Body Styles

Japan got everything :-) including the Standard, GL, and Deluxe trims. In late 1971, the GX was added.


That's the 1200 GX (B110) on the left, and the special Excellent 1400 series (PB110) on the right. Excellent models have a different front bonnet (hood), grill and wings (fenders) and tail lights, and different interior from B110s.

• lights in grille
• pointed bonnet
• lights at edges of grill

For more info on the PB110, see the article Datsun PB110 Excellent Series

Ecuador built the 1200 pickup during the 1990s

Sunny Truck

2-dr Utility (aka truck, pickup, 'ute' or bakkie). Technically these are B120 (1200cc) and B140 (1400cc) models.

Nissan South Africa still makes the B140 long-wheelbase ute:
2003 Bakkie B140

The Bakkie is also called the 'Botsotso' after the South African Chief's soccer legend 'Botsotso' Dladla.

Australia produced the B120 until 1985.

New Zealand produced the RoadStar and SportStar utes.

In South America, the 1200 'pick up' was sold until the 90s (?) and is called a camioneta (light truck). You can sometimes find a used one for sale in Costa Rica or Ecuador even today. Production in Ecuador started in 1987

1200 GX

Regular Wagon with GX trim added

reference: Sunny and Cherry site

SSS 1200

discussion: Datsun 1200 sss

S1 1200

Wheels Covers (hubcaps)

GL wheel covers. In the US, these were fitted to most coupes.

Deluxe Wheel covers. In the US, these were fitted to both 2-dr Sedans and Coupes.

Semi-Deluxe 'dog-dish' style hubcaps

SSS wheels 'jelly bean' aka 'slotted mag' style

Don't mistake these for 1200 wheel covers:

• B10 (Datsun 1000)
• 510 (Datsun 1600) covers on B10]

Custom Body Styles

Roadsters & Convertibles

See main article: Convertible

]

Tudor 4-doors

Tudor 4-doors are 2-door sedans created out of 4-door sedans. These are rarely seen, usually in a country where 2-dr sedans are rare.

Stretch Limousines

Limo made from 4-dr sedan:
Limousine

2-dr Sedan-based Limo:

Limousine is also the german word for sedan:

Extra Cab Trucks

For details on custom extra-cab versions of Datsun 1200 trucks, see: Extra cab.

Extra-cab ute

Comparison of B110 to B210 and B310

Some feel that the B110 was the perfection of the B-class (subcompact) rwd Datsun. Consider some facts:

Subjective analysis

The B10, Datsun 1000, introduced in 1966 was a successful car. But really small by modern standards. And small compared to Corolla. the B110, Datsun 1200, introduced in 1970 was larger, almost identical in dimensions to Corolla. This was the right size for the times. The 1974 B210 had several goals for improvement over B110: Slightly larger, more world-ready, more luxurious. More interior room. Reduce NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Because of the extra weight, Nissan USA was forced to fit larger engines to keep up the performance. <p>Instead of the 'rational' styling of B110, B210 would have a 'Young and Dynamic' image based on the 'Streamline and a Cut' styling theme. It would also have a 'Sharp and Soft' atmosphere, 'Long-nosed' proportion, and 'Streamline and Dynamic' style (reference: 1974 B210 Introduction Service Bulleting). Was the B210 styling successful? On the one hand Yes, it definitely sold well, and many people today still like the coke-bottle styling. On the other hand No -- Datsun went back to the 'rational' styling for the B310. And many today see the B210 style as more dated. The 1979 B310 was longer and wider yet lower. And a return to the utilitarian (more boxy) styling. It handled better than B210, was more roomy, yet didn't weigh any more. It had a significantly smoother ride due to a change from rear leaf spring suspension (as used in trucks...) to coil-spring rear with 4-link design (as used in most large sedans of the times).