-Nissan Rotary Power! Whether a factory Nissan rotary engine, or a Mazda rota stuff into a Datsun 1200, excitement is sure to result.+Nissan Rotary Power! Whether a factory Nissan rotary engine, or a Mazda rota stuffed into a Datsun 1200, excitement is sure to result. The {{wikiEx|Wankel_engine|Wankel rotary engine}} is light and powerful. -== Nissan's Own Rotary Engine ==+= Engine Swaps = -At the Tokyo Motor Show, October 19, 1972, Nissan exhibited a Datsun Sunny [[PB110]] with a prototype Nissan twin-rotor [[wikipedia:Wankel engine|wankel-type rotary engine]].+{{Main|Mazda rotary engine swap}}  +{{AlbumLinkH|Mazda_rotary_engine_swap|15230|Mazda swap|height=300}} -[http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=4949 http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photos/4949.jpg]+= Nissan's Own Rotary Engine =  +The modern rotary engine was developed by NSU-Wankel and they started selling licenses to other companies. Nissan was the second automaker to license the Wankel engine, after Mazda. Nissan president Kawamata signed the agreement at the NSU head office in Neckarsulm, West Germany in October 1970. GM signed a similar agreement a month later. -This was during the height of the rotary-power frenzy. Wankel had the patent, and every one licensed it, from GM to Mercedes to Mazda, and also Nissan. Nissan's interest started in [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3 mid-1965] +At the Tokyo Motor Show, October 19, 1972, Nissan exhibited a Sunny [[PB110]] with a prototype Nissan twin-rotor {{wikiEx|Wankel_engine|wankel-type rotary engine}}. [http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=25290 Reportedly] it was supplied by Toyo Kogyo. -http://www.conceptnissan.com/1970/1973_1200-rotary-2.jpg+{{AlbumH|26760|jpg|233}} {{Album|4949}} -<br>[http://www.conceptnissan.com/1970.shtml conceptnissan.com]+ -http://www.conceptnissan.com/1970/1973_1200-rotary-3.jpg+This was during the height of the rotary-power frenzy. Wankel had the patent, and every one licensed it, from GM to Mercedes to Mazda, and also Nissan. Nissan's interest started in [http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AD%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AA%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3 mid-1965] -<br>[http://www.conceptnissan.com/1970.shtmlhtml conceptnissan.com]+  +[http://www.conceptnissan.com/1970.shtml conceptnissan.com]  +<br>{{UploadPostH|174_6143ccf96a1cc.jpg|495864|302|was=Photo\1973_1200-rotary-2.jpg\Datsun%201200/wiki}} {{UploadPost|174_6143ccd9eb2e1.jpg|495864|was=Photo\1973_1200-rotary-3.jpg}} -=== Datsun Sunny Rotary Prototype ===+22 Jan 1972 - Nissan Plans Rotary Engine - Tucson Daily Citizen  +<blockquote>TOKYO (AP) — Nissan Motor Co., the second largest Japanese auto maker, said today it plans to market its first rotary engine passenger car in late 1973. Nissan officials said the company has developed rotary engines to be used for its vehicles under a license obtained from Audi NSU Auto Union Ag., of West Germany, in 1970.  +<br>  +<br>They said the new rotary engine autos, "Sunny"-type passenger cars, will be shown at the Tokyo motor show this fall and put on sale by fall 1973. The officials declined to disclose how many rotary engine cars Nissan plans to manufacture.  +<br>{{PhotoTh|Nissan_Plans_Rotary_Engine.jpg|Datsun%201200/newspaper}}</blockquote>  +   += Datsun Sunny Rotary Prototype = Here is a picture of the prototype being tested in a Datsun Sunny 1200 (B110) coupe: Here is a picture of the prototype being tested in a Datsun Sunny 1200 (B110) coupe: -* [http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=383 http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photos/thumbs/383.jpg]+<br>{{Album|383}} 1972 October: 19th Tokyo Motor Show, Sunny Excellents were fitted with the Nissan rotary. 1972 October: 19th Tokyo Motor Show, Sunny Excellents were fitted with the Nissan rotary. -=== Datsun S10 Sylvia LS Type X ===+1973 Motor Show brochure shows a photo of the Rotary -Reportedly Nissan even sold some rotary-powered Sylvias (S10/S11 models) to the public circa 1978, however, this is not confirmed. [http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=4949 reference]+<br>{{AlbumLinkH|Nissan_Brochures#1973_Tokyo_Motor_Show|26403|brochure}} {{PhotoH|1973.jpg|Datsun%201200/wiki|234}} -http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/200512/13/35/b0032035_22424989.jpg+1973 Motor Show  +<br>{{UploadPostH|7952_4d61e782bcdee.jpg|357624|300}} {{Photo|rotary.jpg|Datsun%201200/Brochures}}  + {{Album|10933}} -=== High Performance—120 Horsepower ===+1973 Brochure Closeups  +<br>{{UploadPost|174_6147bbf8e2796.jpg|495880}} {{UploadPost|174_6147bc165681c.jpg|495880|was=Photo\nissan_wankle.jpg}}  +   +Nissan 2-rotor (museum display photos)  +<br>{{AlbumH|26402|jpg|250}} {{AlbumH|26401|jpg|250}}  +   +{{YouTube|TUatEp32NaA|Datsun History (14:03)}}  +<br>{{UploadPost|174_5a5328d5793d9.jpg|487170}}  +   +{{AlbumLinkH|Nissan_%2772/3|27980|72/3 brochure}}  +   +Big rotor version  +<br>{{Photo!|curtiss_wright_rc_19_1920cui_wankel_1.jpg}}  +   += Nissan S10 Sylvia LS Type X =  +Rumours have it that Nissan sold some rotary-powered Silvias (S10/S11 models) to the public circa 1978 ([http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=4949 reference]), however, this seems entirely impossible since in 1974 they stopped working on the rotary.  +   +{{Album|28001|was=Photo\b0032035_22424989.jpg\Datsun%201200/wiki}}  +   +What is documented is that the B210-based "New Silvia" was designed with the intention of having Rotary Power. However the Nissan Rotary project was cancelled before it was finished.  +   += High Performance—120 Horsepower = The rotary efforts definitely did *not* stop because the rotary was a poor design. Au contraire, it was amazing! The rotary efforts definitely did *not* stop because the rotary was a poor design. Au contraire, it was amazing! <blockquote>[http://%20http://fastfoursvip.com/articles_article.aspx?view=241 quote:]<hr>Using peripheral ports, two plugs per rotor and a four-barrel carby its 120hp raised the top speed of the Datsun 1200 to 175km/h or 40 more than the original 1200cc four-cylinder. Nissan was setting up production facilities with the (announced) intention of producing 3000 rotary vehicles per month with either five-speed manual or three-speed auto.<hr></blockquote> <blockquote>[http://%20http://fastfoursvip.com/articles_article.aspx?view=241 quote:]<hr>Using peripheral ports, two plugs per rotor and a four-barrel carby its 120hp raised the top speed of the Datsun 1200 to 175km/h or 40 more than the original 1200cc four-cylinder. Nissan was setting up production facilities with the (announced) intention of producing 3000 rotary vehicles per month with either five-speed manual or three-speed auto.<hr></blockquote> -[http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=8051 http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photos/thumbs/8051.jpg]+{{Main|Driving the Datsun Rotary}} -<br>''Driving report: 112mph and still pulling hard ...''+ -=== Fuel Economy ===+''Driving report: 112mph and still pulling hard ...'' Read the entire [[Driving_the_Datsun_Rotary|report]].  +<br>{{Album|8051}} {{AlbumH|27482|jpg|252}}  +   +Driver 1977.11 magazine article  +<br>{{Album|26400}}  +   += Fuel Economy = Note that Rotaries are not more fuel-wasting than other engines of the same power output. But a 120hp rotary does use more fuel than a 69hp A12 engine, as would seem obvious once we think about it. Initially, there were problems with fuel economy, but that problem was solved by 1976. Note that Rotaries are not more fuel-wasting than other engines of the same power output. But a 120hp rotary does use more fuel than a 69hp A12 engine, as would seem obvious once we think about it. Initially, there were problems with fuel economy, but that problem was solved by 1976. -[http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=8320 http://ddgonzal.members.winisp.net/getThumb.aspx?width=400&uri=http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photos/8320.jpg]+{{AlbumTranslate|8320|jpg|'''&#12525;&#12479;&#12522;&#12540;&#12456;&#12531;&#12472;&#12531;&#35430;&#20316;&#36554;'''|'''Rotary Engine Prototype Car'''<br>Under the bonnet of this Excellent is the rotary engine used to advance the development of NISSAN's new rotary, which is based on technology from the NSU Wankel corporation. The swept volume displacement is 2 rotors of 500cc each.}} -=== End Of the Rotary Era ===+= End Of the Rotary Era = The wankel design has the benefit of small size, low weight, high power for the size, and smoothness of operation (they routinely rev to 9k rpm). So why did everyone except Mazda and some non-automakers stop making wankel-style rotaries? It appears to be because of a combination of factors (these are my opinions, not necessarily hard facts): The wankel design has the benefit of small size, low weight, high power for the size, and smoothness of operation (they routinely rev to 9k rpm). So why did everyone except Mazda and some non-automakers stop making wankel-style rotaries? It appears to be because of a combination of factors (these are my opinions, not necessarily hard facts): -* Perceived value: at first it seemed that the public would <i>demand</i> these engines, so every automaker figured they better get busy and offer one. The president of Mazda commented something like the following: after Mazda and NSU put these high-power engines into hundreds of thousands of subcompact cars, the economy-minded public—which expected smallcar=econobox—eventually realized that the subcompact car they bought had a high-power engine, not the economy engine they expected. Just like sticking a V8 into a small car, it was enough to give the product a bad rep. Then when the 73-74 oil crisis hit, the manufacturers realized the public was no longer demanding 'rotary' engines. Unfair? Yes, but sometimes the bottom drops out of a market. Unless people start demanding rotaries again, which seems improbably given past history, we'll never seem mass-market rotaries again.+* Perceived value: at first it seemed that the public would <i>demand</i> these engines, so every automaker figured they better get busy and offer one. The president of Mazda commented something like the following: after Mazda and NSU put these high-power engines into hundreds of thousands of subcompact cars, the economy-minded public—which expected smallcar=econobox—eventually realized that the subcompact car they bought had a high-power engine, not the economy engine they expected. Just like sticking a V8 into a small car, it was enough to give the product a bad rep. Then when the 73-74 oil crisis hit, the manufacturers realized the public was no longer demanding 'rotary' engines. Unfair? Yes, but sometimes the bottom drops out of a market. Unless people start demanding rotaries again, which seems improbably given past history, we'll never see mass-market rotaries again. * During the economic recession caused by the oil crises, manufacturers tightened their belts. One way to save money was to stop developing new engines and new car models associated with it. During such times of financial crisis, most companies cut back in their R & D. * During the economic recession caused by the oil crises, manufacturers tightened their belts. One way to save money was to stop developing new engines and new car models associated with it. During such times of financial crisis, most companies cut back in their R & D. Since then, Datsun 1200 enthusiasts in every land have fitted the ubiquitous Mazda rotary engine into the lightweight 1200 body. '''Result: One fast little car.''' Since then, Datsun 1200 enthusiasts in every land have fitted the ubiquitous Mazda rotary engine into the lightweight 1200 body. '''Result: One fast little car.'''