The Type 12 Datsun Roadster had a 495cc 10hp 4cyl. engine. The Roadster was a 2 seater based on the chassis and mechanicals of the Datsun Type 12 Phaeton 4 seater. 1932 was the first year the Datsun name was used, in 1931 the cars were called 'Datson' (with an 'O') and prior to that they were called 'DAT'. All the 2 seater Roadster models were also available as a 2 seater coupe.

DATSUN  TYPE 14 ROADSTER
(1934 Model)

Powered by a 722cc 13hp 4 cylinder engine.

DATSUN  TYPE 15 ROADSTER
(1935 Model)

In 1935 the Roadster had a 722cc 14hp 4cyl. engine. 

DATSUN TYPE 16 COUPE
(1936 Model)

The Datsun Type 16 had a 722hp 16hp 4cyl. engine. The 16 was the first of the Roadsters to have front mounted door hingers, all previous models had rear mounted 'suicide doors'.

DATSUN TYPE 17 ROADSTER
(1938 Model)

In 1938 the Type 17 had a 722cc 16hp 4cyl. engine.  It was in production until the start of Japan's involvement in World War 2, after which the full production capacity of the factory was switched to commercial vehicles.

Introduced in January 1952, the DC-3 was the first post-war Japanese sports car. It had an 860cc 20hp 4cyl. engine. She had leaf springs all round and a 3 speed non-synchro gearbox. It could seat four adults (Japanese adults) and had a top speed of 70 kph. In production for less than a year, only a handfull were made.

DATSUN  110 CONVERTIBLE
(1955 Model)

Sadly this is the only photo I have been able to locate of the illusive 110 Convertible, which is the drop-top version of the 1955 Datsun Convar 110 sedan. Powered by the 860cc 4cyl. 25hp D10 engine.

Any assistance with a better photo would be greatly appreciated.

DATSUN SPORTS  S211
(In production from 1959-1960)

The S211 had a 988cc 37hp 4cyl. C series engine. The S211 is an extremely rare car, with a total of only 20 ever built. It is visually similar to the Fairlady SP212. The two most obvious differences are that the S211's doors have a curve on the lower front corner, the SP212's door comes to a 90 degree right angle. Also the SP212 has a Fairlady badge on the front guard, the S211 has a small emblem that is incorporated into the stainless steel moulding on the side of the car. There were also slight differences in the windscreen frame and interior trim.

DATSUN  FAIRLADY  SP212
(In production from 1960-1961)

The SP212 had a 1189cc 48hp 4cyl. E series engine. This 4 seater car was fitted with a 4 speed gearbox, 'A' arm torsion bar front suspension and drum brakes.The total production of the SP212 was 288 and the total for the SP213 was 217. This was the first car to bear the 'Fairlady' name, which has been used for all of the "top of the range' Nissan / Datsun sports cars from 1960 up to today's Nissan Fairlady 300ZX. The name 'Fairlady' was thought up by Katsuji Kawamata (Nissan's president) after he saw the Broadway play "My Fair Lady" while in the USA in 1959 inspecting local dealerships. Apparently he was so impressed with it he named the S211's replacement after the play. From 1965 onwards most export Fairladies were given a number instead of it's real name. Eg. 2000 Sports, 240Z, 280ZX, etc.

DATSUN  FAIRLADY  SP213
(In production from 1961-1962)

The SP213 is pretty much identical to the SP212, the only major difference being the new 1189cc 60hp 4cyl. E-1 series engine. The engine is pretty much the same as the E series engine but has gained an extra 12hp thanks to a new 2 barrel Nikki carburettor and a modification to the camshaft. There was also a slight change to the axles and the brakes.

1962-1963 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500 SPORTS  SP310
(In production from October 1962 to May 1963)

Powered by the 1488cc 4 cylinder pushrod "G" series engine, the first Fairlady 1500 had a single side draught Hitachi "SU" style carburettor, it developed 75 horsepower at 5000rpm. This model has 13 inch wheels, drum brakes on all four wheels and a 4 speed floor change gearbox with no synchromesh on 1st gear. These early models are actually 3 seaters, with a small sideways facing 3rd seat mounted behind the driver's seat. Many early 1500s are missing their 3rd seat, they are often removed to allow the driver's seat to be moved back to give extra legroom. The battery in these cars is mounted under the 3rd seat. The dashboard is painted the same colour as the outside of the car and features 4 large round guages. These cars can be identified by the chrome strips that travel the full length of the car, external boot lid hinges, a large handle on the boot, a smaller air intake on the bonnet, a one piece 'Datsun' bonnet badge and a grille with 5 chrome horizontal bars and 9 vertical bars. The fabric section of the soft top comes off the bows and is stored in the boot, the chrome plated bows stow away inside the back of the cabin. Side badges say "Fairlady" and the back badge is the same as the bonnet badge. Only 300 of the single carb 1500s were built.

1963-1964 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500 SPORTS SP310
(In production from June 1963 to July 1964)

This car is pretty much identical to the one described above, but the now has twin Hitachi "SU" style carburettors. There were also some changes to the camshaft, cylinder head and extractor design and the engine now developed 85 horsepower at 5600rpm. The DC generator in the first model has been swapped for an AC alternator, and this is now mounted on the same side as the distributor. The side badges say  "Fairlady" and the rear badge says "Datsun 1500".

1965 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500 SPORTS SP310
(In production from August 1964 to April 1965)

This model is most commonly refered to as the 2 seater 1500. As this suggests, this model now has 2 seats, the novel 3rd seat was dropped for 1965. People often mistakenly think when they see this car, that it is a car that the owner has made it up from the parts of a 1500 and a 1600, but it is actually a changeover model that has some of the features of the soon to be released 1600 Sports. It continues to use the mechanicals of the previous 1500 model but it has a different interior, with a silver/grey painted dashboard with 2 large round guages and 5 smaller ones. The soft top is a different design and it now folds down behind the seats.  It has external boot lid hinges but no longer has the handle on the boot lid, it now has a small thin chrome strip handle on the rear edge of the boot lid. The air intake on the bonnet is a little taller and the bonnet now has individual "D-A-T-S-U-N" badges, but some early ones continued to have the old one piece "Datsun" badge.  Badges on the side say "Fairlady" and the back badge says "Datsun 1500".

1965-1966 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600 SPORTS SP311
(In production from May 1965 to February 1967)

This car has the 1595cc 4 cylinder "R" series engine with twin Hitachi "SU" style carburettors, it develops 96 horsepower at 6000 rpm. It has disc brakes on the front wheels with Dunlop Sumitomo twin piston calipers, and drum brakes at the rear. The gearbox is a 4 speed floor change unit but it now has synchromesh on all four forward gears. It now has 14 inch wheels, because of the larger wheel arches needed to accomodate the bigger wheels there is no longer the room for the chrome strips on the front guards, the 1600 strips now start from behind the wheel arch. The size of the wheel arch flares has been increased. Boot lid hinges are now internal and the grille now has 3 wide horizontal bars. Badges say either "Fairlady" or "Datsun 1600" on the side, depanding on where they were sold, and "Datsun 1600" at the back.

1967 DATSUN 1600 SPORTS SP311
(In production from March 1967 to October 1967)

This model is most often refered to as the 1967 1/2 1600. A number of minor changes were made to this model. Mechanically the engine now has an alloy cylinder head, and the crankshaft now has 5 main bearings instead of the previous engine's 3. The rear drums are now an alloy finned design with cast iron inserts. The brake master cylinder is now a tandem type, and the rear suspension has a torque bar on the driver's side. The dashboard now has 2 large guages and 3 smaller dials, 2 of them are combination guages. At about this time the authorities in the USA were starting to get a bit funny about car safety, as a result anything that was chromed on the dashboard is now painted dull black or gray.  Sunvisors are now fitted for the first time and headrests were also available. Side badges say either "Fairlady" or "Datsun" above the chrome strip and "1600" below it. Rear badges say "Fairlady" or "Datsun" and under it is a "1600" badge.

1967 DATSUN 2000 SPORTS SR311
(In production from March 1967 to October 1967)

This model is often refered to as the low screen 2000 or the 1967 1/2 2000. The 2000 model has the new overhead cam 1982cc 4 cylinder "U20" series engine, with twin dual throat Solex carburettors, it developed 150 horsepower at 6000 rpm. In some countries the U20 was available with twin Hitachi "SU" style carburettors, these engines developed 135 horsepower at 6000 rpm. It has a 5 speed floor change gearbox. The 1967 2000 is pretty much identical to the 1967 1600, the only major noticeable differences are that the 2000 models have a different grille design with a large "D" emblem in the centre and they have a thin chrome trim around the number plate recess. Side badges say "Fairlady" or "Datsun" above the chrome strip and "2000" below it. Rear badges say "Fairlady" or "Datsun" with "2000" underneath.

1968 DATSUN 2000 SPORTS SR311
(In production from October 1967 to November 1968)

This is the model refered to as the high screen 2000. Over 85% of all the Datsun sports cars built were sold in the USA, the 1968 model was designed to better suit the typically taller American driver by increasing the windscreen height by 2 inches. On previous models the windscreen frame was bolted to the car, in the high screen cars the windscreen frame is actually a part of the body. This model has a deformable black plastic dashboard and centre console. The outside door handles are a pull-out type rather than the push button type on earlier cars. The chrome headlight scoops have a dull finish. Side badges say either "Fairlady" or "Datsun" above the chrome strip and "2000" below it. Rear badges say "Fairlady" or "Datsun" with "2000" underneath.

1968 DATSUN 1600 SPORTS SP311
(In production from October 1967 to November 1968)

This model is known as the high screen 1600. Apart from having the smaller 1600 engine and 4 speed gearbox it is pretty much identical to the 1968 2000, except that it has the 1600 grille, and "1600" badges.

1969 DATSUN 2000 SPORTS SR311
(In production from November 1968 to June 1969)

Starting in late 1969 the 2000 was fitted with a new recirculating ball type steering box to improve the feel of the steering. This involved a small modification to the front suspension cross member of the chassis and a change in the raditaor design. There were a few changes to the electrical system at the same time. Also the rear bumpers now have a rubber block on the side of the car between the bumper and the body. A secondary bonnet latch is now fitted too.

1969 DATSUN 1600 SPORTS SP311
(In production from November 1968 to June 1969)

The 1600 version of the high screen model was available alongside the 2000 Sports right up until production ended in 1970, the high screen 1600s were popular in the United States but less common in most other countries. Apart from the smaller engine, the 1969 1600 is pretty well identical to the 2000 except for the 1600 grille and badges.

1970 DATSUN 2000 SPORTS SR311
(In production from July 1969 to sometime in 1970)

No specific date is given for the end of sports car production, but it ended sometime in 1970. The only major differences between the 1970 and 1969 models is that they have a different front indicator/park light design that has no chrome ring around it, and the knobs on the dashboard are a different design.

1970 DATSUN 1600 SPORTS SP311
(In production from July 1969 to sometime in 1970)

As with the 1969 model, the 1970 1600 is pretty much identical to the 1970 2000 except for the engine and gearbox.  The 1970 cars in the USA had horrific big ugly red reflectors that were the same size as the tail lights and were mounted beside the stop lights, and some equally dodgy looking rectangular side marker lights, fortunately most other countries were spared this modification.

NISSAN SILVIA CSP311
(In production from 1964 to 1968)

The Nissan Silvia is a 2 seater coupe based on the chassis and mechanicals of the 1600 Sports. It used the 1595cc 4 cylinder "R" series engine with twin Hitachi "SU" style carburettors, producing 96 horsepower at 6000 rpm. It featured a hand built body that was penned by the German designer Albrecht Goertz. It's cost when new was about 50% more than the 1600 Sports. Only 554 were built between 1964 and 1968, the majority of them were built in 1965.
To learn more about the Silvia visit our other website, the Nissan Silvia Homepage .
 
 

CUTIE FACT - The Nissan Motor Company did not build the Datsun Fairlady. Well, not technically anyway. The Fairlady series, from the SP310 through to the Z32 Nissan 300ZX, were all built by a company called Nissan Shatai Koki Co. Ltd., later called Nissan Shatai Co. Ltd.. The company began in 1949 as Shin Nikkoku Kogyo Co., Ltd , and initially built railway carriages. In 1951 Shin Nikkoku Kogyo Co., Ltd formed an alliance with Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. when Nissan bought a 43.8% share in the company, in a similar deal to the current Renault/Nissan Alliance. The first vehicles they were contracted to build for Nissan was the first model Nissan Patrols in 1951, and later the 123 pick-up and C140 Caball truck.  In 1962 they started building the SP310 Fairlady in the same factory being used to build the Caball truck and Echo bus. Later they built "interesting" vehicles like the Nissan Prairie, Nissan Serena, Nissan S-Cargo and Nissan Elgrand.