1968 Datsun Fairlady

1600 Sport Type SPL 311 Serial number : 29777 French CG collection Valid control; less than 6 months At the origin of the Datsun sport line, we have the S211, followed by the SP212 and SP 213. These were fun, chunky convertibles in the late 50s, early 60s, produced in a few dozen units. The first real foray into the world market came with the Fairlady SPL310, equipped with a 1500cc 85 horsepower engine. A direct competitor, both aesthetically and in terms of performance, with the English roadsters that were all the rage at the time. Japanese brands were, in the 60s, almost unknown in Europe. However, they were already formidable motorists and capable of producing exceptional cars such as the Toyota 200GT or the Honda S800. The project was born thanks to Yutaka Katayama, a colorful character. In the early 50's, he was in charge of advertising at Nissan. He is a fierce opponent of the workers' union and likes to hang out with the US military. At that time, Japan was administered by the Americans. There are many soldiers on the archipelago and they logically created their sports car club (of which Katayama will be honorary president). In 1963, the Datsun Sports 1500 arrives on the market. It received a 1.5l 85hp engine and a steel body (inspired by contemporary English productions). For Katayama, the Datsun Sports is a potential race car. According to him, Americans buy Triumphs and MGs because they are good, not because they are British. If a car beat the English roadsters, the Americans would buy it! A theory that we will find 20 years later at Mazda... Mr K creates a more or less official team and proposes a double carburetor kit. In 1969 the BRE team won the SCCA title for the West Coast of the United States with prepared Fairlady cars, Mr Katayama was right. In 1964, the Datsun Sports is renamed "Fairlady", in homage to the musical My Fair Lady. Nissan wanted to attract some of the tourists to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. From America, Katayama, who in the meantime has been sent to American soil, demands more powerful engines. He is heard and in 1965 the mechanics gains 100 cc and the new 1600 cc displays a power of 95cv: the same figures as those of a Porsche 356 SC. At the same time, it receives a synchronized gearbox and front disc brakes. Thus equipped, the little Japanese roadster reaches 170 km/h! On the American market, the Fairlady is a real success because of its price/performance ratio. It is the cheapest car on the market in its segment, especially against the British ones. But if the Fairlady was a hit in the USA, it remained almost unknown in Europe and in France. In 1967, a few examples were imported, notably in Belgium and Switzerland. In October 1968, the F1 driver Jean-Pierre Beltoise was asked by the French magazine "Champion" to test a Datsun 2000. And he was very surprised by the impressive performance and the perfect handling of the Datsun... For him, it is a real sports car, not a roadster to drive around with your elbow on the door! The vehicle presented today is in very good condition. It is equipped with a 4 cylinder engine with two SU carburetors developing 95 HP. The car has 41494 miles on it and has an expert report as well as the repair manual in English. Datsun Sports are rare in Europe and very desirable for their performance, which is comparable to the Porsches of the time. To own a Datsun Sports Fairlady is to be the owner of a particularly exclusive car that will amaze many on the small roads of assembly. The icing on the cake is that you can drive it with your hair blowing in the wind and enjoy the roar of the exhaust.