The Datsun 1200 car was made by Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. Why "1200"? Because it had an engine size of approximately 1200cc. In Japan it was known as "Datsun Sunny 1200". The car was Nissan chassis code B110. The left-hand drive version was labeled LB110.
Market Names: Sunny, B110, 1200
B110 has different names in different markets:
- Japan & Aisa markets: Sunny
- Australia: Datsun 1200
- USA: Datsun 1200
"Sunny" is the name used in Japan and some other countries for all B-series (sub-compact) vehicles, including:
- 1967-70 B10 (Datsun 1000)
- 1971-73 B110: Datsun 1200
- 1974-78 B210: Datsun B-210 (USA) or 120Y (many markets)
- 1971-up Datsun B120 and its derivatives B121/B122/GB122/B140 (Sunny trucks)
- 1979-1982 B310: Datsun 210 (USA) or Sunny (ANZ) or 120Y/130Y/140Y/150Y (various markets)
- 1983-present front-wheel drive [Sunny/Sentras] (B11-B15)
Nissan's Sunny was the perennial rival for Toyota Corolla. In some years Sunny sold more, other years Corolla. Sunny was generally always a bit lighter, but Corolla had more engine options.
For a more detailed history of the Sunny family, see the History section at http://RatDat.com or Nissan_Sunny at wikipedia.org.
For a more detailed history of Nissan/Datsun, see the History section at http://www.nissanfanseite.de or Nissan at wikipedia.org.
Model Years Produced
The "Datsun 1200" line has been produced from Model Years 1971 to 2006 (so far ...). 1971-1973 was the regular run for the Coupe, Sedan and Wagon production.
NOTE: Model Years (MY) generally runs from October to September. So the 1972 MY was from Oct 1971 to Sep 1972
| 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 (B140) | 1987-present |
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- A few 1200s were sold by Nissan New Zealand as "1974" models.
- South Africa: Datsun 1200 GX coupes (with twin SUs) may have been produced into 1975.
quote:
Chris Snyders from South Africa says that Datsun 1200 GX coupes (with twin SUs) were locally produced in large numbers from 1972 to 1975. The Datsun 1200 4 door deluxe (2 barrel Hitachi) and the 4 door GX (SUs) were also produced. All versions came with a 4.1:1 diff ratio. Chris still has his A12, but has replaced it with an A15. Chris says that the Datsun 1200 ute (called a 'bakkie' in South Africa) were produced in South Africa from 1971 onwards. The name was changed to 120Y in 1976, and they had a slight facelift in 1982, with the engine being swapped for an A14. Since then, there have been more minor changes: 5 speed gearbox, 3.9:1 diff, higher roof, bucket seats, etc. The Nissan 1400 bakkie is still in production today, and sells at a rate of about 2500 per month.
quote:
...Datsun 1200s were sold in Portugal in the years 1972 - 1974. The models available were the 2-door sedan, 4-door sedan, 4-door deluxe, 4-door GX and the wagon.
quote:
... tells me that the Datsun 1200 ute was sold as a Roadstar in New Zealand upto about 1988, with an A15 and a 5 speed gearbox.
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...The 1200 ute was also imported into Central America until about 1993, when emission regulations started getting too tough.
- After 1975, only the 1200 trucks were made (see Truck section below)
Sunny Model Line
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!
The biggest change was to front-wheel-drive starting in 1983 with the B12 model. Regular Sunny Production ended in Japan in September 2004 with the last model, the B15 (Sunny Super Saloon). Sunny production continues in Mexico with the B12 "Tsuru" Sentra. The last model sold in USA was the B14 Sentra with QR25DE power. The replacement is the Tiida (called Versa in USA).
But the "Datsun 1200" production continues with a truck form in South Africa -- now with 1400cc power -- and so is Nissan chassis code Nissan B140, named the Nissan 1400 LDV but commonly called the "Nissan bakkie".
Reference: Sunny Model Changes: Nissan Japan document Ff_fy01e14.pdf
Sunny Excellent (PB110)
Quote:
PB110 - April 1971 In addition to the standard Datsun Sunny B110 there was also a different L series engined version. This model came a year after the A series cars and consisted of four door sedans and coupes with revised styling and L14 engines. These were sold as the "Sunny Excellent" in Japan and are readily identified by the presence of side marker lights mounted in the front edge of the fenders. Three main specifications were available, GL, GX and Deluxe. All models feature different interiors to the normal B110 sold worldwide and have unique grilles and tail lights.
For more information on the PB110, see the What body styles did the 1200 come in? article.
Racing History
For more information on Datsun 1200 racing history, see the B110 Racing History in Japan article.
Sunny Truck
- B20 February 1967 a.k.a. Datsun 1000 ute
- B120 February 1971 a.k.a. Datsun 1200 ute
- B122 November 1986-1994 (Japan)
- B140 1986-2003 (South Africa) a.k.a. Bakkie
Sunny Trucks
| B120T | 1975 10 - 1979 08
|
| GB120T | 1975 10 - 1979 08 Longbed
|
| B121T | 1979 08 - 1981 10
|
| GB121T | 1979 08 - 19881 10 Longbed
|
| B122T | 1981 10 - 1994
|
| GB122T | 1981 10 - 1994 Longbed
|
| B140 | 1987 - present Nissan South Africa
|
Trucks By Country
- Australia: B120 production ended with 1985 models
- Japan: Sunny Truck (B122 & GB122) production ended in late 1994
- South Africa: Nissan Bakkie 1400 (B14) still in production as of 2006
Sales Figures
In North America (US and Canada), there were an average of 44,000 Datsun 1200s sold each year for three years.
* Coupe: total sales 89,541
* 2-dr Sedan: 43,761
Photo Album
Finland (see http://www.automotiveforums.com/t11554.html)
* standard coupe 2-door: 217
* 2-door: perhaps 1000
![[Datsun 1200 encyclopedia]](/wiki/upload/wiki.png)