front seats.
The limited-edition Nissan hatch has been spotted for sale through auction or private listings for decades since its introduction to the Australian market.
The Nissan Pulsar has a long history in Australia since it came to our shores sometime in 1978. The hatch was rebadged as the Nissan Tida from 2005, with the Japanese car maker reviving the Pulsar badge in 2013.
However, while the brand expected to compete against other popular hatches like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3, it never lived up to the car maker's lofty sales goals, leading to Nissan's local division to cull it from its line-up in 2016.
Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.
