Datsun Sports

The Datsun Sports (called Datsun Fairlady in the home market), was a series of roadsters produced by Nissan in the 1960s. The series was a predecessor to the Z-car in the Fairlady line, and offered an inexpensive alternative to the British MG and Triumph sports cars. The line began with the 1959 "S211" and continued through 1970 with the "SP311" and "SR311" line.

S211

The first Datsun Sports model was the 1959 S211. It used a 988 cc C-series straight-4 producing 37 PS (27 kW; 36 hp). The S211 was based on the Datsun 211 sedan. Incorporated into the side trim were the side badges, which said "Datsun 1000". It was designed by Yuichi Ohta, who had previously designed the Datsun DC-3 and the prototype to the S211, the A80X.^[1] Both the A80X and S211 featured fiberglass bodywork. Only 20 examples of the S211 were built, making the S211 the rarest of all Datsun models.

SPL212

The SPL212 was introduced in 1960. This was the first Datsun sports car imported to the USA. The letter of "L" means "Left hand drive". Now with steel bodywork, it was built in slightly higher volume than the S211, with 288 produced through 1961. The SPL212 was based on the Datsun 223 truck. It had a 1.2 L (1189 cc) E-series straight-4 engine producing 48 PS (35 kW; 47 hp). A 4-speed manual transmission was specified, and an a-arm suspension with torsion bars was used in front. Drum brakes were used all around. This was the first vehicle to bear the "Fairlady" name. The badge on the trunk lid was the same badge that was used on the Datsun 223 truck. It was named in reference to the Broadway musical My Fair Lady.^[2] The SPL212 and later SPL213 were sold only on the export market; they were named for their engine displacement. In 1960, production of the Fairlady was moved from Yokohama to the Nissan Shatai plant in Hiratsuka.

These cars are quite valuable. In 1996 a set of unrestored cars (SPL212) sold for US$100,000.

SPL213

The SPL213, produced in 1961 and 1962, is very similar to the SPL212. The main difference is the dual-carburetor "E-1" engine which pumped out 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp), a large increase in such a small and light car. Like the SPL212, the SPL213 was based on the Datsun 223 truck. 217 examples were built.

SP310/SPL310

The first Datsun Sports car was the 1963 SP310 "Fairlady 1500" model (right hand drive), and the SPL310 (left hand drive). The SP310 was now based on a modified Bluebird 310 sedan platform instead of a truck platform. It featured an 85 hp 1.5 L (1497 cc) G15 engine (from the Cedric) but with a single SU carburetor. Only 300 SPL310's were equipped with the single carb and these first 300 had only 77 HP as opposed the the 85 HP dual carb models in 1964 and 1965. A 4-speed manual transmission was the only shifting option and was a non-syncro'd first gear. The rear axle used the shafts and differential also from the Cedric. It was a well-equipped car with a transistor radio, tonneau cover, map lights, and a clock. The first SP310s (1963–1964) also had a unique sideways third seat in the rear. The 1964 car was similar, but offered dual SU carbs.

SP311/SPL311

Many changes were made for 1965. Though the 1.5 L SP310 continued in production through January, a new 1.6 L R16-powered SP311 and SPL311 joined it. Marketed as the Fairlady 1600(in America is was known as the Datsun 1500^[3]), it featured 14 inch wheels and minor exterior changes. The front suspension was independent^[3]. The engine produced 96 PS (71 kW; 95 hp). The hood badge said "DATSUN" in individual letters, the rear badge said "DATSUN 1600", and the side badges said "Fairlady" (Japanese market) or "DATSUN 1600" (export market). The SP311 continued in production through April 1970.

The first Nissan Silvia coupe shared the SP311's platform. The CSP311 Silvia had an R16 engine developing 96 hp and used a modified Fairlady chassis. The Silvia was the first car fitted with Nissan's new R engine. The R engine was a further development of the 1488 cc G engine.

SR311/SRL311

The introduction of the 1967 SR311 and SRL311 saw a major update. Produced from March 1967-1970, the SR311 used a 2.0 L (1982 cc) U20 engine and offered a 5-speed manual transmission, unusual for a production car. The first-year cars are most-desirable today as there were just 1,000 to 2,000 produced and are unencumbered with the emissions and safety changes introduced in 1968. The new SOHC engine produced 135 PS (99 kW; 133 hp). An optional Competition package included dual Mikuni/Solex carburetors and a special camshaft for 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp).

The Datsun 2000 was lauded as a bargain sports car. The main reason for its production was for racing to build the Datsun image. It was raced by John Morton, Bob Sharp and others. Its sticker price was lowest in its class, but it won its class in C Production (Mikuni-Solex carburetors) and D-Production (Hitachi-SU carburetors), in SCCA racing on a consistent basis even after production stopped. For the full story of Nissan's involvement in early SCCA racing, the teams, drivers and cars, visit the Datsun Roadster SCCA pages.

A well-tuned stock Datsun 2000 was capable of cruising at 120 mph (193 km/h) and capable of making better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) and red-lined at exactly 7000 rpm and 140 mph in fourth gear with a 5-speed manual. It was replaced with the more sedate, stylish, and popular Z series.

1968

For 1968, the entire line was updated with a new body featuring a taller integrated windshield with an integrated rear-view mirror, a padded dashboard with non-toggle switches, and lifting door handles. The engines were also fitted with new emissions controls, and the 1600 continued as a companion model through the end of production.

References

• James T Crow, ed. (1968). "Datsun 2000 Sports and Datsun Sports 1600". Road & Track Road Test Annual: 40–45. 
• Alexander Palevsky (1998). "All the Lust Without the Rust". Sports Car International 14 (V): 57. 

External links

• "Production Numbers". Datsun.org. Archived from the original on March 15, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050315000755/http://www.datsun.org/roadster/info/production.html. Retrieved March 28, 2005. 
• "1967 Datsun 2000 FAQ". Datsun.org. Archived from the original on March 10, 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050310174303/http://www.datsun.org/roadster/info/sr_faq.html. Retrieved March 28, 2005. 
• "www.fairlady.org - Datsun Roadster US racing history". Fairlady.org. http://datsun.org/fairlady/usindex.htm. Retrieved January 15, 2007. 
• "www.fairlady.org - Datsun Roadster prototypes". Fairlady.org. http://www.datsun.org/fairlady/Prototypes.htm. Retrieved January 15, 2007. 
• "1960 Datsun Fairlady". http://www.SPL212.com/. 
• http://www.earlydatsun.com/index.html