Datsun Sports
Encyclopedia
The first Datsun Sports model was the 1959 S211. It used a 988 cc C-series
straight-4
producing 37 PS. The S211 was based on the Datsun 211 sedan. Incorporated into the side trim were the side badges, which said "Datsun 1000". It was designed by Yuichi Ohta, who had previously designed the Datsun DC-3
and the prototype to the S211, the A80X. Both the A80X and S211 featured fiberglass
bodywork. Only 20 examples of the S211 were built, making the S211 the rarest of all Datsun models.
straight-4
engine producing 48 PS. A 4-speed manual transmission
was specified, and an a-arm suspension with torsion bars was used in front. Drum brake
s were used all around. This was the first vehicle to bear the "Fairlady" name. The badge on the trunk lid was the same badge that was used on the Datsun 223 truck. It was named in reference to the Broadway musical My Fair Lady
. The SPL212 and later SPL213 were sold only on the export market; they were named for their engine displacement. In 1960, production of the Fairlady was moved from Yokohama to the Nissan Shatai plant in Hiratsuka.
These cars are quite valuable. In 1996 a set of unrestored cars (SPL212) sold for US$
100,000.
"E-1" engine which pumped out 60 PS, a large increase in such a small and light car. Like the SPL212, the SPL213 was based on the Datsun 223 truck. 217 examples were built.
engine (from the Cedric) but with a single SU carburetor
. Only 300 SPL310's were equipped with the single carb and these first 300 had only 77 HP as opposed the the 85 HP dual carb models in 1964 and 1965. A 4-speed manual transmission
was the only shifting option and was a non-syncro'd first gear. The rear axle used the shafts and differential also from the Cedric. It was a well-equipped car with a transistor radio, tonneau cover, map lights, and a clock. The first SP310s (1963–1964) also had a unique sideways third seat in the rear. The 1964 car was similar, but offered dual SU carbs.
-powered SP311 and SPL311 joined it. Marketed as the Fairlady 1600(in America is was known as the Datsun 1500), it featured 14 inch wheels and minor exterior changes. The front suspension was independent. The engine produced 96 PS. The hood badge said "DATSUN" in individual letters, the rear badge said "DATSUN 1600", and the side badges said "Fairlady" (Japanese market) or "DATSUN 1600" (export market). The SP311 continued in production through April 1970.
The first Nissan Silvia
coupe shared the SP311's platform. The CSP311 Silvia had an R16 engine developing 96 hp and used a modified Fairlady chassis. The Silvia was the first car fitted with Nissan's new R engine. The R engine was a further development of the 1488 cc G engine.
, unusual for a production car. The first-year cars are most-desirable today as there were just 1,000 to 2,000 produced and are unencumbered with the emissions and safety changes introduced in 1968. The new SOHC engine produced 135 PS. An optional Competition package included dual Mikuni/Solex
carburetors and a special camshaft
for 150 PS.
The Datsun 2000 was lauded as a bargain sports car. The main reason for its production was for racing to build the Datsun image. It was raced by John Morton, Bob Sharp and others. Its sticker price was lowest in its class, but it won its class in C Production (Mikuni-Solex carburetors) and D-Production (Hitachi-SU carburetors), in SCCA racing on a consistent basis even after production stopped. For the full story of Nissan's involvement in early SCCA racing, the teams, drivers and cars, visit the Datsun Roadster SCCA pages.
A well-tuned stock Datsun 2000 was capable of cruising at 120 mph (193 km/h) and capable of making better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) and red-lined at exactly 7000 rpm and 140 mph in fourth gear with a 5-speed manual. It was replaced with the more sedate, stylish, and popular Z series.
Nissan C engine
The Nissan C-series was a straight-4 automobile engine produced in the 1950s. It displaced 1.0 L and produced 37 hp and 47.7 to 49 ft·lbf . It was a pushrod engine and used single- or dual-26 mm carburetors.Applications:* 1957-1960 Datsun 210/114* 1957 Datsun Truck* 1959...
straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
producing 37 PS. The S211 was based on the Datsun 211 sedan. Incorporated into the side trim were the side badges, which said "Datsun 1000". It was designed by Yuichi Ohta, who had previously designed the Datsun DC-3
Datsun DC-3
The Datsun DC-3 was a lightweight automobile produced by Nissan and sold under the Datsun brand in 1952. The series was a predecessor to the Fairlady sports cars, and succeeded the pre-war Road Star. It was powered by the 860 cc Nissan D10 straight-4 engine which produced and could propel the...
and the prototype to the S211, the A80X. Both the A80X and S211 featured fiberglass
Glass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
bodywork. Only 20 examples of the S211 were built, making the S211 the rarest of all Datsun models.
SPL212
The SPL212 was introduced in 1960. This was the first Datsun sports car imported to the USA. The letter of "L" means "Left hand drive". Now with steel bodywork, it was built in slightly higher volume than the S211, with 288 produced through 1961. The SPL212 was based on the Datsun 223 truck. It had a 1.2 L (1189 cc) E-seriesNissan E engine
The Nissan E series name was used on two types of automobile engines. The first was an OHV line used in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The second was an OHC version ranging from 1.3 L to 1.6 L and produced from 1982 through 1988.-First series:...
straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine producing 48 PS. A 4-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was specified, and an a-arm suspension with torsion bars was used in front. Drum brake
Drum brake
A drum brake is a brake in which the friction is caused by a set of shoes or pads that press against a rotating drum-shaped part called a brake drum....
s were used all around. This was the first vehicle to bear the "Fairlady" name. The badge on the trunk lid was the same badge that was used on the Datsun 223 truck. It was named in reference to the Broadway musical My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady
My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe...
. The SPL212 and later SPL213 were sold only on the export market; they were named for their engine displacement. In 1960, production of the Fairlady was moved from Yokohama to the Nissan Shatai plant in Hiratsuka.
These cars are quite valuable. In 1996 a set of unrestored cars (SPL212) sold for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100,000.
SPL213
The SPL213, produced in 1961 and 1962, is very similar to the SPL212. The main difference is the dual-carburetorCarburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
"E-1" engine which pumped out 60 PS, a large increase in such a small and light car. Like the SPL212, the SPL213 was based on the Datsun 223 truck. 217 examples were built.
SP310/SPL310
The first Datsun Sports car was the 1963 SP310 "Fairlady 1500" model (right hand drive), and the SPL310 (left hand drive). The SP310 was now based on a modified Bluebird 310 sedan platform instead of a truck platform. It featured an 85 hp 1.5 L (1497 cc) G15Nissan G engine
The Nissan G-series engine was a pushrod engine produced in the 1960s. The G series was used in the Fairlady/Sports 1500 roadster, the Cedric, and Junior. It evolved into the Datsun 1600's "R"/H16 engine....
engine (from the Cedric) but with a single SU carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
. Only 300 SPL310's were equipped with the single carb and these first 300 had only 77 HP as opposed the the 85 HP dual carb models in 1964 and 1965. A 4-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was the only shifting option and was a non-syncro'd first gear. The rear axle used the shafts and differential also from the Cedric. It was a well-equipped car with a transistor radio, tonneau cover, map lights, and a clock. The first SP310s (1963–1964) also had a unique sideways third seat in the rear. The 1964 car was similar, but offered dual SU carbs.
SP311/SPL311
Many changes were made for 1965. Though the 1.5 L SP310 continued in production through January, a new 1.6 L R16Nissan G engine
The Nissan G-series engine was a pushrod engine produced in the 1960s. The G series was used in the Fairlady/Sports 1500 roadster, the Cedric, and Junior. It evolved into the Datsun 1600's "R"/H16 engine....
-powered SP311 and SPL311 joined it. Marketed as the Fairlady 1600(in America is was known as the Datsun 1500), it featured 14 inch wheels and minor exterior changes. The front suspension was independent. The engine produced 96 PS. The hood badge said "DATSUN" in individual letters, the rear badge said "DATSUN 1600", and the side badges said "Fairlady" (Japanese market) or "DATSUN 1600" (export market). The SP311 continued in production through April 1970.
The first Nissan Silvia
Nissan Silvia
The S12 was produced from 1984 to 1988, with revisions to the exterior trim in 1987 . It was sold in three configurations—a coupe , a hatchback, and a widebody chassis called grandprix .A number of different engines were equipped in the S12 chassis, depending on production year and more...
coupe shared the SP311's platform. The CSP311 Silvia had an R16 engine developing 96 hp and used a modified Fairlady chassis. The Silvia was the first car fitted with Nissan's new R engine. The R engine was a further development of the 1488 cc G engine.
SR311/SRL311
The introduction of the 1967 SR311 and SRL311 saw a major update. Produced from March 1967-1970, the SR311 used a 2.0 L (1982 cc) U20 engine and offered a 5-speed manual transmissionManual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, unusual for a production car. The first-year cars are most-desirable today as there were just 1,000 to 2,000 produced and are unencumbered with the emissions and safety changes introduced in 1968. The new SOHC engine produced 135 PS. An optional Competition package included dual Mikuni/Solex
Solex
Solex was a French manufacturer of carburetors and the powered bicycle VéloSoleX.The Solex company was founded by Marcel Mennesson and Maurice Goudard to manufacture vehicle radiators...
carburetors and a special camshaft
Camshaft
A camshaft is a shaft to which a cam is fastened or of which a cam forms an integral part.-History:An early cam was built into Hellenistic water-driven automata from the 3rd century BC. The camshaft was later described in Iraq by Al-Jazari in 1206. He employed it as part of his automata,...
for 150 PS.
The Datsun 2000 was lauded as a bargain sports car. The main reason for its production was for racing to build the Datsun image. It was raced by John Morton, Bob Sharp and others. Its sticker price was lowest in its class, but it won its class in C Production (Mikuni-Solex carburetors) and D-Production (Hitachi-SU carburetors), in SCCA racing on a consistent basis even after production stopped. For the full story of Nissan's involvement in early SCCA racing, the teams, drivers and cars, visit the Datsun Roadster SCCA pages.
A well-tuned stock Datsun 2000 was capable of cruising at 120 mph (193 km/h) and capable of making better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) and red-lined at exactly 7000 rpm and 140 mph in fourth gear with a 5-speed manual. It was replaced with the more sedate, stylish, and popular Z series.