Product Description
Datsun built its first car in 1912, but it was not until 1959 that it built its first sports car. As was the Japanese way, the company had taken a close look at the successful designs already on the market, and had combined elements of them to make a unique cocktail. Thus, the styling of the S211 Sport contained nagging reminders of the British Austin-Healey and the American Chevrolet Corvette, although its overall dimensions and engine capacity were much smaller. The S211 Sport was more generally known as the Fairlady, and it soon gave way to the almost identical SP213. However, both these cars were simply try-outs for what was to come, and the Fairlady models of the 1960s were very different and altogether much more successful. The new Fairlady, announced in 1962, was much more consciously designed to appeal to export markets. Its body had been completely restyled and bore a striking resemblance to the new MGB announced in the same year, while an increase in engine capacity (the first version was badged as a 1500) reflected its manufacturer's recognition of the need for more sparkling performance than the original Fairlady models had offered. With the 1600 in 1965 came more performance, and then 1967 brought the OHC 2000 version, complete with five-speed overdrive gearbox. Although the range continued in production until 1971, it had already been superseded by the Z-Series coupes, which went on to become enormously successful. The roadsters, too, were a great sales success, especially in the USA. The fact that a Japanese manufacturer with no track record of building sports cars was able to sell more than 40,000 of them there in nine years says a lot for their virtues; yet for some reason they are little known outside specialist circles. They deserve better, and this book explains why. Models covered: Fairlady, SPL 310, 1600 & 2000.
