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Revision as of 10:21, 26 April 2016

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

Model Sizes

* supermini (class A minicompact) 
  #March Family 1982-
* sub-compact (Class B)
  #Sunny Family RWD 1966-
  #Cherry Family FWD 1970-1977
  #Pulsar Family FWD 1977-
* compact (Class C)
  #Bluebird Family
  #Violet Family
* Full-size (E-class)
  #Skyline Family luxury
  Gloria Family (Prince) non-luxury
  Cedric Family (Nissan) luxury
* long wheelbase luxury (F-class)
  President/Fuga
* Sports Car
  #Fairlady Family
* Personal Luxury Coupe
  #Silvia Family 1966-

* Light Truck
  #Datsun Truck
* medium truck
  Prince Homer truck/Homy van
  Prince Clipper
* heavy-duty truck
  Nissan Caball
  Nissan Atlas
* minivan 
  #Vanette Family Sunny Cab, Cherry Cab, Largo

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.

1931 - Datson (see main article: History)

JDM Datsun 1200 ID plate

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.

JDM Datsun Truck
full

210 vs 310

210 and 310 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.

1958 Datsun 210

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 model series, RWD

Model Series B310 1977-1982
album

Model Series N10 1977-1981
album

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.

FWD Sunny/Sentra

FWD Sunny models came after the B310 Sunny, and were marketed/badges as Sentra in North America, South Africa and other countries, but the Sunny name continued to be used in Japan.

B11 Sunny 1983-1986
album album

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
 full
* See main article: X-1R

Cherry E10

Cherry E10 Coupe

Cherry F10

120A FII Coupe
album


* See main article: F-II GX Twin

Super for a fun-loving California girl

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 was a badge-engineered version of the Bluebird 610, with differed body and interior but same running gear & chassis/suspension. 710 did not use IRS in most of its models, making it handy for export markets to slot below the cost of the 610 with IRS. Bluebird moved upscale into the luxury sedan sedan market with availability of long-wheelbase six-cylinder 610 and 810 models, while Violet A10 continued as the lesser compact sedan.

710

1973-1977 710 Nissan Violet, Datsun 710/140J/160J/Sedan/Guayin, Yue Loong Violet

* L-engine powered
* Same size as Datsun 610 Bluebird
* SSS models came with IRS

See main article: 710

1977-1981

A10 Nissan Violet, Datsun 510/Auster/Stanza, Yue Loong 709/711/712

See main article: A10

FWD models

1981-1986 T11 Datsun/Nissan Prairie/Stanza/Auster/Liberto Violet/Liberta Villa/Yulon Feeling

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, and then badged Nissan.

See main article: Fairlady

Fairlady Roadsters (Datsun Sports) 1200/1500/1600/2000

Fairlady Coupes (Z-cars)

Silvia Family

The Silvia family is Nissan's RWD personal luxury coupe series.

See main article: Silvia

1965-1968 CSP311 Nissan Silvia
1977-1979 S10 Nissan Silvia/Datsun 200SX
1979-1982 S110 Nissan Silvia/Gazelle, Datsun 200SX/180SX/240RS
1983-1988 S12 Nissan Silvia/Gazelle/200SX
1989-1994 S13 Nissan Silvia/Gazelle/200SX/180SX/240SX
1995-1999 S14 Silvia/180SX/240SX
1999-2002 S15 Silvia

S13 has a special relationship to the Datsun 1200. It is the most common donor car for the turbocharged CA18DET engine, and for large S13 Brakes

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

Patrol

Nissan Shatai produced the Nissan Patrol jeep-type vehicle, the competitor to the Land Cruiser. They used straight-six (I6/L6) engines until in 2010 they switched to V8 engines.

Nissan Patrol
* 1950-1960 Nissan Carrier 4W70
* 1951-1960 4W60 Patrol jeep/pickup
* 1959-1980 60 jeep/wagon/pickup
* 1980-1989 160 (Datsun Patrol/MQ/MK, Nissan Safari)
* 1986-2002 260 EUR (square headlight)
  * four/six/V8 engines
* 1987-1997 Y60
* 1997-2010 Y61
* 2010-     Y62 Nissan Patrol/Infiniti QX56/QX80
  * wagon only, V8 only
  * Armada 2106 uses different glass/exterior panels

4W60

Nissan Patrol 60 model series

Datsun Patrol MQ (160 model series)
album

Nissan Patrol (Y60 model series, Safari Granroad Highroof Van)
album

Nissan Safari (Y61 model series)

Infiniti QX80 (Y62 model series)

Truck Wagon

Pathfinder/Terrano/Xterra was Nissan's name for wagons based on the light truck. For example the WD21 was the wagon version of the D21 Datsun/Navara/Hard Body.

* WD21 1985-1995
* WD22 Xterra 1999-, based on D22 Truck
* R51 2004-2012, based on D40/Frontier truck

The Pathfinder name was transferred in 1996 to the R50 (Terrano/QX4), a non-truck-based model which used unibody suspension. It is slightly larger than the D22/WD22 truck & wagon. The R51 returned to the truck base with full-frame construction.

Other Trucks

* 260/Patrol/Patrol Pickup
* Y61/Safari/Patrol GR/Patrol
*  R50/Terrano/Pathfinder 1996-2005
* JR50/Terrano Regulus/Infiniti QX4
* R20/Terrano/Terrano II
* 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.

See main article: Vanette
* 1970-1978 C20 Datsun Sunny Cab, Nissan Cherry Cab. 
  These are A-series engine powered
* 1979-1986 Sunny Vanette/Vanette/Largo
* 1985-1994 C22 Vanette/Nissan Van
* 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 Family.

B Models

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

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 Family.

K Models

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

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"