The Datsun B210 Is an Unforgettable Classic
Jane Lu
· 3 min read
The third generation of the
Nissan
Sunny, known as the Datsun B210 in North America, is an unforgettable classic car
. The Datsun B210 was especially popular in the 1970s, even though the body isn’t particularly appealing. The car is practical and many people will remember driving one. Here’s why it was so popular and more details about the vehicle.
Why was the Datsun B210 so popular?
The Datsun B210 had a crazy sales period during its 1974 to 1978 run, as reported by
Autoblog
. The North American version of the Nissan Sunny was introduced months after the 1973 Oil Crisis—it couldn’t come at a better time.The B210 was lightweight with excellent fuel economy. In some regions, the rust ruined a lot of B210s quickly, but the car was perfect for drivers that wanted to save gas. The B210 has a simple stick shift and practicality was a big reason for its popularity.
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History of the Datsun B210
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According to
Nissan
, the first Datsun introduced to the U.S. market was the Datsun 1000 Sedan. It was replaced by the 1200 sedan. Datsun also released sports cars and pickup trucks.By 1975, Datsun became the top vehicle importer in America and hit 1 million Datsun sales. The B210 was Nissan’s best-selling small sedan of the 1970s. This car is the basis of the new Nissan Versa.
At the time when the Datsun B210 was released, it was competing with the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Rabbit. The Civic and the Rabbit boasted front-wheel-drive. Most years, the B210 still had the best fuel economy out of any new car you could buy in the U.S.
The B210 sedans didn’t sell as well as the hatchback coupes, mainly because they cost a bit more.
Datsun B210 specs
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The third-generation Nissan Sunny was exported as the Datsun 120Y and the Datsun B210, according to
Nissan
. The B210 offered a variety of engine options from 1.2-1.6 liters. The U.S. received a 1.3 and 1.4-liter version that gave the 2,000 lb. car exceptional fuel economy. The B210s came in several trims and body styles including a two-door fastback coupe, four-door sedan, wagon, and "Honeybee" edition. The car consistently reached 40-50 mpg for the 1.3-liter engine. The 1978 model has a 48 mpg highway rating and a 0-60 mpg time of 13.2 seconds.
Four-speed manual transmission was standard on this car. The cars weren’t very strong, with the 1978 B210 rated at 70 horsepower, but this was acceptable performance for the time. Gas mileage was the main priority for consumers.
How to insure your classic car
If you’re looking to buy a classic Datsun or any other enthusiast car, you’ll want to make sure you have
proper coverage
to keep it protected. You can use specialty insurance companies like Hagerty Insurance, or a standard provider like State Farm and GEICO to find classic car insurance
.If you want to save money on
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, whether it’s on a classic car or any other personal vehicle, Jerry
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