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A10 Stanza Coupe in Australia information and photos from Feral Errol/datrats
KPA10GMX K Coupe P Power engine (L16) A10 Nissan model A10 (Nissan Violet, Datsun Stanza) G GL trim M Australia
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KPA10GMX
KPA10GMX STANZA COUPE
The Stanza (PA10) 4 door was sold in Australia from the late 1970's to the early eighties and was well supported as a tough reliable small/medium car. Sales were assured as a result of rallying successes showing Datsun "rallyability".
The Stanza coupe (KPA10GMX) was unplanned for the Australian market. Its presence in Australia resulted from CKDᵂ (Completely Knocked Down) crates originally destined for South Africa on the Kazuei Maruᴳ, being offloaded and mixed with crates for Nissan Australia. Re shipping the crates to South Africa was cost prohibitive, so the vehicles were assembled in Australia. To help the assembly process a jigging shell was brought out from Japan and local production of the 120 coupes occurred. Serial numbers run from 850001 to 850120 inclusive based on the CKD number for the vehicle.
The coupes marketed at a significantly higher price than the sedan and apparently met significant buyer resistance based on price. Due to the numbers available the coupes mostly (all?) sold in Melbourne dealerships. To overcome buyer resistance some good deals were done including free air conditioning and other accessories.
Tasmania Coupe
I purchased the orange coupe (CKD number 850083) from the estate of a retired marine engineer in Tasmania. The coupe was carefully maintained and full service records kept by her owner. The car was always garaged and has never had people sit in it without seat covers. Being garaged all the time when not in use, the chrome was bright as new. The paint has been touched up with a respray in original colour to get rid of any stone chips and any surface blemishes or scuff marks. I sold the car to a new owner in NSW at the end of 2003.
The build number is indicated by a tag on the inner upper surface of the left side guard. The Build tag has KPA10M 000XXX stamped into it. XXX being the build number. The engine numbers of these cars also were in 2 main groups with numbers around the L16 637 *** or L16671*** . These engines were fully assembled in Japan. The cars were fitted with Japanese struts and brake systems.
Justic Coupe
Prior to the 120 coupes being assembled here, there were two other cars imported by Nissan, one for evaluation that used by a Nissan executive before becoming George Fury's daily driver. This car (fitted with lots of Nismo race/rally gear from the works team) including an L20B mis-stamped as an L16, option one box, roll cage, 4 spot calipers and vented disc brakes. The wheels were Enkies naturally. The car was later fitted with a Z18 turbo (85?) around the time of the Bathurst bluebird program. This car was bought By Richard Justic in the early 1990's and is still in Sydney today but without most of the Nismo works bits.
Original Jigger
I have owned 6 PA10 coupes at various times including the original jigging shell KPA10 000 000.
I bought the car below to do up and run in the first Targa Tasmaniaᴳ. It was fitted with an L20B with a fully reconditioned late FIA head and 50mm Works Mikuni's with magnesium air box. The gearbox was a brand-new option two. Suspension was by Peter Davis modified works safari struts. Works (Dunlop MK63) four spot calipers and ventilated discs were fitted to the struts. The rear axle was a brand-new works Stanza complete with (Dunlop MK63) 4 spots and ventilated discs. The completed car is shown beside.
The car was ruled ineligible to compete in the Targa, as only cars manufactured before ADR's applied (1976) were able to have anything other than stock components apart from brakes and wheels. The car deteriorated badly in the scuttle area a few years after it was put together, due to bogged over rusting from faulty repair work. It was disposed of in 2000, although some parts survive on a friends 4 door Stanza club rally car.