Datsun 510 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | Nissan |
Also called | Datsun 1300, 1500, 1600 Datsun Bluebird Yue Loong Bluebird 706 (sedan) |
Production | August 1967–1973 |
Assembly |
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Designer | Teruo Uchino |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2/4-door sedan 2-door coupé 5-door station wagon |
Layout | FR layout |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 95.3 in (2,420 mm) |
Length | 163.2 in (4,145 mm) (estate) 163 in (4,128 mm) (coupé) |
Width | 61.4 in (1,560 mm) |
Height | 56.5 in (1,435 mm) (estate) 56 in (1,410 mm) (coupé) |
Curb weight | 2,072.3 lb (940 kg) (estate) 2,127 lb (965 kg) (coupé) |
Chronology | |
Successor | Datsun 610 |
The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1973, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600.
The rear-wheel drive 510's engineering was inspired by contemporary European sedans, particularly the 1966 BMW 1600-2 – incorporating an overhead camshaft engine and four-wheel independent suspension by means of MacPherson struts in front, and semi-trailing arms on the rear wheels.[3] The styling is attributed to Datsun in-house designer, Teruo Uchino.[citation needed]
Nissan USA president Yutaka Katayama pushed for offering this generation of the Bluebird with a larger overhead cam engine with more power than the preceding models. The design originated with Prince Motor Company, which merged with Nissan in 1966.[4]
The 510-series Bluebird was released in the domestic Japanese market on August 15, 1967.[5] In North America, the Datsun 510 was launched in October 1967 as a four-door sedan, followed by a two-door sedan (June 1968), five-door station wagon, and two-door coupé (November 1968).
The range became famous for Nissan's rallying successes outside Japan and paved the way for greater Nissan sales internationally.
The series was available with either a four-speed manual transmission or optional three-speed automatic. 510s, in some markets, offered twin Hitachi side-draft carburetors, which were a smaller version of the British SU design used on Jaguars and MGs.[citation needed] These engines also used enhanced compression and camshaft profiles to produce more power. SSS models (not offered in North America) offered upgraded instrumentation and interior trim, as well as appropriate exterior badges.