Even though the name Datsun Sports (or Datsun Fairlady in Japan) may not ring a bell to many readers, the series was a very important model for the carmaker, which we know today as Nissan, as it led to the creation of the Z series starting with the 240Z in 1968.
The Datsun Sports line was introduced in 1959 as an inexpensive alternative to the MG and Triumph roadsters, borrowing many styling cues from British models.
The first model, codenamed S211, used a tiny 1.0-liter engine with just 36-horsepower but the lineup gained momentum and in 1967, the Japanese carmaker introduced the last version of the series, the SR311/SRL311.
It was fitted with a much more potent 2.0-liter inline-four producing 133HP in normal guise and 150HP with an optional package featuring dual Mikuni/Solex carburetors and a special camshaft, linked to a five-speed manual gearbox which was uncommon for the time.
Read more »
