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[Datsun 1200 encyclopedia]

Body Styles

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Category: General Information

Contents

Datsun 1200 (B110) Body Styles

In Japan, the B110 is called the Datsun Sunny. In most other countries it was marketed as the Datsun 1200.

750.jpg753.jpg

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2-door Sedan and 2-door Coupe
749.jpg748.jpg

2-dr Coupe (fastback). See main article: KB110
148.jpg312.gif

2-dr Wagon (Van). See main article: VB110R
420.jpg421.jpg

4-dr Wagon (a.k.a. 5-dr Wagon). See main article: VB110
638.jpg 672.jpg

2-dr Sedan. See main article: B110R
140.jpg 143.jpg

4-dr Sedan
737.jpg 751.jpg

2-dr Utility (aka truck, pickup, 'ute', camioneta or bakkie). See main article: B120
235.jpg 237.jpg

Search the Photo Album for more pictures of all these models.

So what's the difference between a 2-dr 'sedan' and a 2-dr 'coupe'?'

A sedan is a car with a back seat, where the back seats passengers have more of less the same room as the front seat passengers. Also, it has a separate trunk compartment.

A coupe on the other hand has no back seat or a smaller cramped passenger area.


coupe [ koop ]

car with two doors: a car with two doors and a hard, fixed roof that seats two people or has a small rear seat.

Also called coupe: Coupe - Encarta World English Dictionary

So the 1200 coupe is a 2+2 ('has a small rear seat'), while the sedan is more optimized for both front and rear passengers (the 1200 sedan has more headroom in back seat, you'll notice, even though the seats are the same size).

This is another example of the word evolving over time. Originally coupe meant two passengers inside and a driver outside.


Sedan
U.S. type of car: a car with a fully enclosed passenger compartment, a permanent roof, two or four doors, front and rear seats, and a separate trunk

Sedan - Encarta World English Dictionary

In the case of the 1200 Coupe, the trunk area is not separate from the passenger compartment (even though it has a 'trunk lid' not a hatchback).

Trim levels

Trim levels and names vary by country, but include basic Standard, better Semi-Deluxe, Deluxe (DX) luxury GL (Grand Luxury) and sporty GX (Grand Luxury Twin-Carb).
743.jpg Japan-market trim levels for B110 (1200) and PB110 (1400)

STD

Standard trim was not available for Coupe. It included painted bumpers (instead of chrome), no roof rain gutters Drip rail.

DX

Deluxe was the base Coupe trim, and one step up for Sedan and Truck.

  • all STD features including drum brakes and rubber floor mats
  • chrome bumpers
  • roof rain-drip moulding

NOTE: the base Coupe was a DX (there were no STD coupes)
461.jpg

USA Deluxe

For USA, all 1200s are Deluxe.

  • Coupes have no badges as usual with the base trim
  • Sedans are Deluxe level, with higher specification than Japan-market Deluxe
    • fitted with the GL-spec disc brakes
    • fitted with the GL-spec round gauges

2682.jpg

USA standard equipment (Deluxe)

* 4 CYL, OHV, 5 MAIN BEARING ENGINE
* SEAT BELT BUZZER [ALL] & LIGHT [1972-1973]
* PARKING LIGHTS
* 5 MPH FRONT END PROTECTION [1973]
* FOLD-DOWN REAR SEAT ON 1200 COUPE
* RECLINING FRONT SEATS
* WHITE SIDE WALL TIRES
* AUTOMATIC CHOKE [1972-1973]
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
* Fresh Air Heating & Defrosting System 
* 2-Speed Electric Wipers
* Two Padded Sun Visors
* Safety Padded Dash
* Ignition Key Buzzer
* Steering Wheel Lock
* Impact Absorbing Steering Column
* Head Rests
* Seat & Shoulder Belts, Front
* Seat Belts, Rear
* Hand Brake Warning Light
* Engine Emission Control
* Safety Glass
* Safety Door Latches
* Side Marker Lights
* 4-Way Flash Lights
* Backup Lights
* Outside Rear View Mirror

ADDED FEATURES - NO COST
* Electric Windshield Washers
* Dual Horns
* Ash Tray(s)
* Cigarette Lighter
* Glove Box With Door
* Courtesy Lights
* Flow Through Fresh Air
* Fold Down Rear Seat on 1200 Coupe
* Full Flow Oil Filter
* Front Disc Brakes & Dual Master Cylinder
* Nissan Unibody All Steel Construction
* Tinted Glass (Not Available on 1200 Sedan)
* Full Wheel Covers
* Rubber Faced Bumper Guards

GL

Grand Luxe included premium seats and steering wheel.

GX

Grand Luxe Twin Carb was the top of the line for the B110 model series. It included all the GL appointments, plus twin carburetor engine.

The Japan-only GX 4-dr and GX Coupes had:

  • Special A12GX engine with custom intake air box
  • special grille with GX emblem
  • GX badge on boot
  • GX taillights
  • wood steering wheel
  • special seat cloths
  • heated rear window

Datsun-Nissan South Africa also produced GX version, but with different hubcaps and interiors.

GX-5

GX-5 was not a trim level, but a special model for year 1972. It was a GX with 5-speed transmission and a few other changes, including high-back seats.

See main article: GX-5

1972

In Japan, a minor facelift was applied to 1972 B110s, including a "power bulge" hood.

See main article: Facelift

Model Availability By Country

Australia got the Coupe, 4-dr Sedan, Ute, 4-dr Wagon and 2-dr Wagon
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Germany 1974
th_5679662016_b517f5c679_o.jpg th_5679097351_f2700c9b29_o.jpg th_Datsun-1200-1974.jpg

United States got only the 2-dr Deluxe Sedan and the standard or Deluxe Coupe in left-hand drive version (LB110). LHD models have hydraulic clutches.
130.jpg131.jpg

England

The 'Sunny 1200s' in the UK were:
  • Deluxe 2-Door Saloon
  • Deluxe 4-Door Saloon (sedan)
  • Coupe
  • Estate Car (station wagon)

    Japan got everything :-) including the Standard, GL, and Deluxe trims. In late 1971, the GX was added.
    738.jpg737.jpg736.jpg
    154.jpg
    That's the 1200 GX (B110) on the left, and the special Excellent 1400 series (PB110) on the right. Excellent models have a different front bonnet (hood), grill and wings (fenders) and tail lights, and different interior from B110s.

    • lights in grille
    • pointed bonnet
    • lights at edges of grill

    For more info on the PB110, see the article Datsun PB110 Excellent Series

    Ecuador built the 1200 pickup during the 1990s

    Sunny Truck

    2-dr Truck (aka pickup, 'ute' or bakkie). Technically these are B120 (1200cc) and B140 (1400cc) models.

    Australia sold the B120 until 1985.

    Nissan South Africa made the B140 short-wheelbase ute from 1982-2007:
    150.jpg
    2003 Bakkie B140 "Nissan LDV 1400"

    The Bakkie is also called the 'Botsotso' after the South African Chief's soccer legend 'Botsotso' Dladla.

    New Zealand produced the RoadStar and SportStar utes.
    303.jpg

    In South America, the 1200 'pick up' was sold into the 90s and is called a camioneta (light truck). You can sometimes find a used one for sale in Costa Rica or Ecuador even today. Production in Ecuador started in 1987.

    SSS 1200

    85.jpg

    B110 SSS was a special version created by Datsun New Zealand. It has:<li>SSS grille badge
  • sss badge on the glove box
  • custom deep-dish steering wheel
  • twin 40mm Dellorto carbs
  • NZ-made intake manifold
  • custom air box (similar to the Japan Domestic Model GX airbox)
  • Coby extractors (headers)
  • Round gauges as in the coupe
  • black patches on the bonnet with black down the sills and front and rear skirts
  • driving lights (optional?)
  • Datsun Competition rally spec 270 degree camshaft
  • 12' slotted 'mag' wheels by Ward Wheels
  • 12 inch Jellybean mags by Cheviot with radial tyres
  • center console below heater with tachometer
  • two flat-black rectangle stripes on bonnet and boot
  • boot spoiler on some SSS vehicles (not all)
  • based on the Deluxe body,which provides the Deluxe interior arm rest door handles and high back front seats

    discussion: Datsun 1200 sss

    S1 1200

    Datsun of Portugal created and sold the S1 2-dr Sedan, which included special badges and performance items.

    See main article: Datsun 1200 S1
    

    62.JPG 50.JPG


    Custom Body Styles

    Roadsters & Convertibles

    See main article: Convertible

    115.jpg 577.jpg] 1180.jpg

    Tudor 4-doors

    Tudor 4-doors are 2-door sedans created out of 4-door sedans. These are rarely seen, usually in a country where 2-dr sedans are rare.

    11386.jpg


    Stretch Limousines

    Limo made from 4-dr sedan:
    744.jpg Limousine

    2-dr Sedan-based Limo:
    1750.jpg

    Limousine is also the german word for sedan:
    777.jpg

    Extra Cab Trucks

    For details on custom extra-cab versions of Datsun 1200 trucks, see: Extra cab.

    708.jpg Extra-cab ute

    Comparison of B110 to B210 and B310

    Some feel that the B110 was the perfection of the B-class (subcompact) rwd Datsun. Consider some facts:

    WEIGHT: lighter means faster accelerating with same engine
    B1101640 pounds (700 kg)
    B2102000 pounds (overweight?)
    B3102000 pounds (bigger than B210, yet just as light)
    Fuel Economy
    modelenginetransHighway
    B110A124-speed37.9 mpg
    B210A145-speed50 mpg
    B310A12A?5-speed47 mpg
    Braking performance 60-0 mph (smaller is better):
    modellight loadfull load
    B110195 ft190 ft
    B210196 ft211 ft
    B310??
    Acceleration & Passing (smaller is better):
    modelengine20-35 mph50-80 mph
    B110A129.2 sec16.6 sec
    B210A13 (1974)9.0 sec15.6 sec
    B310A14??
    Size (in millimeters):
    sedanlengthwheelbasewidthtrackheightturningclearance
    B110383023001495124013904.1 m170 mm
    B210408023401545127513604.7 m170
    B31041902340158013301365turning165

    Subjective Analysis

    The B10, Datsun 1000, introduced in 1966 was a successful car. But really small by modern standards. And small compared to Corolla. The B110, Datsun 1200, introduced in 1970 was larger, almost identical in dimensions to Corolla. This was the right size for the times.

    The 1974 B210 had several goals for improvement over B110: Slightly larger, more world-ready, more luxurious. More interior room. Reduce NVH (noise, vibration and harshness). Because of the extra weight, Nissan USA was forced to fit larger engines to keep up the performance.

    Instead of the 'rational' styling of B110, B210 would have a 'Young and Dynamic' image based on the 'Streamline and a Cut' styling theme. It would also have a 'Sharp and Soft' atmosphere, 'Long-nosed' proportion, and 'Streamline and Dynamic' style (reference: 1974 B210 Introduction Service Bulleting). Was the B210 styling successful? On the one hand Yes, it definitely sold well, and many people today still like the coke-bottle styling. On the other hand No -- Datsun went back to the 'rational' styling for the B310. And many today see the B210 style as more dated.

    The 1979 B310 was longer and wider yet lower. And a return to the utilitarian (more boxy) styling. It handled better than B210, was more roomy, yet didn't weigh any more. It had a significantly smoother ride due to a change from rear leaf spring suspension (as used in trucks...) to coil-spring rear with 4-link design (as used in most large sedans of the times).