The Datsun 200SX was the name under which Nissan sold its Silvia S10 in the United States from 1975 to 1979. In most other export markets the same car was the Datsun 180SX, and in Japan it was the New Silvia. It was a compact rear-drive coupé on the new S platform, with a 2.0-litre four for America and a 1.8-litre engine at home.
Datsun 200SX at a glance
| Maker | Nissan (Datsun), Japan |
|---|---|
| Production | 1975–1979 (S10, S11 from 1976) |
| Bodies | two-door coupé; hatchback from the S110 |
| US engine | 2.0 L L20B four, carburettors |
| Japanese engine | 1.8 L L18S, 105 PS (77 kW) at 6,000 rpm |
| Top speed | 165–175 km/h depending on gearbox |
| Gearbox | four- or five-speed manual, three-speed automatic |
| Price in the US | $4,399 at launch |
| Built | over 145,000 S10 and S11 cars |
| Replaced by | Silvia S110, 1979 |
History of the Datsun 200SX
The S10 was the first mass-produced Silvia on Nissan’s new S platform, a compact rear-wheel-drive basis meant for the company’s sporty cars. In Japan it shared showroom space with the larger C110 Skyline, and its lines were deliberately closer to the Skyline than to the rounded Toyota Celica and Mazda Capella coupés. The car was based on the Datsun Sunny Coupé, and it was originally meant to have a wankel engine; that plan was dropped after the oil crises of the 1970s.
In Japan the S10 carried a 1.8-litre L18S four with 105 PS (77 kW) at 6,000 rpm, which gave 165 to 175 km/h depending on whether a four-speed, a five-speed manual or a three-speed automatic was fitted. The 1976 update brought tighter emission rules, the change of code from S10 to S11 and a new LSE trim level with the injected L18E. In 1977 the S11 gained a body-coloured grille, new wheels and hubcaps, rubber bumper corners and a Type-G trim.
North America received the car in 1976 as the Datsun 200SX, with the larger 2.0-litre L20B, the mandatory 5 mph bumpers, a new front fascia and a left-hand-drive interior. It was listed at $4,399, a relatively cheap car for the time, and it used a drivetrain close to the 510’s but with leaf springs at the rear instead of independent suspension. Buyers in both markets mostly preferred the Celica, and the standard car was criticised for its handling.
Paul Newman built and raced a 1977 Datsun 200SX in the 1978 IMSA Class C, where the car won 19 of the 22 races. Production of the S10 and S11 stopped in 1979 after more than 145,000 cars. The next Silvia, the S110, was again sold in the United States and Canada as the Datsun 200SX, this time with a hatchback body as well, and in Mexico it was badged Datsun Sakura.
Design and features
- American engine: the 2.0-litre L20B four instead of the 1.8 used in Japan.
- US specification: 5 mph bumpers, a separate front fascia and left-hand drive.
- Simple rear axle: leaf springs instead of the 510’s independent rear suspension, which kept the car cheap.
- Two codes: the S10 of 1975 and the revised S11 from 1976.
- Racing record: Paul Newman’s 1977 car won 19 of 22 IMSA Class C races in 1978.
Datsun 200SX versions
- S10 (1975–1976): the first version, with the L18S in Japan.
- S11 (1976–1979): revised emissions and the LSE trim with L18E injection.
- Datsun 180SX: the name used in export markets outside the United States.
- S110 (1979–1983): the next generation, the 200SX in the US and the Sakura in Mexico.
The 200SX shared its layout with the older Datsun 510 and was based on the Datsun Sunny coupé. More models are in the Datsun collection.
Video: Nissan/Datsun 200sx
Video by Slightlyevil on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan Silvia, English Wikipedia: S10 and S110 history, engines, prices, racing
- Nissan 200SX, German Wikipedia: market names and production dates
