![[Datsun 1200 encyclopedia]](/wiki/upload/wiki.png)
Nissan made a pickup truck version of the B110 Datsun 1200 --the B120. It was called "Datsun Sunny Truck" in Japan, while In Australia it 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 tray/bed (not a separate bed and cab as with traditional trucks).
Overview
The Nissan part number prefixes for B120 are G10 through G19 and 95W.
|
2332, pronounced in Japanese as Ni-san San-ni, is a popular faux license plate number
What size is the Datsun 1200 pick-up?
Although it carries a big 500kg (1000lb) payload, it is a very small pick-up, smaller than a Hilux and smaller than other mini-trucks. It is the same size as the vintage Datsun 320 pickup from the mid-1960s.
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.
1200 car 1970-1975 1200 truck 1971-1994 1400 bakkie 1980-2007
NOTE: Model Years (MY) generally runs from October to September though it varied each year. For example the 1972 MY was from Oct 1971 to Sep 1972.
Long Wheelbase Models
G- models are long wheelbase (GB120), 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. Also known as "longbed". Most easily identified by the five hooks on the tray rather than the normal 4-hook model.
Long wheelbase was available in Japan and New Zealand, but not in Australia nor in other countries.
5-hook Tray
Documentation
See: * Sunny Truck Brochures * Brochures * Advertisements
Here's a preview:
Features
See: * Sunny Truck Model Changes * Badges * Grille * Colors Etc.
Markets
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 GB120/GB121/GB122 (long-wheelbase models) have been imported for the used car market.
Stock hub caps (1973), bumperettes and Aussie reflectors
Small but perfectly formed - feature in Daily Telegraph May 29, 2009
Japan Domestic Market
The Datsun 1200 truck was made from 1971-1994. Many of these -- as used vehicles -- have been exported to many parts of the world, especially Africa, South America, and New Zealand world and with the notable exception of USA). Assembly was done by Aichi Machine (41% owned by Nissan). Aichi in Nagoya assembled the Vanette, Sunny Van and Sunny Cab and also the Evolution VIII.
In Japan, the Sunny Truck was most often used as a commercial vehicle.
Sunny Truck Tank Lorry
Facelifts
Facelifts do not correspond to B120/B121/B122 split, which was about Japan Emissions controls.
Original Style
Originally, Sunny Trucks used sedan Grille, Dashboard, Badges, and black interior.
1978 Facelift
In April 1978, Sunny Truck changed to a Coupe-style Grille, unique grille Badges, and brown interior.
Facelift models (plastic grille round eye) B120 1978 Apr - 1979 Aug B121 1979 Aug - 1981 Nov B122 1981 Nov - 1989 Oct
1989 Facelift
In late 1989, R-level emissions were adopted and so the model changed to R-B122. At the same time, a facelift occurred: 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年11月に、ビッグマイナーチェンジ [Big minor change in November 1989]
B122
B121 changed to L-B122 when the Japan Emissions certification changed. R-B122 was the emissions changed to EGR & catalytic converter and the interior/exterior was changed at the same time.
Early B122 L-B122 1981-1989 round eye Late B122 R-B122 1989-1994 square eye
L emissions (G)B122 (G=long body)
R emissions (G)B122 (no G = short body)
United States
No Sunny trucks were ever sold new in the United States. At present there are known to have been a few B120s privately imported into the United States. See United_States#B120s_in_USA.
A reason given is the 25% import tax on light trucks. Datsun and other companies worked around this by assembling the 521 and 620 pickup bed after arrival in USA (thus avoiding the 25% tax), but with the 1200 being a unibody, that was not feasible.
Nissan New Zealand
See main article: Road*Star
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
- Reportedly, 1983-1985 models had A15 power with a 5-speed transmission. However this may just be a dream
1/2 tonne is is listed as "500kg" payload. So that is 1/2 metric tonne (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. In 1976 they were assembled in the factory at Rosslyn.
120Y Bakkie
In 1976 production started in the Roslyn factory and these were marketed as "120Y" bakkies after the current 120Y (B210) sedans.
1400 Bakkie
In 1980 the South Africa-specific B140 model debuted with A14-power and in 1986 the raised roof was introduced.
See Main Article: B140 Bakkie
The B140 is marketed as the Nissan 1400 LDV but commonly called the "Nissan 1400 bakkie" (bakkie is a generic term so there are Nissan Navara bakkies and Ford bakkies).
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 and Kenya.
South America
LHD Datsun 1200 trucks are fairly common in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala. They are commonly called Camionetas (little pickups) and also nicknamed Picopita (micro pickup) in Guatemala.
Ecuador
Aymesa (Automóviles de Ecuador) assembled CKD LHD Nissan 1200 Pickups in an in-country assembly plant from 1987-1999. This was necessary to meet government-mandated goals for domestic production. The 1200 was assembled in Quito, Ecuador.
1987 ... Se inicia la producción de la Datsun Pick Up
Production in Ecuador started in 1987.
Ecuador-built 1200s had brown LHD interior in the late 1980s, and 1990s models came 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
1200s at AYASA
The largest Nissan distributor in Ecuador was Ayasa (Automotores y Anexos S.A.). The company was founded in 1963 and it began importing and selling the Nissan Junior. In 1970 they began to import Datsun 1000 and Datsun 1200. In 1982 government authorities decided to ban the import of vehicles, so in 1985 Ayasa decided to import the 1200 Pickup kits. Assembly began in 1987 through an agreement with AYMESA which came to assemble 8,880 units in 13 years.
Sales Dates
* B20 February 1967 a.k.a. Datsun 1000 ute * B120 February 1971 a.k.a. Datsun 1200 ute * B122 October 1981-1994 (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
Also See
* Sunny Truck Model Changes * Ute Drawings * Sunny Truck Competitors
Competitors