Nissan Bluebird
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1998 Nissan Bluebird. |
The
Nissan Bluebird is a compact- to medium-sized car launched in
1957. The nameplate still exists today on the
Nissan Pulsar-based Nissan Bluebird Sylphy in Japan, and on the U13-based Nissan Bluebird in mainland China.
It is one of the longest-running nameplates from a Japanese automaker.
Export versions were sold variously as the
Datsun 510,
Datsun 180B (with 160B and 200B versions) and the
Datsun Bluebird. The Nissan Bluebird nameplate began appearing around
1982 as the
Datsun marque was phased out in favour of Nissan.
From
1981 to
1985,
Australia followed the Japanese convention by calling its car the Bluebird, and had a unique, facelifted rear-wheel-drive version for
1984 and 1985. That car was replaced in
1986 by the
Nissan Pintara. It would be replaced by the successive Bluebird, also called Pintara, until
1992; then the range was brought in line with the Japanese model, for the U13 series from
1993 to
1997.
In the
United States, the Bluebird was eventually sold as the
Nissan Stanza. In
1992, the Stanza became the
Nissan Altima. Currently, the Bluebird is not sold in North America; in
2002, the Altima was completely redesigned, becoming a model unique to the North American market.
The Bluebird sold in Europe between
1986 and
1990 was in fact a rebadged
Nissan Austerâ€"this was replaced by the
Primera in Nissan's European line-up in 1990.
A six-cylinder version called the
Maxima was released in the
1980s and became a separate model.
Although Nissan's own materials indicate that the Bluebird name emerged in
1959, some records show that the name first adorned a 988 cm³, 34 hp four-door sedan in 1957, which was part of the company's 210 series. Its engine was based on an Austin design, as Nissan had been building the
Austin A50 Cambridge under licence in the
1950s.
The 210 was known for doubling Nissan's production at the time and was the first Nissan to be exported to the United States.
In some markets, this model was exported as the
Datsun 1000.
The 210 established an early reputation for reliability, with two of them winning the 1,000 cm³ class in the 1958 Australia Mobilgas Rally.
The 210 had succeeded the 110 series, sold as a two- and four-door sedan and offered from
1955 to 1957. This model bore the
Convar or
A110 model names and was powered by an 860 cm³, 20 hp four-cylinder engine. In some respects, the A110 is the forerunner of the modern Bluebird line. Incremental changes were denoted by 112, 113 and 114 codes, with the last model a 113 with a 210 engine.
Subsequent models included the 211 (October 1958) with cosmetic changes.
The Datsun Bluebird which débuted for August 1959 was an all-new car. The 310 series had a 1 L engine from the 210 model.
In July
1960, a five-door station wagon was added. By February
1961, a 1.2 L overhead-valve engine (codenamed E1) became an option on a higher-trim DX model.
Styling tended to ape larger American cars. A very small number did make it to the United States, but were flops.
In September
1963, Nissan brought the Bluebird up-to-date with boxier styling, apeing the more European designs being produced in the United States. A sporting model, the
Bluebird SS, was launched in March
1964, with a tuned 1.2 L engine.
Initially, only a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon were in the range, but a two-door was added in September 1964. The two-door SS was launched in February
1965.
The base engine was enlarged to a 1.3 L unit in May 1965 and a 1.6 L
SSS model was launched the same month. This began a line of famous Nissans in Japan, with the Bluebird SSS a mainstay of the range until its deletion in 2001.
The
510 is arguably the most famous Nissan Bluebird of them all, with the 510 moniker used in the United States for this range. The 510 tag would also be used there for unrelated models, in an effort to capture this range's glory.
Launched in August
1967, it was one of the most comprehensive Bluebird ranges in terms of body styles: a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, a five-door station wagon, and a two-door coupé (added in November
1968).
This range became famous for Nissan's rallying successes outside Japan and paved the way for greater Nissan sales internationally.
In many markets, it was sold as the
Datsun 1600.
In September
1970, the 1.3 and 1.6 L engines were replaced with 1.4 and 1.8 L units.
Australian versions of the Datsun 1600 were delivered either as a full import, or assembled in Austrlia from local and Japanese parts.
The P510 was the most prevelant model, with the 1968 import H510 two door twin SU version arriving in a batch of just a few hundred.
The last of the series went through Australian assembly lines in 1972, and due to the extensive use for rallying, the cars are now quite hard to find in any reasonable condition.
The 610 series, launched in August
1971, became more overstyled compared to the 510, with a pronounced "coke-bottle" line in profile. It was criticized by some period journalists as having no real advancement over the 510, but it was still a credible rival in Nissan's range in export markets against vehicles such as the
Ford Cortina.
In most export markets, this Bluebird generation had
160B and
180B model names.
Body styles were two- and four-door sedans, two-door hardtop coupé, and five-door station wagon.
There was no 1.4 L engine, the base being a 1.6 L. A five-speed 1800 SSS model was launched in May
1972. A two-litre
2000 GT model was added in August
1973 with more aggressive front-end styling, but this model was not exported.
With the range having become more plush, its competition edge now de-emphasized, Nissan added more luxuries. Fuel injection became available in September
1975 with the two-litre unit, and on the 1.8 L in March
1976.
The 710 series was marketed by Nissan in various markets as the Violet or the 160J, and it was conceived as an intermediate model between the Sunny and the Bluebird. It was a development of the styling already seen in the 610 and marked Nissan's entree to international rallying. Markets such as Australia, where the Bluebird was manufactured rather than imported, continued to sell the 610 and skipped the 710 series. A minor upgrade to the front suspension (offset strut tops) for the 610 led to slightly improved handling before the introduction of the 810.
The 810 was introduced in July
1976. Engine options were carried over but a 1.4 L was reintroduced in August
1978. The 160B, 180B and 200B were sold in export markets, with Australian magazine
Wheels calling the 200B 'a 180B with 20 more mistakes.' Styling was an evolution of the 610's, with slightly squared off features but retaining a slight "coke bottle". No two-door sedan was available, but the four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupé and five-door station wagon were offered.
|
1980 Datsun Bluebird 1.8 GL. |
Nissan began realigning its export names with the home market with the 910 series in November
1979. The 'B' tags were dropped in favour of 'Bluebird', though the models were 'Datsun Bluebird' initially. The body style options remained the same but the look was characterized by a boxy style, considered modern at the time. There was no 1.4 L this time; only 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 L engines. The SSS trim was offered on the larger two engines, with the 2.0 L producing 135 PS.
For the export models, a small 'Nissan' badge began appearing in
1982, and the following year the Datsun name disappeared.
The Maxima name first appeared in this generation. In the United States, these models were sold as the
810 Deluxe or
810 Maxima. The
Maxima name was solely used from 1982. The name 910 was never used in the US.
Australia had the 910 from 1981 - 1984 with the L20B, and 1985 - 1986 with the CA20S engines. It was a downgraded, locally produced version of the Japanese model with no independent rear suspension, electronic fuel injection, or turbo versions. however the cars where offered in a sporty version, know as the trx. the main difference between these bluebirds and the base models, are a sporty trim, including a front air dam, sport rims and small rear spoiler. internal reading lights and so forth. mechanically the cars werent much different, the only main difference to be found are the larger carbeurators
however the 910 bluebird has become part of Australian motor sport history, the car (although an import version with a z18et turbo motor and irs) holds the fastest lap time on the old Bathurst track, considered by many as the best racing circut in Australia.
The Bluebird switched to front-wheel drive in October
1983, but retained the boxy styling of its predecessor, much to the market's dismay. At the time, Nissan's design chief balked at curvy shapes and believed boxy ones would remain popular. With hindsight, that went directly against the trend and the market's obsession with drag coefficients.
The range was offered in four-door sedan, four-door hardtop and five-door station wagon forms. The coupé was deleted.
Australia made do with the 910 series, which was facelifted in 1985.
New Zealand marketing for the U11 proclaimed the vehicle as the 'Widetrack Bluebird', to differentiate it from its very similar-looking predecessor.
This model was offered in Europe for two years before Nissan began building the Auster as the Bluebird in England in 1986.
Although the U11 sedans were replaced for the
1988 model year, the station wagon continued in to 1990.
The range was available with 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 L petrol engines. A V6 was offered for the first time in 1986 in Japan, in a model with an extended front end, called the
Bluebird Maxima.
In the UK, the following versions were offered:
* 1.6 DX (1983-86)
* 1.6 GL (1983-86)
* 2.0 GL estate (1983-86)
* 2.0 ZX (1984-86)
From 1986:
* 1.6 L
* 1.6 Premium (replacing L, from 1989)
* 1.6 S
* 1.6 LS
* 1.6 LX
* 1.8 SLX
* 1.8 GS
* 1.8 GSX
* 2.0 LX
* 2.0 GS
* 2.0 GS
* 2.0 GSX
* 2.0i Executive
* 2.0i ZX
* 2.0D L
* 2.0D LX
In Australia, the 1982-1986 Nissan Bluebirdwas assessed in the Used Car Safety Ratings 2006 as providing "significantly worse than average" protection for its occupants in the event of a crash.[
1]
Once again, retaining the boxy styling, the T12 was introduced in Europe in July 1986 - These were Japanese built cars, assembled in
Washington, England. The saloon versions were available first and the hatchback became available in January 1987. The later T72 models replaced the T12 during 1987, with a face lift and some other minor cosmetics, such as the corporate slatted grill, changed. These were built entirely in England. This Bluebird was actually based on the 1985-89 Nissan Stanza series rather than the Bluebird line itself. It was replaced in 1990 by the Primera series.
Like the U11, the T12s and T72s came with 1.6, 1.8 and 2 litre petrol engines. However, they also came with a 2 litre diesel, a 1.8 litre turbocharged engine and a 2.0 injection engine. Although the 1.8 was the best seller as the 1.6 was underpowered, the real pick of the crop were the Executive models. These had their own range of colours, leather interior, body kit, lattice alloy wheels, air-conditioning and a vast array of standard equipment, even with electrically adjustable suspension.
Trim levels were L, LS, LX, SLX, SGX, GS, GSX, GSXi, ZX and Executive.
Nissan evolved the boxy shape of the U11 slightly, released in September
1987. This model was sold as the Nissan Pintara in Australia, replacing a larger Skyline-based model, from
1989 to 1993. There, it had been codenamed ‘Project Matilda', leading the press to speculate it was a car developed uniquely for Australiaâ€"which was not the case.
In Japan, a four-door sedan and four-door hardtop were offered, although Nissan of Australia did create a five-door Pintara Sportshatch model that was sold as the Bluebird in some export markets, including New Zealand.
Innovations for the U12 included the introduction of Nissan's four-wheel-drive system, called
ATTESA and the ever popular SR20DET engine was introduced in the series 2 bluebirds (89-91). With the Maxima having been spun off into its own range, U12 Bluebirds were all four-cylinder models, with either a 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 L petrol engine and also the option of a LD20 2.0l diesel. The sports and luxury versions came with a factory viscous LSD.
Australian models came with the CA20E SOHC 2.0l EFI and KA24E SOHC 2.4l EFI motors.
Sadly for Nissan Australia, Project Matilda was not the success it had hoped, even with a twin built for
Ford Australia called the
Corsair, which was even less successful. This led to the collapse of Nissan's Australian manufacturing operations in the early
1990s..
The U12 was also sold in North America as the
Nissan Stanza.
The U13 series was launched in Japan in September
1991 as a four-door sedan and four-door hardtop. The two models were visually distinct: the four-door sedan had curves where its U12 predecessor had edges, while the hardtop, called the
Nissan Bluebird ARX, had more traditional styling.
Several variants include an All Wheel Drive version (
ATTESA) proprietary drive system incorporated in the Japanese version.
The Australian delivered U13 Bluebird was released in late 1993 and terminated in 1997. The US delivered U13 (Altima) was released in 1993 and was similar to the Australian U13. Series 1 ran from 1993 until
1995 while Series 2 ran from 1995 to 1997. Series 2 saw the addition of a driver's airbag, revised grille styling, and a seat belt warning light. The Series 1 LX model came equipped with cruise control standard but strangely it was an option on the Series 2.The Australian U13 Bluebirds were available in three different models, LXâ€"the base model but very well equipped, Tiâ€" the luxury model, and the SSSâ€"the sports model. The U13 Bluebird was introduced in
New Zealand during 1993, and was produced at Nissan's assembly plant in
South Auckland until 1997, when it was replaced by the
Nissan Primera. New Zealand models were; S (base model), SE (mid-spec), and top-of-the-line SEL.
Compared to the LX, the Ti had climate control, a sunroof, woodgrain styling, and gear selector display on the instrument cluster (automatic models only). while comparing the LX to the SSS, the SSS had a HUD (heads-up displayâ€"digital speedo on windscreen), climate control, fog lights, ski-port, woodgrain styling, and gear selector display on the instrument cluster (automatic models only).
Despite there being a sports model (SSS), the LX was the fastest of the models due to having the least weight.
The engine used in the Australian and US U13 models was the KA24DE (112 kW, 210 Nm of torque).
The engines used in the Japanese model ranged greatly in capacity and type, with the highest performance model using the SR20DET.
EQ7200 series
Nissan Motor signed an agreement with
Dongfeng Motor Co. of China, to build the Bluebird there under a in the early
2000s. It was the U13 model that was chosen, and is sold there as the Nissan Bluebird.
Yulon Motor, the
Taiwan-based automaker, developed this variant of the U13, called the EQ7200-II series, in
2001. This featured a U13 central section but heavily revised front and rear ends. However, the centre of the car remains the same, and the 2,620 mm wheelbase is retained. No mention of the Taiwanese connection was made in advertising in mainland China.
The EQ7200-II was built until
2003, when it was replaced by a revised EQ7200-III model.
The car is considerably longer at 4,664 mm, as opposed to the original U13's 4,585 mm.
These Chinese models feature a 2.0 L, 16-valve engine.
Nissan switched to boxy styling for the U14 Bluebird for
January 1996. The American Altima had different front and rear ends, in keeping with its sports sedan positioning. But in its home market, the Bluebird was targeted more at buyers who favoured the formality of larger Japanese sedans. However, the SSS trim was retained, though it no longer referred to a truly sporting model in the range. To fit in with a lower bracket in Japanese taxation legislation, the U14 retained a 1,700 mm width.
Only a four-door sedan was offered. The hardtop, and the option of a 1.6 L engine, were removed. The Nissan Hyper CVT automatic transmission was available in this generation.
This was the final appearance of the Bluebird as a separate line in Japan. The series received a facelift in September
1998. The range was deleted in August 2001. Officially, there was no U15 series, according to Nissan.
After this, Bluebird production continued solely in China (
v.s.), and the Altima line continued in the United States.
*
antrx.com ~ An Australian Based U12 & U13 Bluebird Enthusiast Community
*http://www.bluebirdcarclub.co.nz/
