![[Datsun 1200 encyclopedia]](/wiki/upload/wiki.png)
The Datsun PB110 model line was added March 1971 and was named the Sunny Excellent 1400 (サニー エケセレント 1400). It featured a larger overhead cam engine and modified front sheet metal styling. It is also called the "Sunny Long-nose" (サニー ロング ノーズ) because — although engine bay seems to be the same size as a B110 — the guards and bonnet of the PB110 are longer in the front to make the car feel bigger. The wheelbase is 40mm longer (less than 2 inches) but the PB110 overall is more than 5 inches longer. Most components of the PB110 are the same as B110, including 12" tires and same dashboards.
Contents |
Overview
Our beloved "Datsun 1200" is Nissan body code B110, equipped with the 1200cc A12 pushrod engine. This is also known as the Datsun Sunny 1200. In Japan however, there was an upscale derivative of the B110, the Sunny Excellent — body code PB110. The P apparently stands for "bigger engine". Yes, the Excellent was fitted with the L-series Overhead Cam (OHC) engine, the same type of engine fitted to the bigger Datsun vehicles.
Sunny Excellent PB110 was offered in two body styles:
* Coupe * 4-door Sedan * There were no Excellent 2-dr sedans, wagons or pickups
PB110 has Unique front, but same rear except taillights & badges
Notice the unique grille. The hood and fenders are also slightly modified in the front area (see Differences section below).
This factory brochure shows both vehicles (Comparo)
Sunny 1200 (left) and Sunny Excellent 1400 (right)
Features * L14 Engine, 1400cc * Single-carb version: 85hp, 11.8kgm/3 torque @3,600 rpm * Twin-carb version (GX): 95hp, 12.2kgm/3 torque @4,000 rpm * Top Speed (both engines): 155km/h * 4-speed floor shift * optional Nissan Full Automatic 3-speed floor shift not available with GX models
Sunny 1400 - The writing before 1400 says "Coupe" (Kūpe)
Sunny Excellent 1400 brochure - Closeup of grille. The extended forward "peak" of the Excellent grille is evident here, compared to the more flat grille of the 1200.
Excellent GX Brochure - Notice the engine (sidedraft carbs), fancy seats, and the same-as-B110 dashboard
GL interior. Dash is same as PB110, but upholstery and door cards are slightly different.
Coupe
Notice the unique tail lights. GX comes with 'blackout' rear panel
Customized
Sedan
Only a 4-door was offered in the 1400 series -- no 2-door sedans were made.
Sunny 1400 4-dr sedan with aftermarket minilite-style wheels
Trim Levels: DX, GL and GX
This outlines the various trim levels the Coupe was available in: GX, GL and DX. The writing above '1400' phonetically spells out the english word "Excellent" in japanese katakanaᵂ writing: e-ku-se-re-n-to.
The same trim levels were offered for the Coupe and for the 4-door Sedan:
* GL and GX trim used wood grain on lower half of dash * 1972 Facelift dash has hooded gauges. The hood reduces glare. (NOTE: this is the same dashboard as in regular 1972 Datsun 1200s) * Excellents came with extended color choices for carpeting
GX
Dash is same as 1200
1972 facelift GX (same as JDM 1200) | 1971 GX (same as 1200)
- 3-spoke standard GX steering wheel
striped seat fabric (brown or black/blue)
GX Console#PB110 with clock or OPTION w/gauges
Fog Lamps standard on GX
Same as 1200: GX Steering Wheel, 1972 Facelift Dash with hooded guages
Unique to 1400: Console w/clock. Cloth-insert PB110 seats.
GX rear PB110_Badges#Trunk_Lid & black taillights
DX
1972 DX interior -- same dash & steering wheel as B110 DX
DX console with MASK 'Sunny' clock blank
Features
Badges
Lights
Wheel and Tire
As with all B110, the PB110 Excellent used 12" tires.
The Excellent had unique wheel covers, which are different from the B110 wheel covers although still 12" in diameter.
1971 options:
- GX wheel cover on blackwall tyre
- GX wheel cover on dual-stripe whitewall
- GL wheel cover on wide-stripe whitewall
GX hupcap
Optional Equipment
Engine
The Sunny Excellent PB110 was fitted with 1400cc L14 engine, a smaller-displacement version of the L16 fitted to the Datsun 1600. This is an overhead camᵂ engine. Both a single carb and dual-carb engine was available. Top speed was 155kmh, up 5km from the Datsun 1200.
DX and GL models had a single-carb engine, while the GX had dual sidedraft carburetors (GX originally meant GL with Twin Carbs).
non-GX 85 hp single carb L14 engine
GX engine with Twin Hitachi carburetors
1972 Orange air cleaner | 1971 Blue air cleaner
L14 engine with aftermarket dual sidedraft carburetors | (Mikuni PHH)
Nissan Factory Rotary Engine
Under the bonnet of this Excellent is the rotary engine used to advance the development of NISSAN's new rotary.
Interior
1971 Excellent GX also has standard 1971 B110 dashboard, with woodgrain trim
1972 (Facelift) Excellent 4-dr sedan Interior has the standard 1972 JDM B110 dashboard
Notice the upmarket seats, the (aftermarket) steering wheel, and 1972 dashboard
Consoles
Seats
Another way the Excellent was differiented from the 1200 was with upscale seats materials.
* Deluxe: Vinyl seats like B110, but with fancier form-fitted stitching * GL: Tricot cloth (single color) * GX: Fancy striped Cloth-insert vinyl seats
1971 Seat Upholstery Choices
GX * brown striped cloth for #009 Orange, #004 Green, #821 White * black striped cloth with exterior Colors #008 Blue, #005 Blue, #931 Gold, #930 Green, #665 Yellow
GL * black tricot for #009 Orange, #005 Blue, #004 Green, #931 Gold, #930 Green (Coupe only), #665 Yellow * blue tricot for #008 Blue, #821 White
Deluxe * black vinyl leather (for #008 Blue, #930 Green (Coupe only)) * yellow vinyl leather (for #931 Gold, #821 White, #665 Yellow)
GX seats options - Brown-striped cloth or Black-striped cloth
GX seats (brown striped cloth)
Dashboard And Steering Wheel
1971 | 1972
* Early GX dash (same style as B110, but with woodgrain accents) * Three-spoke GX wheel, spokes have single slots * Deluxe uses same steering wheel as Standard B110 * GL uses 3-spoke steering wheel * GX has standard 3-spoke 'large-horn button' wheel with "GX" emblem in center Each spoke has two long slots.
The Late PB110 instrument cluster is the same as Datsun 1200 "Late", but the dashpad is different as is the glovebox:
B110 vs PB110 Late Dash Comparo
Later 'hooded' dash. Picture clearly shows the concave profile of the instrument cluster. (aftermarket seat color, shift knob, equalizer). Judging by the wood-grain dash and steering wheel style, this is a GL model.
Details:
How Different From B110
How different is the PB110 from B110?
Same: * Passenger compartment * Doors * Roof * Firewall * Rear quarters & boot lid
Different: * Front fenders incorporate corner lamps * Wheelbase +40 mm * Radiator Core Support appears to be only +40 mm forward * Bonnet is longer, extended further beyond core support
Discussion: POST PB110 (Sunny Excellent) vs. B110 (Sunny)
So the engine does not appear to be farther forward, but actually as far back as in B110. Being "set back" a little compared to the front wheels may have contributed to good handling even though the L14 engine is much heavier than A12 engine. The extra 40 mm is probably used for the slight length difference of the L14 and the extra thickness of the 510-type radiator.
In front of the radiator core support and bonnet sticks out about 5 inches longer than B110. 40mm in the wheelbase, and 130mm in the nose.
The extra length is all forward of the windshield:
Fenders appear to be same length & height, but 1400 wheel arch is slightly larger and doesn't go as far forward.
1400
1200
Fenders use corner lamps
Front Apron panel
1200 Apron
1200: License plate bolts to bumper 1400: License plate bolts to apron
1400 Apron 62610-H2500 (Sedan & Coupe)
Racing
The racing PB110s included this Coupe (KPB110) with the Nissan works competition LZ engine LZ14 DOHC four-valve engine:
KPB110 #2 with LZ14 Engine
* LZ14 May 3, 1973 introduction for TS-a Class japan Grand Prix racing * 16 Valve Twin-cam head on L-series block, 1600cc * 200 HP @ 9,400 RPM
Takamiti Shinohara (篠原 孝道) rented LZ14 for the semi-Works Omori team for "1973 Japan Grand Prix" — if I translate correctly Wikipedia Japan article
Sunny 1400 Coupe race car at Advan Historics
Brochures and Advertising
Japan document showing the Datsun brand was used for the Sunny Excellent (notice first line "Datsun Sunny"):
Also See
Also see: * PB110 Colors * PB110 Engine * PB110 Parts Donor * PB110 Suspension
Custom
PB110 coupe with KB110 grille and bumper
Photo Album Index
Photo Features
See detailed photos of PB110 cars.
