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Nissan Model Names

Wondering what a Navara or Frontier is? Here is just enough information to make you knowledgeble in the Datsun community. For more details, see Wikipedia's Nissan model list.

NOTE: Years listed are not model year, but manufacturing/sales years for agregate countries.

Overview

Nissan and Datsun brand names

Datsuns have always been manufactured by Nissan with love since 1932 (see History), and in many years were the top selling vehicles in Japan. Nissan-branded cars started with the larger models (and especially luxury cars) like the 1936 Nissan 70, the large trucks, and later the 1960 Nissan Cedric, while everything derived from the original Datsun "light car" (including the light trucks) were marketed and sold as Datsuns within Japan. However, in spite of this success the corporation decided to retire the Datsun brand name circa 1982. Datsun models were generally badged as both "Nissan" and "Datsun" for 1983 (earlier in some countries) and "Nissan" only by 1984. The Datsun name continues to be used for the Datsun Truck in the Japan domestic market.

In Japan during the 1970s there were separate dealer organizations:

Datsun Bluebird Shop dealers, after the ultra-successful Bluebird family from which the original Datsun line grew, by the 1970s had access to a full line including not just the compact Bluebirds, but also the sub-compact Sunny family, the small trucks and other models.

Sunny Shop (サティオ店, Satio Shop)

Nissan's Cherry Shop (日産チェリー店) was created for 1970 out of the Cony sales organization. Cony was not a Nissan product, but was a jeep-like van from Aichi Machine, a supplier to Nissan and others. Cony merged into Nissan in 1965. Aichi manufactured the A-series engine and produced the B20 ute. As Cony product was ending in 1970, the dealerships were converted to Cherry Shops for 1970. Later they added other "companion" models such as Violet, Cherry Cab and Cherry Vanette, the latter two being badge-engineered versions of Sunny Cab and Sunny Vanette. During the 1980s most Cherry Shops merged with Prince dealerships.

Instead of the Datsun Sunny, they had the Nissan Cherry. In the 1970s badge engineering came into full swing so they offered the Nissan Violet 710 instead of the Datsun Bluebird 610, which were nearly the same but differed by trim levels, engineering features and engine ranges (the top models of 610 and 710 had nearly identical features including IRS). In 1977 the Datsun dealers got the B310 Datsun Sunny, while Nissan offered the similar A10 Nissan Violet. These cars were based on the same platform and suspension but offered different engines are different trim (for example, four headlights for the Violet, but only two for the Sunny). In another example, the Vanette was produced in three versions: Datsun Vanette for the Bluebird dealers, Sunny Vanette for Sunny dealers and Cherry Vanette for Cherry dealers.

Later these sales organizations went through various mergers and in 1999 became Nissan Blue Stage and Nissan Red Stage. However a few Cherry Shops remain, for example Nissan Cherry Sales Iwate.

Some of the model names were brands in themselves. Sunny was very strong as "inventing" the "my car" phenomenom (own your own car) and was sometimes advertised in Japan without the Datsun name appearing.

Nissan Violet versus Datsun Bluebird

JDM Datsun Truck

JDM Datsun ID Plate

210 vs 310

These model names were re-used by Datsun leading to much confusion.

Datsun 210 of 1957
Datsun 210 of 1978: Nissan Motor Company in North America used "210" as the local market name for the Datsun B310 Sunny.

Datsun 310 of 1959
Datsun 310 of 1978: NMC-USA used "310" as the local market name for the Datsun N10 Pulsar

Since 1979 model series B310 was a RWD car and the 1979 "310" was a FWD car they are very different. The similar names have lead to much confusion.

Datsun 310 (model series N10, FWD)
Datsun B310 (RWD)

Sunny Family

Sunny is Nissan's B-class (subcompact) car family.

B10 1966-1970 Datsun Sunny 1000/Datsun 1000
B20 1968-1970 Datsun Sunny 1000 Truck/Datsun 1000 "ute"
B110 1970-1973 (South Africa until 1975)
- Japan: ダットサン　サニー　1200 (Datsun Sunny 1200)
- Australia/USA: Datsun 1200
- UK: Datsun Sunny 1200
PB110 1971-1973 ダットサン　サニーエクセレント (Datsun Sunny Excellent) 1400. However, the Sunny name was emphasized and the Datsun name de-emphasized, usually not appearing in advertisments. Catalogs etc. do say "ダットサン　サニー" (Datsun Sunny).
- nickname: サニーロングノーズ　(Sunny long-nose)
B120 1971-1994 Datsun Sunny Truck
- nickname: サニトラ　(sanitora, shortened form of "Sunny Truck")
- Japan 1971~1980: ダットサン　サニー　トラック (Datsun Sunny Truck)
- Japan ~1980-1984:　サニー　トラック　(Sunny Truck)
- Japan 1989-1994:　ニッサン　サニー　トラック　(Nissan Sunny Truck)
- Australia Datsun 1200 "ute" (1971-1985)
- New Zealand: Roadstar, Sportstar (1980-1985)
B140 1985-2007 B140/Nissan LDV 1400 "bakkie" (Nissan South Africa)
B210 1973-1978 Datsun Sunny/Datsun 120Y,140Y/Datsun B-210
B310 1978-1982 Datsun Sunny/Datsun 210/Datsun 120Y,130Y,140Y,150Y
B11-B15 1983-2011 Nissan Sunny/Nissan-Datsun Sentra/Nissan Tsuru models FWD

Some later FWD Sunnys were marketed as a Pulsar in some markets. See the Pulsar section below. The Sunny family was dropped in Japan after 2004, but continued on in USA as B15U Sentra, and Sunny is still used as a regional market name for various models such as the Almera Sunny.

Sentra

FWD Sunny models were marketed/badges as Sentra in North America, South Africa and other countries.

B12 Sentra

B13 Sentra

Cherry Family

チェリー (cherry) was Nissan's first FF (Front-drive, Front Engine) model line. Like the Sunny, it is also a B-class (subcompact) car. For more details, see wikipedia:Nissan Cherry.

1970-1974 E10 Nissan Cherry/Datsun Cherry/Cherry FF/100A,120A
1974-1978 F10 Nissan Cherry/Datsun Cherry/F10/100A F-II,120A F-II

The Cherry line was succeeded by the Pulsar line. Some Pulsars were badged "Cherry" in certain markets.

HP
68 PE10 (A12)
80 PE10-K (A12 with twin carb) X-1

625-685 kg weight
13" wheels for 1972

Development was done by Prince engineers but brought to market by Nissan. Work on the Cherry was done in the Prince Ogikubo office (Fuji's original Nakajima Aircraft manufacturing and development base). Ogikubo also developed the Skylines (pre-R30), Laurels (pre-C31), F30 Leopard and M10 Prairie.

X-1 models carried the A12T Hitachi Twin Carb engine
X-1R was a special model with 160km top speed and simplified interior

Registered in Japan as of 2010:
* There are 148 twin-carb E10
* There are 53 X-1R coupes registered
* There are no PE10RTK (2-dr X-1) registered

Cherry E10

Cherry E10 Coupe

Cherry F10

Pulsar Family

Pulsar was Nissan's replacement for the Cherry family (FWD B-class). For detailed information, see wikipedia:Nissan Pulsar.

1978-1982 N10 Nissan Cherry/Datsun Cherry/Datsun Pulsar/Datsun 310
1982-1986 N12 Nissan Pulsar/Cherry/Langley/Sunny/Sabre
1986-1990 N13 Nissan Pulsar/Pulsar NX/Pulsar EXA/Pulsar Vector/GM Holden Astra/Sentra
1990-1995 N14 Nissan Pulsar/NX Coupe/Sentra/Sunny/Sabre
1995-2000 N15 Nissan Pulsar/Almera/Sunny Almera/Sunny/Sentra/Lucino
2000-2005 N16 Nissan Pulsar/Almera Tino/Tino/Wingroad/Bluebird Sylphy/Sunny/Sentra

N10 Pulsar
photo:

N12 Pulsar NX
photo

N15 SSS Pulsar SR20DE

March Family

March (マーチ) family is a late-model (from 1982) A-class (supermini) model line, sold as "Micra" in most export markets. For detailed information, see wikipedia:Nissan March.

1982-1992 K10 March/Micra
1992-1997 K11 March/Micra
1997-2002 K11C March/Micra
2002-2007 K12 March/Micra (1982-current)
2007–2010 K12C Micra
2010- K13 Micra

Bluebird Family

Bluebird is Nissan's C-class (compact) model family, which grew out of the original Datson (DAT Light Car) model, the Datson Type 10 of 1931. For additional details, see History. The first Datsun to be called Bluebird was perhaps the 210 of 1957. Bluebird family includes the 210/310/410/510/610/810 model series (but not the 710 which was Violet).

See main article: Bluebird

Violet Family

Violet was the C-class (compact) model family for the Nissan sales organization (later named Nissan Blue). It differed from the Datsun Bluebird family notably by not using IRS in most of its models, making it handy for export markets to slot below the cost of the 610 with IRS. With the 810, Bluebird moved upscale into the luxury sedan sedan market with availability of long-wheelbase six-cylinder models, while Violet continued as the lesser compact sedan.

1973-1977 710 Nissan Violet, Datsun 710/140J/160J/Sedan/Guayin, Yue Loong Violet
- nickname "bolillo"
- SSS models came with IRS
1977-1981 A10 Nissan Violet, Datsun 510/Auster/Stanza, Yue Loong 709/711/712

FWD models

1981-1986 T11 Datsun/Nissan Prairie/Stanza/Auster/Liberto Violet/Liberta Villa
1986-2000 T12 Nissan Auster/Violet/Bluebird

Skyline Family

Prince Skyline/Nissan Skyline/Datsun 160K,180K,240K
Prince Skyway/Nissan Skyway (wagon versions)

See main article: Skyline

Fairlady Family

This is Nissan's sports car family, sold as Datsuns in the Japan market until the 1980s. Note: A sports car in this sense is technically a 2-seater. For more information, see wikipedia:Nissan Z-car and wikipedia:Datsun Sports

Roadsters

1959 S211 Datsun Sports 1000 with C1 engine
1960-1963 SP212/SP213 Datsun 1200 Fairlady
- Datsun Sports 1200 (SPL212/SPL213) LHD market
1963-1965 SP310 Datsun Fairlady 1500
- Datsun Sports 1500 (SPL310) LHD
1965-1970 SP311 Datsun Fairlady 1600, Sports 1600
- Datsun Sports 1600 (SPL311) LHD
1967-1970 SR311 Datsun Fairlady 2000, Sports 2000
- Datsun Sports 2000 (SRL311) LHD

photo photo photo photo photo

Fairlady Coupes (Z-cars)

1969-1978 S30
- 1969-1972 Datsun Fairlady Z/Datsun 240Z
- 1971 Fairlady ZG (HS30-H, Japan only)
- Fairlady Z432 (Japan only limited production) with S20 DOHC engine
- 1974-1978 Datsun 260Z (USA: 1974 model year only)
- 1974-1978 Datsun 280Z and 280Z 2+2
1978-1982 S130 Datsun Fairlady 280ZX, Datsun 280ZX
- L20E or RB20DET inline sixes, or a VG20E V6
1982-1989 Z31 Nissan 300ZX with VG30E
1989-1996 Z32 Nissan 300ZX with VG30 and VG30TT engines
2002-2008 Z33 Nissan Fairlady Z/350Z with VQ35DE engine
2008- Z34 Fairlady Z/370Z with VQ37VHR engine

S30 Fairlady 2000
photo

Silvia Family

Silvia is Nissan's RWD personal luxury coupe Coupe ("sporty car") series. For more information, see wikipedia:Nissan Silvia.

1965-1968 CSP311 Nissan Silvia, a hand-built low-volume Halo car
1977-1979 S10 Datsun 200SX
1979-1982 S110 Datsun 200SX
1983-1988 S12 Nissan 200SX some now with IRS
1989-1994 S13 Nissan Silvia/Gazelle/200SX/180SX/240SX with IRS
- RS13 "180SX" has a special relationship to the Datsun 1200. It is the most common donor car for the turbocharged CA18DET engine.
1995-1999 S14
1999-2002 S15

Datsun Truck

Datsun Light Truck in Japan is known as "Truck", in the USA known as "pickup" and "half-ton ute" in other countries. 521/620 was marketed as "Lil' Hustler" in the USA.

320 1961-1965 Datsun 1200 with E1 (1200 cc) engine
520 1965-1968 Datsun 520/1300 with J13 engine
521 1969-1972 Datsun 521/1300/1500/1600 (J13/J15, L16 in USA)
620 1973-1979 Datsun 620/1500/1600 with J15 or L16 (USA
- The "Custom" model (King Cab in USA) extra cab body style started with this model line
720 1980-1985 Datsun 720/1800 with J18 or L20B/Z20/Z22/Z24 (USA)
D21 1985-1994 Nissan Datsun/Navara/Hardbody
D21U 1995-1997 Nissan Hardbody
D22U 1997- Nissan Frontier

The Datsun Light Truck line started in the early 1930s.

Type 10T 1932-1937
Type 17 1937-1943 722cc side-valve flathead engine

* Parcel Truck
* A short wheelbase
* B long wheelbase
* 1935 introduced a Van based on the 10TB
495cc, 10 ps @ 3700 rpm
65 kph top speed

Type 6147 1951-1955 "Datsun 20" 600 kg
variations
 * Deluxe sedan 2-door
 * Swift 2-door jeep-like utility
 * Truck 
Type D10 engine (860 cc flathead 4-cylinder)
* 20 ps @ 3600 rpm
* top speed: 70 kph

1951 D20 catalog

1994 D21 "Datsun Truck" - JDM

Other Trucks

260/Patrol/Patrol Pickup
Y61/Safari/Patrol GR/Patrol
R50/Terrano/Pathfinder
JR50/Terrano Regulus/Infiniti QX4
R20/Terrano/Terrano II
WD22 Xterra truck-wagon
140 Junior
P23 Atlas/Cabstar
TLO Cabstar-E
TKO Atleon
T30/X-Trail (SUV)

Others

For details see wikipedia:Nissan.

F50 Nissan Cima/Infiniti Q45 fullsize luxury sedan
A33 Nissan Cefiro/Infiniti I35/Maxima QX/Maxima FWD midsize luxury sedan
P11 Infiniti G20/Nissan Primera RWD midsize luxury sedan
WP11 Nissan Primera Wagon
G10 Nissan Bluebird Sylphy (sometimes marketed as Nissan Sunny)
Y10 Nissan Wingroad/AD Wagon/Tsubame
Y11 Nissan Wingroad/Pulsar Wagon
M12 Nissan Liberty/Prairie
V10 Nissan Tino/Almera Tino

Minivans

Sunny Cab & Cherry Cab (different names used for same vehicles) was Nissan's first modern mini-van models. Cabover truck versions (with an integral cargo bed) were also produced.

C20, C120 Nissan or Datsun Cherry Cab/Sunny Vanette/Vanette/Largo (1970-1986). These are A-series engine powered.
C22 Vanette
C24 Serena

Other minivans:

V41 Nissan Quest minivan
E25 Nissan Caravan/Urvan
E50/Elgrand
W41 Civilian

Stanza

Stanza is a model name, at various times and places applied to Violet family or Bluebird family models.

Letter Series Names

Datsun export model names often featured a letter combined with the size of the engine, like 120Y for 1.2 liter Y-car.

A Models

Datsun 100A & 120A were export names for the Nissan Cherry.

B Models

Datsun 180B & 200B were export names for the Datsun Bluebird.

C Models

Datsun 200C, 220C, 240C, 260C, 280C, 300C were export names for the Nissan Cedric.

J Models

Datsun 140J & 160J were export names for the Nissan Violet.

K Models

Datsun 160K/180K/240K were export names for the Nissan Skyline.

Y Models

120Y, 130Y, 140Y and 150Y -- "Y" was a Sunny market name ("A" was used for Cherry and Pulsar families e.g. 120A).

"120Y" is simply the marketing name for a B210 or B310 with A12 engine. This name "120Y" was only used in some countries (markets). In other markets the same car was called "Sunny". The same car with A14 was called Sunny, 140Y or B-210. With A15 was called Sunny, 210, or 150Y. It depends on where it was sold. Newer FWD Sunnys also sported 130Y for E13 engine, etc.

B210 "120Y"