![[Datsun 1200 encyclopedia]](/wiki/upload/wiki.png)
Nissan Rotary Power! Whether a factory Nissan rotary engine, or a Mazda rota stuff into a Datsun 1200, excitement is sure to result.
Contents |
Nissan's Own Rotary Engine
At the Tokyo Motor Show, October 19, 1972, Nissan exhibited a Datsun Sunny PB110 with a prototype Nissan twin-rotor wankel-type rotary engine.
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 mid-1965
Datsun Sunny Rotary Prototype
Here is a picture of the prototype being tested in a Datsun Sunny 1200 (B110) coupe:
1972 October: 19th Tokyo Motor Show, Sunny Excellents were fitted with the Nissan rotary.
Datsun S10 Sylvia LS Type X
Reportedly Nissan even sold some rotary-powered Sylvias (S10/S11 models) to the public circa 1978, however, this is not confirmed. reference
High Performance
truncated
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.
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):
- Perceived value: at first it seemed that the public would demand 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
truncated
Rotary-Powered Datsun 1200 photo index
Here are some pictures from our club photo album. Click a pic for larger photos, details, and discussion:
