Main Menu

Home News Forum Photo Album Tech Wiki Downloads Web Links Polls FAQ Members Map

Fast Search

Slow Search

Google Ad

Revision as of 23:33, 1 August 2009

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.

As was the case with the PB110, the PB210 was not originally intended for sale outside of Japan. However, a PB210 variant known as the KGB210 was produced by Nissan South Africa and sold as the "140Z" & "160Z" (see below).

The PB110, PB210 and B210 all came with the same 2340 mm wheelbase. However, the PB210 was 40 mm longer than the Datsun 1200 B110.

1 Sunny Excellent 1400 (PB210)
2 Sunny Excellent 1600
3 FAQs
4 Datsun PB210 140Y
5 Datsun 160Y
6 Datsun 140Z and 160Z

Sunny Excellent 1400 (PB210)

For 1974-75, the PB210 Excellent was equipped with a 1400cc L-series engine.

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 with Automatic or manual trans. or L14T (Twin-carb) engine with manual trans. only.

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.

Misc. differences in the PB210 as compared with the B210:
1. longer hood and fenders
2. unique tail lights for both the Coupe and Sedan
3. unique front grill(s)
4. larger side marker lights
5. larger front bumper
6. larger front turnsignals, mounted in valance instead of bumper
7. unique C pillar vent on Coupe
8. unique radiator support and front valance
9. unique hubcaps
10. H165 rear differential <source?>

The PB210 GX 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.

Sales brochure images:

Sunny Excellent GX Coupe

Just like the PB110 Excellent line, the PB210 Excellent was available in Coupe and 4-dr sedan versions.

Sunny Excellent 1400 sedan:

Closeup of the Excellent Sedan tail lights:

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.

PB210 Sedan setup for Australian rally

Sunny Excellent 1600

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. <source ?> <what about 1978?>

Trim Levels:

GL 1600 4-dr sedan
- GB211GT w/F4W63 4-speed
- GB211GA w/3N71B automatic
- GB211GF w/FS5W63A 5-speed
- GB211OF
- GB211JT
- GB211JF
GX 1600 4-dr sedan
- GB211JT w/F4W63
- GB211JF w/FS5W63A

The 1600 also came in Coupe form (with added K prefix). The coupe had the same trim and transmission choices.

Misc changes for 1976-77:

L16 engine replaced the L14. The engine was a L16S, meaning Single-carb L16. A Twin-carb version was not offered. <source ?>

H165 rear differential <source?>
Transmission options:
- GL: Automatic or 4-speed
- GX: 4-speed or 5-speed
Redesigned Hubcaps.
Redesigned front grill(s)
Redesigned fender mirrors.
GX-L & GL-L trim levels offered in 1977.
New is Rally wheels (not sure if they are steel or alloy, but they didn't use wheel covers). <source ?>
Grille is unique form PB210 <source ?>, but not by much. This isn't the twin-mouth grille of the PB210.
Same taillights as PB210 (see pics below)

B210 Excellent 1600

Rear shot of a New Zealand B210 4dr Sedan:

This demonstrates a possibility that some export A-engine powered B210s were equipped with the Excellent tail lights. Or maybe some previous owner swapped them in?

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.

The regular B210 line, however, was available with A14 engine, starting in 1975. Also, the JDM "B211" (facelift) model also had A14s as an option. There were three different engines available - A12, A14, A14T (Twin-carb) and L16. The L16-powered versions was known as the Excellent 1600. Taken from a JDM brochure:

A12 models:

GL - KB211G
DX - KB211

A14 models:

GX-T - KHB211J(F)K
GX - KHB211J(F)
GL - KHB211G(F/A)

L16 models:

GX-L - KGB211J(F)H
GX - KGB211J(F)
GL-L - KGB211G(F/A)H
GL - KGB211G(F/A)

F for 5-speed transmission
A for automatic transmission

NOTE: That none of the models listed here use "PB" in their chassis/model code.

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, GB211OF, GB211JT, GB211JF
(coupe) L16 KOB211O, KGB211GA, KGB211GF, KOB211J, KGB211JF

These were GL and GX models, all started manufacture Feb. 1976. These are L-series B210s, but although there is copious, detailed model information in the catalog it never uses the PB- model prefix.

Datsun PB210 140Y

Datsun-Nissan South Africa imported PB210s and marketed them as 140Y:

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:

Engine: L14 (stamped on underhood ID plate)
70kw DIN power @ 6000 RPM
110 NM torque @ 4000 RPM

bare rear panel

Coupe side trim "vents"

GX model with Twin Carb engine

Twin Hitachi "flat top" carburetors

Datsun 160Y

Nissan South Africa marketed the PB210 as "160Y" when fitted with L16 engine.

Datsun 140Z and 160Z

Unlike the rest of the world, Nissan South Africa was allowed to produce their own variant of the Sunny Excellent GX

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).

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

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: [1]160Z Road Test (ZA)[/url]

There is at least one claim that some KB210's came standard with twin, sidedraught carburetors, but this is still unconfirmed at this time as many of these cars have been modified by their owners.

1978 Model Lineup

160Z Rear Shot

160Z Engine Bay

160Z Dash

Z Part Numbers

140z parts numbers

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