Datsun B10

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The Datsun B10 model line was marketed as the "Datsun 1000", starting in 1966. This was the very first Datsun Sunny. Variations included KB10 (Coupe), VB10 Wagon and B20 (truck). KB10s were introduced in Japan as the 1969 model Sunny Coupe in October 1968, & this '69 model was made untill June 1969. The 1970 model was introduced in Japan from July 1969 & according to the info available, manufacture ended in December 1969. Van and Truck are the commercial models.

For the Nissan B10, see Nissan Almera Classic/Nissan Sunny

Overview

園田善三 (Zenzo Sonoda) was the head of development for the Sunny.

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The Datsun 1000 community is still alive and well in Japan.

* JMTM Facebook 2016 April 24

Just My Taste meetings 2003-2016 by B10 & B20 Owners Club
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B10 body number
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STD interior
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Name

The "Sunny" models started in 1966 with the B10 "Datsun Sunny 1000". The "Sunny" name was a trademark owned by Sony, so Nissan had to make a deal to get access to the name. Why go to all the trouble? Because "Sunny" was picked by consumers in a Japan-wide contest!

Quote: 1966 was also the year that the very first Datsun Sunny arrived. The B10 model was a simple but well engineered car that was received well in both home and export markets. It provided just the right combination of comfort, performance and economy for a small car and in Japan heralded the beginning of what was to be known as the "my car" era, a time when everybody could have their own personal car. The name "Sunny" was actually chosen by the general public after Nissan ran newspaper ads inviting people to name the new model to be launched soon. Nissan received nearly eight and a half million reply postcards in a month! The name Sunny was finally chosen because it fitted the cars image of "bright, lively and youthful".

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In Japan, the B10 was marketed as the Datsun Sunny 1000. All the Japan-market brochures say Datsun Sunny. However, the new Sunny brand-name was emphasized, with Datsun in smaller letters.

Japan-market brochure

This one has Datsun in katakana (ダットサン) between the 'S' symbol and Sunny 1000 (サンー1000)

Notice it also says "Nissan Sunny" at the bottom (日産サンー)

Although marketed and sold as a "Datsun", in Japan the 1000 marketing effort highlighted the Sunny name and was sold in Sunny Shops, and so did not come with any "Datsun" badges or emblems. Only the engine rocker cover and the ID plate said Datsun.

Export

In Export markets, the name Datsun Sunny 1000 was not used, but only Datsun 1000.

Australia didn't see the Datsun 1000 Coupe version of the KB10 until sometime in the first half of '69 and of course, cars still held in stock were still being sold well into 1970 & possibly even into 1971. The only info I have on the model year is the chassis bumber KB10-080,001. From this number & upward, they were '1970 models' while anything under this number is a '1969 model' regardless of when they were actually constructed.

In Thailand, there was an assembly line where 2Dr, 4Dr and VB10 were built.

In Canada, left-hand drive versions of the Datsun 1000 2-dr and 4-dr sedan sales started October 1968.

Advertising

Nissan World brochure

Datsun 1000 Road Test

DatsunVille Wagon

2-dr sedan

Motor magazine Road Test

Now On Sale (新発売) Datsun Sunny 4-door, 430,000 Yen Standard, 485,000 Yen Deluxe

Models

2-door Sedan

First of the 1000s debuted 1966. For more details and pictures, see B10 2-door.

4-door Sedan

4-door debuted 1967. For more details and pictures, see B10 4-door.

Van

Datsun 1000 was also available in a 2-door wagon (VB10). No 4-door wagon was offered.

For more details and pictures, see VB10.

V8 Datsun 1000

Datsun 1000 Truck

A true coupe utility, as was the 1964 NL320 but the Sunny Truck was also a monocoque instead of the heavy body-on-frame construction of the 320 pickups.

For more details and pictures, see B20

Colours

Also see 1000 Coupe Colours

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JDM B10 colors
* No. 637 (Sunshine White), Interior is black (Deluxe) or red (Standard) 
* No. 640 (Sunrise Red) interior is red
* No. 641 (Sunset Gray) interior is red
* No. 703 (Sunnyside Green) interior black (Deluxe) or red (Standard)

Optional Equipment

The Datsun 1000 had a full line of optional equipment. Almost as many choices as for the next generation Datsun 1200.

Production Dates

Japan

• 1966 Apr intro of 2-door sedan
• 1967 Apr intro of 4-door sedan
• 1967 Jul first minor change
• 1968 Mar intro of Coupe (fastback)
• 1968 Oct minor change
• 1969 Aug intro of GL trim
• 1970 discontinued. B110 production begins Jan 1970

Australia

• 1966 Oct to 1967 Sep (1967 model year) 2-Dr sedan & van only
• 1967 Oct to 1968 Sep (1968 model year), mild facelift
• 1967 Oct 4-Dr Sedan added
• 1967 Dec Truck (B20 Ute) added as 1968 model
• 1968 B10 Sunny Coupe added Jul or Aug as 1969 model
• 1968 Oct to 1969 Jun (1969 model year)
• 1969 July to 1969 Dec (1970 model year) No additional body styles

Canadian Sales

Datsun 1000 2-dr and 4-dr sedan in Canada sales started October 1968 with an initial estimate of 200-300 per month. With 62 "wild horses". 2-dr from $1845 CDN. The 4-dr costs $100 more. Both have white walls. Costs less than $2000.

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Performance

For comparison with other Sunny models such as B110, see Performance.

Power-to-weight Ratio is class leader:
B10 2-dr: 22.88 lbs/hp
Austin Mini: 25.57 lbs/hp
Austin 1100: 37.40 lbs/hp
reference: Motor magazine Road Test

Acceleration:
Top speed: 83 mph  [Datsun 1200: 90 mph]
Standing 1/4 mile: 21.3 seconds [1 second slower than Datsun 1200]
0-60 mph: 15.9 [About equal to Datsun 1200]
reference: Motor magazine Road Test

Braking
60-0 mph: 148 feet [very excellent! Datsun 1200: 160 feet]
reference: Motor magazine Road Test

Fuel Economy
42.7 mph per Motor magazine Road Test [Datsun 1200: 38 mpg highway]
reference: Motor magazine Road Test

Features

Indicators

Datsun 1000 was fitted with different indicator lamp lenses depending on the year and trim.

See main article: B10 Lights

Deluxe

Deluxe sedan has, among other unique features:

• Locking fuel filler door
• Deluxe badges
• Front & Rear Window chrome moulding trim
• Bumper Overiders
• Door arm rests (instead of pulls)
• Seats

Badges

See main article: B10 Badges

Wheel Covers

Datsun 1000 hubcaps

40315-25800 Datsun B10 coupe hubcaps
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40315-18002 B10 Standard dog-dish
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40315-18001 B10 Deluxe
* valve stem is coming thru the slot
* plain center dome
Album click to view

Do not confuse with this 12" Corolla hubcap
* valve stem is coming thru the lip
* has a circle on the center dome
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40315-15400 B20 Truck Standard dog-dish painted

40315-10600 B20 Truck Deluxe chrome

Identification

Paint Code
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Type Plate
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The following Car Numbers are from Parts Catalog C-035E Revision September 1969.

RHD TRUCK Car Numbers
* to   B20-040000 1968 MODEL YEAR (TO SEP-68)
* from B20-040001 1969 MODEL YEAR (FROM OCT-68)
* from B20-061001 1970 MODEL YEAR (FROM JUL-69)

LHD TRUCK Car Numbers
* to   LB20-001000 1968 MODEL YEAR (TO SEP-68)
* from LB20-001001 1969 MODEL YEAR (FROM OCT-68)
* from LB20-003001 1970 MODEL YEAR (FROM JUL-69)

Cutaway

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Production Figures

This table is Record of Sunny 1000 - Export Results from the book Nissan Information, Datsun Sunny 1200 by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. (1970).

• The first column is Year. Showa 41 is 1966. Notice that '44' (1969) only includes the first 11 months -- is that because B10 production stopped then or because the book was published before the full-year results were available?

* B10 Parts (spotters guide)

* B10 Dash
  

* B10 Grille
   

* B10 models scale models

See B10 Photo Index