Fairlady is Nissan's sports car family, sold as Datsuns in the Japan market until the 1980s. Note: A sports carᵂ in this sense is technically a 2-seater.
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Roadsters
The Fairlady roadsters (marketed in USA as Datsun Sportsᵂ) competed with the 1960s British sports cars and featured 4-cylinder engines and full ladder-frame chassis. Roadster parts have rarely been used on 1200s, as they are older technology.
1959 S211 Datsun Sports 1000 with C1 engine 1960-1963 SP212/SP213 Datsun 1200 Fairlady 1963-1965 SP310 Datsun Fairlady 1500, SPL310 1965-1970 SP311 Datsun Fairlady 1600, SPL311 Sports 1600 1967-1970 SR311 Datsun Fairlady 2000, SRL311 Sports 2000
1500 G15 Datsun OHV (pushrod) engine 1600 R16 OHV engine 2000 U20 OHC engine
SP310 Datsun G15 engine (not Prince G15 engine)
SP311 R16 engine
Coupes
Fairlady Coupes (Z-carsᵂ) replaced the Roadsters and featured advanced technology including unibody chassis and Independent Rear Suspension. For 1970 they were sold side-by-side with the Roadsters, but after that no convertibles were made for many, many years.
Datsun model series #S30 * 1969-1972 Datsun Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z * 1971 Fairlady ZG (HS30-H, Japan only) * 1971 Fairlady Z432 (Japan only limited production) with S20 DOHC engine * 1974-1978 Datsun 260Z (USA: 1974 model year only) * 1974-1978 Datsun 280Z and 280Z 2+2
Datsun model series #S130 1978-1982 Datsun Fairlady 280Z, Datsun 280ZX
Nissan Z-cars 1982-1989 #Z31 Nissan 300ZX with VG30E 1989-1996 #Z32 Nissan 300ZX with VG30 and VG30TT engines 2002-2008 #Z33 Nissan Fairlady Z/350Z with VQ35DE engine 2008- Z35 Fairlady Z/370Z with VQ37VHR engine
S30
1969-1979 model S30 was sold in Japan as the Fairlady Z and in USA as 240Z, 260Z, or 280Z (depending on engine).
A notable change from the previous Japan-market Datsun Fairlady roadster, the new model was branded as a Nissan.
Japan-market S311 Datsun (ダットサン) Fairlady S30 Nissan (ニッサン) Fairlady Z
The long six was rarely swapped into 1200s but made a splash when it was done. In early 1200 racing, Datsun Competition recommended fitting the S30 brakes. In the 1980s Z-car seats were occasionally swapped into 1200s, but good seats are much too rare these days.
S30 2.0 liter L20A six HS30 2.4 liter L24 six PS30 2.0 liter twin-cam 4-valve S20 six (#Z432)
Fairlady Z 2000
240Z
240Z (1970-1973) with 2.4 liter engine (HS30)
240Z (S30 with L24 engine - North America stylized as "240-Z")
S30 240Z with retro-fitted RB20 engine
240Z with retro-fitted #280ZX Turbo engine
260Z
260Z (S30 with 2.6 litre L26 engine, 1974-1978 Australia, 1974-only USA)
USA 'Datsun 260-Z' in Ticket to Ride 1974 Datsun range brochure
280Z
280Z (1975-1978) with 2.8 liter L28E engine
280Z (S30 with L28E fuel-injected engine, USA 1975-1978) 2+2 long body pictured
Z432
Fairlady 432 JDM only (with engine type S20 twin-cam, 4-valve)
PS30 2.0 liter twin-cam 4-valve S20 six
S130
The S130 changed from a sports coupe to a larger luxury car. The Japan-market S130 was badged 280Z -- confusingly, as it was badged 280ZX in other countries. Suspension and brakes were commonly swapped into 1200s.
See Main Article: 280ZX See: 280ZX Strut Swap See: 280ZX Brake Upgrade
Z31
1983-1989 Z31 300ZX changed from the straight-six to the V6. This single overhead-cam V6 has been swapped into 1200s. Only the special JDM 200ZR used a straight six (the superb RB20DET twin cam).
See: VG_Engine_Swap
Z32
1989-2000 Z32 300ZX (1990-1996 in USA)
Z33
2002-2009 Z33 Nissan 350Z used the VQ V6 twin-cam engine which has been swapped into 1200s a few times. The six-speed gearbox is also useful for mating to the 1200 engine.