The Datsun name was dropped by Nissan in 1983,
timed to aid in an all out assault the company
was determined to make on the European market.
Nissan purchased a controlling interest in Motor
Iberica of Spain, and soon had the company building
Nissan Patrol 4x4’s. They then built a
brand new factory in Sunderland, UK to build
the Bluebird. The expansion programme was not
without cost, and given the Button plan for car
manufacturer rationalisation in Australia, most
knew it would be Nissan that would close – although
the company did not want to abandon the Aussie
market, and output in Japan was increased to
help compensate. The Sunderland UK plant expanded,
as did a plant in Tennesse, USA, mostly thanks
to the popularity of the company’s new
micro car, aptly named the “Micra”.
The “Z” cars had lost much of their
past appeal, and so the company desperately needed
a new hero car. The 200 and 240SX’s went
some of the way, but the flagship was undeniably
the Skyline GT-R. It lacked a little of the power
of the ZX, but the 208.8 kW 158.7 kW 2.6 litre
twin turbo straight six was tractable and smooth,
and when linked to a viscous-coupled four wheel
drive and four wheel
steering system it made
to a simply stunning and awesome drive. But unlike
other Japanese manufacturers, it is arguably
the 4 wheel drive iterations that the company
is best known for, the Patrol being joined by
the X-Trail “soft roader” where
both either hold, or challenge, for top position
in their respective categories.
Also see: Datsun Car Reviews |
Nissan Car Reviews |
Datsun and Nissan Paint and Colour Codes