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Just as the PB110 was the Excellent variant of the B110, equipped with an L-Series OHC instead of an A-Series OHV engine, so was the PB210 the Excellent variant of the next generation of Sunny, the B210. The PB210 was sold in Japan. Also, a Sunny Excellent variant was produced by Nissan South Africa and sold as the "140Y & 160Y", along a sporty special "140Z" & "160Z". The Sunny Excellents and all B210 came with the same 2340 mm wheelbase, 40 mm longer than the Datsun 1200 B110.
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Sunny Excellent 1400 (PB210)
Made during 1973-1975, the PB210 Excellent was equipped with a 1428cc L-series engine, the L14.
Model designations were PB210 (4-dr Sedan) and KPB210 (Coupe). In this Wiki entry, PB210 may be used to designate either the Coupe or Sedan.
Drivetrain options were L14S (Single-carb) engine or L14T (Twin-carb) engine both with either automatic transmission or 4-speed manual transmission. The Twin Carb models were also available with optional 5-speed. Source: Sunny Excellent 1400 Model Series PB210 Parts Catalog, Nissan 1975.
To avoid model overlap, the regular B210 Sunnys came with a 1200cc A-Series engine. The Excellent 1400 was an upscale model.
The PB210 Excellent was initially available in DX, GL or GX trim levels. The GX level always came with the Twin Carb engine.
Misc. differences in the PB210 as compared with the B210:
- longer hood and fenders
- unique tail lights
- Coupe: Triple round per side
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- Sedan: Multi-facet lenses
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- Coupe: Triple round per side
- unique front grill divided into twin-opening mouths
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- larger side marker lights
- larger front bumper
- larger front turnsignals, mounted in valance instead of bumper
- unique C pillar vent on Coupe
- unique radiator support and front valance
- unique 13" wheels (all other JDM B210, including A14-powered, used 12")
- unique hubcaps (Honeycomb style)
- GL used silver honeycomb, same as North America Sedan
- GX used darkened honeycomb, same as North America Coupe
- H165 rear differential per catalog
- 180 kph speedometer (instead of 160 kph)
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The PB210 Sedan GX and all Coupes used a sport instrument cluster with individual guages, and came with driving lights integrated into the front grill, similar options to those found on the B210 GX.
Unlike the PB110, which used 510 style front strut towers, the PB210 retained the B210 style front strut towers.
Just like the PB110 Excellent line, the PB210 Excellent was available in Coupe and 4-dr sedan versions.
Rear shot of a regular B210 Coupe (green) and a Excellent PB210 Coupe (red) for comparison:
(Note the Excellent Coupe, triple round taillights.)
PB210 DX/GL grille
Note the "S" emblem (for Sunny) on the grille. GX models were equipped with foglights integrated into the front grill.
1400 Coupe
1400 Sedan
PB210 Sedan set up for Australian rally
Sunny GX 1400 sedan S50 PB210
Sunny Excellent 1600 (GB211)
Oddly, for 1976-1977 Nissan changed the Sunny Excellent from a distinct vehicle model (PB210) to simply a trim-level option for the regular B210. The Excellent 1600 was chassis code GB211 (4-dr) or KGB211 (Coupe).
The Excellent 1600 entered production February 1976.
For 1976, the L16 engine replaced the L14. The engine was the L16S, meaning Single-carb L16. A Twin-carb version was not offered per Model Series B210 Parts Catalog revision 1978 July. This was to avoid model overlap, as the HB211 was introduced with an A14T Twin Carb engine. The Excellent 1600 was an upscale luxury version.
Trim Levels: GL 1600 4-dr sedan * GB211GT w/F4W63 4-speed * GB211GA w/3N71B automatic * GB211GF w/FS5W63A 5-speed GX 1600 4-dr sedan * GB211JT w/F4W63 * GB211JF w/FS5W63A
The 1600 also came in Coupe form (KGB211). The coupe had the same trim and transmission choices, except that the automatic was available on the GX and not the GL trim.
Misc changes for 1976-77:
- DX trim dropped (Only GL & GX available)
- Redesigned front grilles. Instead of twin-mouth grille, now single
- Redesigned fender mirrors
- GX-L & GL-L trim levels offered in 1977 per brochure
- GX-L - KGB211JH (4-speed) & KGB211JFH (5-speed)
- GL-L - KGB211GFH (5-speed) & KGB211GAH (auto)
- New optional aluminum 5Jx13 wheel from February 1977
- Similar to this B310 option wheel
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GB211 Grille
In 1978, Malaysia received a facelift called the Excellent. These B210s were equipped with the Excellent tail lights but powered by A12 engines. This demonstrates a fact that some export A-engine powered B210s were equipped with the Excellent tail lights.
Rear shot of a New Zealand B210 4dr Sedan:
FAQs
Didn't some Sunny Excellent 1400s come with the A14 engine?
No. Remember, the "Excellent 1400" was the PB210. In the PB210 JDM Parts Catalog from Nissan, no A-series engines are listed for PB210. A14-powered models were the HB210 starting in 1975 in North America. Also, the JDM "B211" (facelift) model also had A14 as an option (HB211). There were three different engines available for the B211 from 1976 - A12, A14 and L16. The L16-powered versions were marketed as the Excellent 1600. Taken from a JDM brochure: A12 models:B211, A14 models: HB211, L16 models:GB211
Don't the 1976 Sunny Excellent models carry the "PB" chassis designation?
No. The 1976 Sunny Excellents are covered in the regular B210 Parts Catalog. Here are the model numbers listed:
- (sedan) L16 GB211GT, GB211GA, GB211GF, GB211JT, GB211JF
- (coupe) L16 KGB211G, KGB211GA, KGB211GF, KGB211J, KGB211JF
These were GL and GX models, all started manufacture February 1976. These are L-series B210s, but the catalog it never uses the PB- model prefix.
Datsun 140Y
Datsun-Nissan South Africa imported PB210s and marketed them as 140Y for 1976-1977:
140Y 4-door advertisement
Unlike "140Y" models in the rest of the world that were regular B210s with an A14 pushrod engine, The Suid Afrika 140Y was a genuine PB210 with L14 Overhead Cam engine:
full
- Engine: L14 (stamped on underhood ID plate)
- 70kw DIN power @ 6000 RPM
- 110 NM torque @ 4000 RPM
B110-like round instrument gauges
140Y Coupe
* Single carb engine
140Y GX (not 140Z)
- L14 engine with Twin Hitachi "flat top" carburetors
Color 097-03185 WHITE-BLUE
140Y 4-door
* rectangular gauges
Datsun 160Y
For 1978, Nissan South Africa marketed the GB211 as "160Y", equipped with L16 engine.
Datsun 140Z and 160Z
John Conchie, former racing driver and renowned tuning specialist, first came to prominence as co-founder of Alconi Developments in Johannesburg in 1964. He was instrumental in the development of a succession of special models for several South African motor manufacturers, including Renault 8 Alconi, Fiat 1500 OTS, Fiat 124/125 Scorpion, Datsun 1600 SSS Zero and Datsun 140Z.
The 140Z was model number KPB210(GKQ) thus offered only in Coupe (K) form, was equipped with the L14 carbureted engine, manual transmission, and marketed as the DATSUN 140Z.
140Z Build Plate
According to this plate, the 140Z was manufactured by Nissan Tokyo, but assembled by Datsun-Nissan South Africa. They may have received partially assembled units from Japan, and completed them, or they may have gotten CKD (Completely Knocked Down) sets and fully assembled them right in South Africa. At some point in time it is known that South Africa started manufacturing vehicle in-country (notably at their Rosslyn factory).
WA 140Z
There were minor cosmetic differences between the 140Z and PB210 GX:
- DX/GL front grill (without integrated driving lights)
- front and rear spoilers
- different side marker lights
- blacked-out bumpers
- mag wheels <source?>
- unique exterior graphics
- twin Dellorto sidedraught carburettors
The 160Z also in Coupe-only form, was introduced for the 1978 model year:
- Front spoiler
- Canary Yellow with black stripes
- "Mexican Stripe" cloth seats color-matched (yellow and black), high back
- Twin Hitachi sidedraft carbs
- L16 engine from the 160U-SSS
- Larger brake rotors and calipers
- Revised rear leafs and shock absorbers with anti-tramp properties
- Alloy wheels designed by Eddie Keizan of Tiger Wheels
- rear window Louvers
reference: 160Z Road Test (ZA)
1978 Model Lineup
Racing
Links
Z Part Numbers
Badges
See main article: PB210 Badges
Photo Index
In addition to any photo above, here are more of the B210 Sunny Excellent photos from our club photo album.
- Click each pic for fullsize version and to read comments or add comments to the photo
- Some may look like duplicates, but are put here so you can navigate to any comments attached to the photo
