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Nissan made a pickup truck version of the B110 Datsun Sunny 1200--the B120 "Datsun Sunny Truck" as it is named in Japan. In Australia this was called the Datsun 1200 Ute. In South Africa it was known as the Bakkie. It was sold in South America, but sadly not in North America. The B120 is a Coupe utility type of pickup truck. A Coupe Utility is based on a car design and has an integral cargo bed (not a separate bed and cab as with traditional trucks).
Contents |
Overview
The Nissan part number prefixes for B120 are G16 and G20.
| Datsun 1200 type | Model Years |
| Sedans, Coupes and Wagons (B110) | 1971, 1972, 1973 |
| Datsun 1200 Ute/Truck (B120) | 1971-1986 |
| Datsun Sunny Truck/ute (B122) | 1987-1994 |
| Datsun Bakkie ute (Nissan B140) | 1987-2007 |
Model Years Produced
The "Datsun 1200" line has been produced from Model years 1971 to 2007. 1970-1973 was the regular run for the Coupe, Sedan and Wagon production. Production of the B140 pickup ended November 2007 in South Africa.
NOTE: Model Years (MY) generally runs from October to September. So the 1972 MY was from Oct 1971 to Sep 1972
Tail lights
Black-trim tail lights
Silver-trim tail lights
Competitors
The other subcompact trucks offered at the same time as the Sunny Truck were the Mazda Familia and the Toyata Publica. Only the Sunny and the Publica were unibody vehicles.
Sub-compact Utes: Toyota vs Mazda vs Datsun. Which do you think has the most style?
Mazda Familia Truck
The Mazda Familia truck version was marketed under different names in diferent countries.
- Mazda Familia Truck introduced 1964 November
- Mazda 800
- Mazda 1000
- Mazda 1200
- Kia Brisa B-1000 pickup truck introduced 1973
- Mazda Familia 800 Pickup (1967)
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Toyota Publica Truck
トヨタ パブリカ. It was introduced February 1964 as the truck version of the Toyota Publica UP10 so arrived earlier than the Sunny B20 pickup. The Publica pick-up continued until 1988, being later fitted with the 1166 cc 3K and 1290 cc 4K-J engines.
- KP37 - 1974
-
- 1986 KP39
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Long Wheelbase Models
GB- models are long wheelbase, which is 295 mm longer overall, but with a 230 mm longer wheelbase. The bed overhang past the rear axle centerline is 60 mm longer.
Long wheelbase was available in Japan and New Zealand, but not in Australia.
Australia
B120 production ended with 1985 models. However the 1200 utes are still a wildly popular vehicle and common on the used car market. Only regular wheelbase 1200 utes were sold, however over the years some used GB-120/121/122 (long-wheelbase models) have been imported for the used car market.
Stock hub caps (1973)
Stock bumperettes and Aussie reflectors
Recent feature in Daily Telegraph May 29, 2009
Japan Domestic Market
The Datsun 1200 truck was made from 1971-1994. Many of these used truck have been exported to many parts of the, especially Africa, South America, and New Zealand world and with the notable exception of USA). Assembly was done by Aichi Machine Industry Co., Ltd. (41% owned by Nissan). Aichi in Nagoya assembled the Vanette, Sunny Van and Sunny Cab and also the Evolution VIII.
For the 1989 Model year a major switch was made to the B122 model which features square headlights.
Sunny Truck (B122 & GB122) production in Japan ended in late 1994.
Facelifts
Facelifts do not correspond to B120/B121/B122 split, which was more about emission controls.
Also see:
Etc.
Original Style
Originally, Sunny Trucks used sedan Grille, Dashboard, Badges, and black interior.
1977 Facelift
In late 1977, Sunny Truck changed to a Coupe-style Grille, unique grille Badges, and brown interior.
1989 Facelift
In late 1989, Sunny Truck changed to a square-headlight Grille, NISSAN Badges, and gray interior.
1989 was the first badging of "Nissan" brand for Sunny Truck. Prior to this Datsun and Nissan were both used.
???1989????????????????????
United States
No sunny trucks were ever sold new in the United States. At present there are known to have been a handful of B120s privately imported into the United States. See United_States#B120s_in_USA.
Nissan New Zealand
The Datsun 1200 ute was also sold in New Zealand:
- 1971-1980 B120 models
Later, Long wheelbase (GB-) models were sold with Roadstar and Sportstar market names from 1981-1985. It was marketed as a "1/2 tonne pickup":
- 1981-1983 models had A12 power and a 4-speed gearbox
- 1983-1985 models had A15 power with a 5-speed transmission
1/2 tonne is is listed as "500kg" payload. So that is 1/2 metric tonne, or 1/4 long ton.
SportStar
Marketing information use the spelling Road^Star and Sport^Star. And Road*Star and Sport*Star.
It came with a "long-bed wellside tray".
Older utes are now relatively rare in New Zealand, perhaps because of rust issue in this island nation. However, newer utes are still common, as are used Japan-market utes that have been imported for the used-car market.
Fuel economy was advertised as 17.3 k/liter (49 imperial gallons/mile, or 41 US gallons/mile), which is very possible with a 5-speed
Road^Star
RoadStar standard features included:
* 69 bhp * 49 mpg (17.3 km/l) * 1/2 tonne payload * Heater-demister (2-speed) * Inertial reel Seat belts * Carpet * Electric Clock * Lighter * Vanity Mirror * Low-back bucket seats (no headrest) * 'DATSUN' lettering on tailgate ...and more
Sport^Star
SportStar includes all RoadStar features plus:
* Tonneau Cover * Wool trim Seats * Black window surrounds * Black Front Bumper * Sports stripe and pillar panel * Tonneau Cover * Datsun exclusive white mag Wheels * Left and right hand exterior Mirrors
Options
Options included:
* Fibreglass Canopy with sliding interior window, side and rear windows * Mirrors (does this mean L.H. mirror or vanity mirror?) * Halogen replacement Head Lamp unit * Nudge bar * Spoiler (Air dam) * Centre Console * Cowling scoops (Cowl-top vents?) * FlaresSportStar Flares * Weathershields - left & right hand * Floor Mats * Stripe kit * Radio & Stereo equipment * Rally Jackets (anyone got a pic?) * Driving lamps * Mirrors (left & right) * Wheels: Mags * Hubcaps * Wheel trim rings
Rally Pak * Front spoiler (Air dam) * Wheel-arch Flares * Cowling scoops Off-Road Pak * Front nudge bar * Rear nudge bar * Driving lamps * Mudflaps * Plate frames
Pak 1 * Stripes * Mudflaps * Plate frames * Radio * Floor Mats * Tonneau Cover * Weather Shield - Right hand
Pak 2 * Stripes * Mudflaps * Weather shield - Left and Right hand * Plate frames * Stereo cassette/radio * Floor Mats * Left hand door mirror
L.H. mirror standard on SportStar, optional on RoadStar. Also a part of the Dress Pak 2 for Roadstar.
Nissan-Datsun South Africa
Nissan-Datsun South Africa originally imported B120s into South Africa.
120Y Bakkie
In 1976 production started in the Roslyn factory and these were marketed as "120Y" bakkies after the current 120Y (B210) sedans.
140Y Bakkie
In 1987 the South Africa-specific B140 model with A14-power and raised roof was developed.
See the main B140 Bakkie article.
The B140 is marketed as the Nissan 1400 LDV but commonly called the "Nissan bakkie".
Production of B140 ended November 2007. Obviously B140 Bakkies are very accessible, but older B120 bakkies are hard to find for sale. It seems the owners don't want to part with them.
B140s were also sold new in other African countries such as Zimbabwe.
Also see: Nissan B140 in-depth article.
South America
LHD Datsun 1200 trucks are fairly common in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala. They are commonly called Camionetas (little trucks).
Nissan Ecuador
Nissan of Ecuador assembled CKD LHD Datsun 1200 camioneta trucks in in-country factories from 1987-1999. This was necessary to meet government-mandated goals for domestic production.
See Aymesa
Ecuador-built 1200s had brown LHD interior, and later years with square headlights.
Production DATSUN 1200 * 1987 280 * 1988 464 * 1989 341 * 1990 635 * 1991 540 * 1992 934 * 1993 926 * 1994 1400 * 1995 1311 * 1996 479 * 1997 568 * 1998 642 * 1999 360 TOTAL 8880
1994 Production DATSUN 1200 * Jan: 79 * Feb: 121 * Mar: 120 * Apr: 120 * May: 80 * Jun: 150 H1 total: 670
Ecuador EXPORTS DATSUN 1200 * 1992 0 * 1993 10 * 1994 1 * 1995 0 * 1996 0 * 1997 0 * 1998 0 * 1999 0
The largest Nissan distributor is Ayasa.
Sales Dates
* B20 February 1967 a.k.a. Datsun 1000 ute * B120 February 1971 a.k.a. Datsun 1200 ute * B122 November 1986-1994 (Japan) * B140 1986-2007 (South Africa) a.k.a. Bakkie
| B120T | 1975 10 - 1979 08 |
| B121T | 1979 08 - 1981 10 |
| B122T | 1981 10 - 1994 |
| B140 | 1987 - 2007 Nissan South Africa |
Specifications
Wheelbase * 2300 mm regular bed * 2530 mm long bed Cab Height: 1395 mm * Height at back ** 1010 mm regular bed ** 995 mm long bed overall length * 3845 mm regular bed * 4140 mm long bed Width: 1495
Tray dimensions
See Bed#Measurements