In August 1964 the Datsun Fairlady SP310 underwent some significant
modifications. While the exterior remained largely unchanged the car featured
a completely new interior, which included one of the best looking sports
car dashboards ever made.
The alterations made to the SP310 should have been enough
to have warranted a new designation, yet Nissan continued along calling
this car the SP310, though it is most commonly known as the Two Seater
1500. As the name suggests, unlike the previous model with it's three seater
interior, this new car has only two seats. This modification was not as
simple as it may seem. The three seater 1500 Fairlady had a third seat
in the back that faced sideways. Opposite the 3rd seat there was a box
shaped footwell, where the third passenger placed his feet. Under the third
seat there was another box sunken into the floor, this is where the battery
lived on these cars. Where the third seat sat in the previous model was
now replaced with a large flat parcel shelf, which required all new body
panels in the back of the cabin area. The battery was also relocated to
the engine bay.
The other big change to the interior was to the dashboard. The previous
model had a dash that was painted the sam colour as the body of the car,
and had all the gauges arranged in four large round dials. The new dash
was completely different, and was now painted in a grey wrinkle finish.
There was a thin chrome trim that encircled the flat panel of the dash,
and in front of the driver was seven seperate gauges with chrome rings,
the speedometer and tachometer were a large size and the other five gauges
were all significantly smaller. A black covered foam dash pad sits on top
of the dash and also encircles the flat dash panel. On the previous model
the dash pad sat only on top of the dash. Under the dash there was a centre
console which went from the dash to the transmission tunnel, and then along
the tunnel to surround the gear lever and then to incorporate an ashtray
behind the gear lever. An armrest with a lift-up lid sat between the seats.
The seats were a vast improvement on the old model. The three seaters had
seats with fibreglass bases that had an upholstered cushion that sat in
them. The new model had seats with a tubular steel frame that were much
more comfortable and supportive. This model has a new soft top design which
folds down behind the seats instead of the assemble it yourself roof on
the three seater.
On the exterior of the car the changes were more subtle.
The boot lid no longer had the 'turn to lift' T handle on top of the boot,
and instead had a small chrome horizontal handle on the back of the lid,
and now had the key hole on the rear panel just above the number plate.
This involved a new panel at the back of the car and a new boot lid. The
doors were different as well and now had opening quarter glass windows
instead of the non-opening ones on the previous model. The key hole was
also different and no longer had the slide aside flap over the key hole.
The first of these cars used the same wings shaped Datsun badge on the
bonnet as the three seater, but most of them have individual letters that
say Datsun. Side badges say Fairlady and the rear badge says Datsun 1500.
Some American cars were delivered with a Datsun badge on the sides and
back and no Fairlady badges. The grille was the same as the previous model.
Mechanically the cars were pretty much the same as the previous
model, and continued to use the 1488cc 85hp G series engine. The gearbox
was a floor change 4 speed with no synchro on first, the brakes were drums
on all four wheels.
The 1965 Datsun Fairlady SP310 was in production from August
1964 until May 1965, it was replaced by the bigger engined Datsun Fairlady
SP311. |
An early Japanese sales brochure for the 1965 Datsun Fairlady
SP310 Two Seater
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1965
Datsun Fairlady Specifications
Length - 3953mm
Width - 1495mm
Height - 1305mm
Wheelbase - 2280mm
Weight - 910kg
Top speed - 155kph
Transmission - 4 speed Floor
change
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Engine
Specifications
Model - G
OHV 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 1488cc
Bore & Stroke - 80x74mm
Power - 85hp@5000rpm
Torque - 87ft/lb@3600rpm
Compression - 9.0 : 1
Carburettors - twin side
draught 38HJB Hitachi
Final Drive - 3.889 : 1 |
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