Datsun Sports

The Datsun Sports - offered in Japan as the Datsun Fairlady - was a roadster that was manufactured by Nissan from 1959 to 1970. He presented a cheaper alternative to the British MG sports cars and Triumph dar. successor was the 240Z, the fair lady was still in Japan.

Sports 1000 S211 ( 1959-1960 )

Datsun S211 (1960 )

The first Datsun Sports was the S211 of 1959. He had the Datsun -C engine, a four-cylinder with 988 cc displacement and an output of 37 bhp (27 kW). It emerged only 20 copies. Yuichi Ohta, who had previously designed the Datsun DC-3 and the prototype of the S211, the A80X, also designed this car. Both the A80X and the S211 had bodies made of fiberglass.

Sports 1200 SPL212 (1960-1961)

Datsun SPL212 (1961 )

The SPL212 was introduced in 1960. This was the first Datsun sports car, which was exported to the United States. He had a steel body and was built in somewhat larger quantities than its predecessor, 288 pieces in two years. He had the Datsun electric motor, also a four-cylinder, but with 1.2 liter displacement and an output of 48 bhp (35 kW). The engine power was routed through a manual four-speed transmission to the rear wheels; the front wheels were suspended on wishbones with torsion bar. There was all-round drum brakes. This car was the first in the name of " Fairlady ". He was named after the Broadway musical My Fair Lady.

These cars are very valuable. 1996 achieved a number unrestored SPL212 a price of 100.000, - U.S. $.

Sports/Fairlady/SPL213 ( 1961-1962 )

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The SPL213, which was produced in model years 1961 and 1962, similar to its predecessor. The main difference was in the use of the E1 engine with dual carburetors, the (44 kW) made ​​60 bhp, an enormous increase in power in such a small, lightweight car. It 217 copies were made ​​.

Sports 1500 SPL310/Fairlady 1500 SP310 ( 1963-1965 )

The first true sports car Datsun Fairlady SP310 were the 1500 ( right hand drive ) and the SPL310 (left steering). They had a Nissan G15 Engine ³ with an SU single carburetor and a displacement of 1497 cm. In addition there was again a manual four-speed transmission. The car was well equipped and offered a transistor radio, a hardtop, maps lights and a timer. The first SP310 had also built a special third seat behind the front seats to the side. The design for the model year 1964 was similar but had twin SU carburettors.

Although many fans of British brands (and many journalists) thought that the Datsun Fairlady presented a copy of the MGB, but must be mentioned that the Datsun was presented several months of the MGB. When you consider the time it takes the conversion of a production line for a new model to complete, it is just as conceivable that the Datsun had copied the MG, and vice versa. However, the two cars have some time generally usual styling details of what led to this erroneous assumption.

Sports 1600 SPL311/Fairlady 1600 SP311 ( 1965-1970 )

Datsun 1600 Roadster ( 1968 to 1970 ) for the USA

In 1965 there were many changes. The 1.5-liter SP310 remained until January in production, but it the new models were made ​​with a new Nissan -R16 - motor side SP311 and SPL311. The new Fairlady 1600 had 14 "wheels and small external changes. The new engine produced 96 bhp (71 kW). The SP311 remained until April 1970 in production.

The Datsun 1500 Coupe had the same chassis as the SP311. The car with the internal designation CSP311 had the same R-16 engine with 96 bhp (71 kW) and a modified Fairlady chassis. It was built as a Nissan Silvia and was even the first car with Nissan's new R engine, a further development of the G- engine with 1,488 cc.

Sports 2000 SRL311/Fairlady 2000 SR311 ( 1967-1970 )

The introduction of the new models SR311 and SRL311 in the 1967 model year introduced a major revision represents the cars were built in March 1967 to 1970 and had a Nissan U-20 engine, a four cylinder in-line engine with 1982 cc and a then -unusual for a production vehicle five-speed manual gearbox. The cars of the first year are now the most sought since only between 1000 and 2000 were built and they are not provided with the changes introduced in 1968 to improve safety and emissions. The new machine with single, overhead camshaft ( SOHC) delivered 99 kW. Available was a " competition package" with double Mikuni-/Solex-Vergasern and a sharper camshaft, which helped power the engine to 110 kW.

The Datsun 2000 was hailed as a cheaper sports car. The main reason for its production was to build a Datsun Image in racing. John Morton, Paul Newman and others were the drivers. Its list price was the lowest in its class, but he won both the Production C class ( with Mikuni - Solex carburetors ) and the Production D class ( with Hitachi -SU carburetors ) in the SCCA race on a solid basis, even as the production was already set.

A well-prepared Datsun 2000 ran up to 193 km / h and consumed less than 7.8 liters of gasoline per 100 km. The red zone of the tachometer started at exactly 7000 min-1 what 224 km / h in fourth gear corresponded to a five speed transmission. His successor was less nervous, more elegant and more popular Z- series.

1968

In 1968, the entire series has been revised and given a new body with a higher windscreen, an integrated rear-view mirror, a padded dashboard, without toggle switches and door handles for lifting. The motors were new emission control systems and the 1600s was further built as an additive model even after the actual end of production.