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The Nissan PB110 model line was named the Sunny Excellent 1400 (サニー エケセレント 1400). It featured a larger overhead-cam engine and modified front sheet metal styling. It is also called the "Sunny Long-nose" (サニー ロング ノーズ). The engine bay seems to be the same size as a B110, but the guards and bonnet of the PB110 are longer in the front to make the car feel bigger. The wheelbase is 40mm longer (less than 2 inches) but the PB110 overall is more than 5 inches longer. Most components of the PB110 are the same as B110, including 12" tires and same dashboards.
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Overview
Our beloved "Datsun 1200" is Nissan body code B110, equipped with the 1200cc A12 pushrod engine. This is also known as the Datsun Sunny 1200. In Japan however, there was an upscale derivative of the B110, the Sunny Excellent -- body code PB110. The P apparently stands for "bigger engine". Yes, the Excellent was fitted with the L-series Overhead Cam (OHC) engine, the same type of engine fitted to the bigger Datsun vehicles.
Sunny Excellent PB110 was offered in two body styles:
* Coupe * 4-door Sedan
Unique front, same rear except taillights & badges
This factory brochure shows both vehicles (Comparo):
Sunny 1200 (left) and Sunny Excellent 1400 (right)
Sunny 1400 4-dr sedan with aftermarket minilite-style wheels
Notice the unique grille. The hood and fenders are also slightly modified in the front area (see Differences section below).
Features * L14 Engine, 1400cc * Single-carb version: 85hp, 11.8kgm/3 torque @3,600 rpm * Twin-carb version (GX): 95hp, 12.2kgm/3 torque @4,000 rpm * Top Speed (both engines): 155km/h * 4-speed floor shift * optional Nissan Full Automatic 3-speed floor shift not available with GX models * Nissan Guarantee: 2 year and 50,000 kilometers (1971 brochure)
Sunny 1400 - The writing before 1400 says "Coupe" (Kuupe, a germanic spelling)
Notice the unique tail lights and 'blackout' rear panel
Sunny Excellent 1400 brochure - Closeup of grille. The extended forward "peak" of the Excellent grille is evident here, compared to the more flat grille of the 1200.
There were no Excellent 2-dr sedans, wagons or truck versions.
Excellent GX Brochure - Notice the engine (sidedraft carbs), fancy seats, and the same-as-B110 dashboard
Trim Levels: DX, GL and GX
1200 and 1400 trim levels
This outlines the various trim levels the Coupe was available in: GX, GL and DX. The writing above '1400' phonetically spells out "Excellent" in japanese katakana writing.
The same trim levels were offered for the 4-Excellent door Sedan:
album
From left to right: 1200GX, 1200GL, 1200DX, 1200 Semi-DX & 1200 STD, 1400GX, 1400GL, 1400DX. Compare to Australia and USA where only one trim level was offered: a customized version of the 1200 DX.
album
* 3-spoke standard GX steering wheel * GL and GX trim used wood grain on lower half of dash * 1972 Facelift dash has hooded gauges. The hood reduces glare. (NOTE: this is the same dashboard as in regular 1972 Datsun 1200s) * Console with optional clock * Excellents came with extended color choices for carpeting
GX Steering Wheel, Dash with hooded guages, and console w/clock. Also notice upgraded cloth-insert seats.
GX features:
album
Wheel and Tire
The PB110 Excellent used 12" tires.
See main article: Hubcaps
1971 options:
- blackwall
- dual-stripe whitewall
- wide-stripe whitewall with optional hubcap
regular hupcap
Notice the unique GL and DX hubcaps, which are different from the B110 wheel covers of the same trim level.
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Engine
The Sunny Excellent PB110 was fitted with 1400cc L14 engine, a smaller-displacement version of the L16 fitted to the Datsun 1600. This is an wikipedia:Overhead Cam engine. Both a single carb and dual-carb engine was available. Top speed was 155kmh, up 5km from the Datsun 1200.
DX and GL models had a single-carb engine, while the GX had dual sidedraft carburetors (GX means GL with Twin Carbs).
non-GX 85 hp single carb L14 engine
GX engine with Twin Hitachi (SU type) carburetors
album
L14 engine with aftermarket dual sidedraft carburetors
album
Single Carb engine
GX Twin Carb
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Nissan Factory Rotary Engine
Under the bonnet of this Excellent is the rotary engine used to advance the development of NISSAN's new rotary.
See main article: Rotary engine
Interior
1971 Excellent GX also has standard 1971 B110 dashboard, with woodgrain trim
album
1972 (Facelift) Excellent 4-dr sedan Interior
Notice the upmarket seats, the (aftermarket) steering wheel, and 1972 dashboard
Consoles
See main article: Console#PB110
Seats
* Deluxe: Vinyl seats like B110, but with fancier form-fitted stitching * GL: Tricot cloth (single color) * GX: Fancy striped Cloth-insert vinyl seats
1971 Seat Upholstery Choices
GX * brown striped cloth for #009 Orange, #004 Green, #821 White * black striped cloth with exterior Colors #008 Blue, #005 Blue, #931 Gold, #930 Green, #665 Yellow
GL * black tricot for #009 Orange, #005 Blue, #004 Green, #931 Gold, #930 Green (Coupe only), #665 Yellow * blue tricot for #008 Blue, #821 White
Deluxe * black vinyl leather (for #008 Blue, #930 Green (Coupe only)) * yellow vinyl leather (for #931 Gold, #821 White, #665 Yellow)
GX seats options - Brown-striped cloth or Black-striped cloth
album
GX seats (brown striped cloth)
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Dashboard And Steering Wheel
Early:
* Early GX dash (same style as B110, but with woodgrain accents) * Three-spoke GX wheel, spokes have single slots
Late:
* Deluxe uses same steering wheel as Standard B110 * GL uses 3-spoke steering wheel * GX has standard 3-spoke 'large-horn button' wheel with "GX" emblem in center Each spoke has two long slots.
The Late PB110 instrument cluster is the same as Datsun 1200 "Late", but the dashpad is different as is the glovebox:
B110 vs PB110 Late Dash Comparo
Later 'hooded' dash. Picture clearly shows the concave profile of the instrument cluster. (aftermarket seat color, shift knob, equalizer). Judging by the wood-grain dash and steering wheel style, this is a GL model.
Details:
Badges
See main article: PB110 Badges
Tail Lights
Coupe
KPB110 looks like B110 sedan lights, but protruding
IKI 4042
Sedan
Looks like the facelift B110 sedan lights
argent: 26650-H2801
dark: 26650-H3001
Sedan
Optional Equipment
1971 Options * mirror, passenger side * Vinyl Top * Console Clock * Console Clock with auxiliary gauges * High-back seats (standard fitting is seats with detachable headrests) * Air spoiler for Coupe, trunk-lid mounted * Fibre-optic Illuminated dash switches (like 1973 USA B110s) * Air conditioning * Headrests, assistant's seat
* Tires, blackwall, twin-strip whitewall, wide whitewall * optional hubcapalbum 1971 options 1 Vinyl Top 2 Spoiler 3 Rear-window defrost glass
4 Console with gauges
5 Illuminated Controls 6 Aircon 7 High-back seats
album
1971 Options 1 Shifter Knob, leather 2 Automatic Transmission 3 Console 4 Seat belts, 3-point with shoulder straps5 Triple-switch Hazards
album 6 Console without gauges
7 Fold-down Rear Seat for Coupe
1972 Excellent interior trim (some are standard, others optional)* GX Mirrors: Fender-mounted black with chrome ring * Radio, Datsun Clarion AM * Steering wheel, GL three spoke * Dash, 1972 hooded type * 3-switch Hazards (regular, left lights, right lights)
* Fog Lamps built into the grille * Clock in dash * Steering Lock with ACC position * Passing Light switch * sun visors * tachometer 8000 RPM (redline: ~6400) * shift lever knob Optional wood type * defrost control for Rear window * shoulder belts for Rear seat * Cigarette Lighter (?) * console (with no clock or tach) * disc brakes, larger than Datsun 1200 models
How Different From B110
How different is the PB110 from B110?
Same: * Passenger compartment * Doors * Roof * Firewall * Rear quarters & boot lid
Different: * Front fenders incorporate corner lamps * Wheelbase +40 mm * Radiator Core Support appears to be only +40 mm forward * Bonnet is longer, extended further beyond core support
Discussion: PB110 (Sunny Excellent) vs. B110 (Sunny)
So the engine does not appear to be farther forward, but actually as far back as in B110. Being "set back" a little compared to the front wheels may have contributed to good handling even though the L14 engine is much heavier than A12 engine. The extra 40 mm is probably used for the slight length difference of the L14 and the extra thickness of the 510-type radiator.
In front of the radiator core support and bonnet sticks out about 5 inches longer than B110.
The extra length is all forward of the windshield:
album
Fenders appear to be same length & height, but 1400 wheel arch is slightly larger and doesn't go as far forward.
1400
album
1200
album
Fenders use corner lamps
Front Apron panel
1200: License plate bolts to bumper 1400: License plate bolts to apron
1400 Apron 62610-H2500 (Sedan & Coupe)
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Racing
The racing PB110s included this Coupe (KPB110) with the Nissan works competition LZ engine LZ14 DOHC four-valve engine:
KPB110 #9 with LZ14 Engine
* LZ14 May 3, 1973 introduction for TS-a Class japan Grand Prix racing * 16 Valve Twin-cam head on L-series block, 1600cc * 200 HP @ 9,400 RPM
Takamiti Shinohara (篠原 孝道) rented LZ14 for the semi-Works Omori team for "1973 Japan Grand Prix" -- if I translate correct Wikipedia Japan article
Sunny 1400 Coupe race car at Advan Historics
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Brochures and Advertising
See main article: PB110 Brochures
Also See
Also see: * PB110 Colors * PB110 Engine * PB110 Parts Donor * PB110 Suspension
Photo Album Index
See main article: PB110 Photo Index