Datsun Sports/Fairlady

The Fairlady was built between 1959 and 1970. Fairlady was the name in the domestic market; in export markets, the model was called the Datsun Sports because Fairlady did not exactly sound like a name for a sports car. It was a series of roadsters produced by Nissan in the 60s. The series became a precursor to the Z-car in the Fairlady line and was an affordable alternative to the European MG, Triumph, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo sports cars. The line began with the 1959 'S211' and continued until 1970 with the 'SP311' and 'SR311' lines.

At the introduction of the Fairlady, there was competition from the Honda S500, Toyota sports 800 and the Daihatsu Compagno. In 1991, Nissan released a limited number of two-door convertible-styled cars with a retro look, similar to the Datsun Sports, as the Nissan Figaro.

Datsun S211

The first Datsun Sports from 1959 was the S211 model. This car had a 988 cc inline four-cylinder engine that produced 37 hp. The S211 was based on the Datsun 211 sedan. The model was designed by Yuichi Ohta, who was previously responsible for the Datsun DC-3 and the prototype of the S211, the A80X. Both the A80X and the S211 had a fiberglass body and were clearly influenced by the Chevrolet CorvetteOnly 20 examples of the S211 were built, making this model the rarest of all Datsun models.

Datsun S211.

SPL212/SPL213

The SPL212 was introduced in 1960, and this model was the first Datsun sports car to be exported to the US. The “L” stands for “Left-hand drive”. This car featured a steel body and was built in higher volumes than the S211, with 288 units produced. The car had a 1,2-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 48 horsepower. The SPL212 was the first car to bear the “Fairlady” name. This name came from the Broadway musical My Fair Lady. The SPL212 and later the SPL213 were sold exclusively on the export market. In 1960, production of the Fairlady moved from Yokohama to the Nissan Shatai factory in Hiratsuka. These models are now highly valuable and cherished by collectors.

The SPL213, built in 1961 and 1962, was similar to the SPL212. The main difference was the twin-carburetor engine that produced 60 hp, a significant increase in such a small and light car. 217 examples of the SPL213 were built.

SP310/SPL310

The first true Datsun sports car was the SP310 “Fairlady 1500” from 1962 and the SPL310. This model was known in America as the Datsun 1500. The SP310 was based on a modified Bluebird 310 sedan platform instead of the platform of earlier models. The car had an 85 hp 1,5-liter G15 engine. It was a well-equipped car. The first SP310s (1963-1964) also had a third rear seat mounted sideways.

Datsun Sports 1500 (SPL310).

SP 310 from 1962.

SP311/SPL311

In 1965, significant changes were implemented in the sports car line. The new model was first shown at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1964. The restyling was partly carried out by Count Albrecht Goertz, who would later be involved in designing the first Fairlady Z. The SP311 received a more powerful 1,6-liter engine producing 96 hp and was marketed as the Fairlady 1600, or the 1600 Datsun Sports in export markets. It featured a “DATSUN” badge on the hood, “DATSUN 1600” on the rear, and “Fairlady” (Japanese market) or “DATSUN 1600” (export market) on the side badges. The SP311 was built through April 1970.

Datsun Sports 1600 from 1965.

The first Nissan Silvia coupé shared the SP311 platform. The CSP311 Silvia had a 96 hp R16 engine and was the first car equipped with Nissan's new R engine. The R engine was a further development of the 1.488 cc G engine.

In early 1968, the 1600, like the larger 2000, was modified to comply with new safety regulations. The car received toggle switches, a padded dashboard, and a padded center of the steering wheel. The door handles were new, and the rearview mirror was mounted at the top of the new, higher windscreen.

SR311/SRL311

With the introduction of the SR311 and SRL311 in 1967, the model changed significantly once again. The SR311 received a 2,0-liter engine mated to a five-speed gearbox, which was somewhat unusual for a production car in this line. The first-year examples, also known as half-years, are popular among collectors because fewer than 1.000 were built and the model did not yet comply with the new emission standards. The new SOHC engine produced 135 hp, and an optional package provided 150 hp.

Datsun Sports 2000 fair lady from 1968.

The Datsun 2000 was a competitively priced sports car, and the primary reason for building the model was to put the Datsun name on the map in racing. The Datsun 2000 achieved a top speed of 193 km/h. The model was succeeded by the stylish and popular Z-series.