Nissan/Datsun

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Datsun started importing cars into the UK in 1968 and soon became the biggest importer of family cars. Datsun were rebranded Nissan in 1984, and the name has remained since. The Z car’s status as a classic car was established quite early in the cars life and subsequently became a popular private import. Other Datsun models also have a loyal following, which is rubbing off on early Nissan badged cars. More info on Datsun cars in the UK can be read on this site.

The K10 Nissan Micra was a 1.0 and 1.2 supermini and built from 1982 to 1992, with imports of the 3 door starting in 1983, 5 door models arrived 2 years later. Early versions were badged as datsuns.

The E10 Datsun 100A was a small 1 litre car produced from 1970 to 1977, the first UK imports arrived in 1971. It was available as a 2 door and 4 door saloon, a 3 door estate and the 1.2 litre 120A 3 door coupe.

The F10 Datsun 100A and 120A FII was a small 1.2 litre car produced from 1974 to 1979, with the first UK import arriving in 1976. It was available in the same body formats as the previous model.

The N10 Datsun Cherry was a 1.0 and 1.2 small car available as a 4 door saloon, 3 and 5 door hatchback, 3 door coupe and 5 door estate and produced between 1978 and 1982. Imports into the UK started in 1979.

The N12 Nissan Cherry was a small 3 and 5 door hatchback with car with a range of engines from 1.0 to 1.5 litres, produced from 1982 to 1986. Early models were badged as Datsun. A 3 and 5 door hatchback Italian built model was sold as the Cherry Europe and sold from 1983 to 1984. The Cherry Europe GTI sold until 1985.

The B10 Datsun 1000 was a small 1.0 litre car produced from 1966 to 1970, with 4 door saloon and 3 door estate imports starting in 1968. It was the first official Datsun to be imported into the UK.

The replacement for the 1000, the B110 1200 was a small family car produced from 1970 to 1973. It was sold as a 2 door and 4 door saloon, 5 door estate and 2 door coupe. Pick up version were not officially imported, with a derived B120 version continuing production until 2008.

The B210 Datsun 120Y was small family 1.2 litre car produced from 1973 to 1978. It was available in the same passenger car formats as the 1200, and also imported as a van.

The B310 Datsun 120Y and 140Y Sunny were produced from 1977 to 1981 with a range of 1.2, 1.4 and later 1.5 engines. It was sold as a small family car as a 2 and 4 door saloon, a 3 door coupe, a 5 door estate and a higher spec 5 door fastback estate. Facelift models from 1980 were badged as the Datsun Sunny. UK imports started in 1978 until 1982.

The B11 Nissan Sunny was a family sized car produced from 1981 to 1985. with UK sales starting in 1982 until 1986. It was available in the same body formats as the previous generation, with 1.3 and 1.5 litre engines. Pre 1983 models were badged as Datsuns.

The N13 Nissan sunny was available with two petrol 1.3 and 1.6 litre engines and 1.7 diesel. It was a family sized car produced from 1986 to 1990, the car now followed the Japanese Pulsar/Cherry line and now included a 3 and 5 door hatchback. The Fastback Estate and coupe versions followed the Japanese B12 Sunny line and the standard Estate and Van were from the previous generation of B11 sunny estates.

The 710 Datsun 140J 4 door Saloon (1.4 litres) and 2 door 160J (1.6 litres) pillarless coupe was a medium sized car and produced from 1973 to 1977. The estate version was not imported into the UK.

The A10 series is the replacement for the previous 140J/160J was produced from 1977 to 1981. Later facelift version were badged as the Datsun Violet.

The T11 1.6 and 1.8 litre Datsun Stanza replaced the Violet and was a medium sized car produced from 1981 to 1986. It was available in a 3 and 5 door hatchback and 4 door saloon.

The Datsun Bluebird 310/311/312 was a medium sized car and produced from 1959 to 1963, it was replaced by the 3rd generation 410/411 in 1963 which in turn was replaced by the 4th generation 510 in 1967. This model was known as the 1300/1400/1600 (but never badged) and these were imported into the UK from 1968 to 1973 as a 4 door saloon and 5 door estate. All other versions including the 2 door saloon, coupe and SSS are private imports.

The 610 Datsun 160B/180B was a medium sized 4 door 1.6 and 1.8 litre saloon and the 1.8 litre 180B Estate and pillarless 180B coupe. It was produced from 1972 to 1977.

The 810 160B and 180B were facelift versions of the previous models and were in production from 1977 to 1980. The same body formats were carried over.

The 910 1.6 and 1.8 litre Datsun Bluebird was another development of the previous model, with a production run from 1980 to 1984. It was also available with the same bodyshapes as the previous model but the coupe had been dropped in 1982.

The 1.8 and 2.0 litre U11 4 door Nissan Bluebird saloon was a medium sized family car produced from 1984 to 1986, the estate was produced to 1990.

The T12/T72 Nissan Bluebird was descended from the Stanza line and imported from Japan as a mdeium sized 4 door saloon and 5 door hatchback in 1985 to 1986, available with petrol 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre and 1.9 diesel engines. Post 1986 cars were UK assembled and manufactured are known as the T72 model and were produced until 1990. The U11 Estate models continued to be imported.

The 5 door MPV Nissan Prairie was produced in 1982 to 1988. Imports to the UK started in 1983 starting with 1.5 litre engines increasing to 1.8 on later models. Early versions were badged as Datsuns.

The 1.8 litre C30 Datsun 1800 was produced from 1968 to 1972, the first imports arrived in very low numbers as a medium sized 4 door saloon in 1969.

The large executive sized C130 Laurel replaced the 1800 and was produced from 1972 to 1977, it was badged as the 4 cylinder 2.0 litre 200L, 1975 onwards models were sold with 6 cylinder 2.0 litre engine. Both the 4 door saloon and 2 door coupe were imported.

The C230 Laurel 240L was similar to the previous generation and produced from 1977 to 1980 and imported as just a 6 cylinder 2.4 litre 4 door saloon, and known as the Laurel Six.

The C31 Laurel replaced the previous model and was produced from 1980 to 1984 with 2.0 and 2.4 6 cylinder petrol engines. Imports to the UK started in 1981 and was sold as large executive sized 4 door saloon. Later versions became Nissans.

The 4 door executive 2.4 litre C32 Laurel saloon was produced from 1984 to 1989, UK imports started in 1985.

The GC10 Nissan Skyline was produced from 1968 to 1972, but was not officially imported to the UK. GTR versions are renown for their competition participation.

The replacement for the previous Skyline was produced from 1972 to 1977, the 4 door large 240Z engined (2.4 litre) sporting Datsun 240K GT saloon was imported in to the UK from 1973 to 1975.

After a short gap, the C210 Datsun 240K GT was produced from 1977 to 1981, with imports of just the 2.4 litre 2 door coupe starting from 1979 to 1981. The later versions were badged as the Datsun Skyline.

The R30 Nissan Skyline was produced from 1981 to 1985, followed by the R31 from 1985 to 1989. The R32 Skyline was produced from 1988 to 1994. There were no official UK imports, although there are a significant number of grey imports. The R34 2 door GTR Skyline was briefly imported into the UK in the mid 90’s.

The sporting S110 Datsun 200SX was produced in 1979 to 1983. Although no official road cars were imported into the UK, Nissan Japan registered several UK rally cars, badged as the RS240 for European competition use.

The natural UK replacement for the sports car line up in the Nissan range was the S12 Silvia 3 door sports coupe produced from 1983 to 1988. Imports started in 1984.

The S13 200SX was produced from 1988 to 1994, with UK imports for the 3 door sports coupe starting in 1989. A high percentage of survivors are grey imports, imported after 1994.

The 130 large family Datsun 2000 was produced from 1965 to 1971. It was known as the Nissan Cedric in Japan. Estate car imports UK imports started in 1968.

The 230 Datsun 240C/260C was produced from 1971 to 1975, to replace the previous model. It was imported as a saloon and estate.

The 330 Datsun 260C/280C replaced the previous model, with the same large body options. It was produced from 1975 to 1980, with UK imports starting in 1976.

The 430 Datsun 280C saloon and estate was produced from 1980 to 1984, in similar vien to the previous models.

The last large Nissan Cedric saloons and estates (Y30 300C) to be imported were produced from 1983 to 1987.

The SP310/SP311 Datsun Sports (known as the Fairlady for exports) was produced from 1959 to 1970. There were no official imports into the UK.

The sporting S30 Datsun Z coupe (240Z/260Z) was produced from 1969 to 1978. Imports to the UK started in 1971. In recent years the number of Z models have increased due to private imports and are now the most common model seen with the Datsun badge.

The S130 280ZX coupe was produced from 1978 to 1983, and also available with a targa roof. Imports to the UK started in 1979.

The Z31 300ZX coupe was produced from 1983 to 1989. Imports to the UK started in 1984, a facelift wide body replacement arrived in 1987 which was the first of the performance versions of the Z car line.

The Datsun 1500 pick up (620) was produced from 1972 to 1979, with UK imports starting in 1975.

The Datsun 1800 pick up (720) was produced from 1980 to 1986, Several other versions including long wheelbase and 4WD models were also imported. Later versions were badged as Nissans.

The Nissan D21 pick up production started in 1986 and continued in an evolved form to 1997. Only the pick up were official imports.

The 160 Series Datsun/Nissan Patrol was produced in 1980 to 1989. It was imported into the UK from 1982 in SWB 3 door and LWD 5 door estate form.

The Nissan Vanette (C120) was produced from 1978 to 1988, it was imported into the UK from 1985 as a panel van. It was replaced by the similar Spanish built Spanish C220 Vanette until 1995.

The light commercial F21 Datsun/Nissan Cabstar tipper/pick up (sold as the Nissan Homer in Japan) was produced from 1976 to 1984 and the facelift facelift F22 model from 1984 to 1992. UK Imports started in 1979. Nissan Atlas models were grey imports.