The Nissan 1400 was a light pick-up truck built by Nissan South Africa from 1971 to 2008. It began as the Datsun 1200, a small rear-wheel-drive load carrier of half a ton, and stayed in production for 37 years with only gradual changes. Its successor was the Nissan NP200.
Nissan 1400 at a glance
| Also called | Datsun 1200, Datsun 120Y, Datsun 1400, Nissan 1400 Bakkie |
|---|---|
| Production | 1971–2008, South Africa |
| Assembly | Rosslyn, South Africa; Aymesa, Quito, Ecuador (as Datsun 1200 PickUp) |
| Internal codes | B120, B121 (1979), B122 (1981), B140 |
| Payload | more than half a ton |
| Engine | 1.4-litre A14 four-cylinder, carburettor |
| Layout | front engine, rear-wheel drive, leaf-spring rear axle |
| Gearbox | four-speed, five-speed in later cars |
| Notable update | 1985: taller cab roof, front disc brakes, rectangular headlights |
| Nickname | kanniedood — “cannot die” |
| Final edition | 150 Heritage Edition cars |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Nissan 1400.
History of the Nissan 1400
From Datsun 1200 to Nissan 1400
The vehicle was designed as the B120 and sold worldwide from 1971 as the Datsun 1200, based on the B110 passenger car. In 1976 it was renamed the Datsun 120Y, and in the same year production began in South Africa. The model carried the internal designation B121 from 1979 and B122 from 1981, while the larger-engined South African variant was numbered B140. The B120 was sold in Australia until 1985 and built in Japan until 1994.
The 1.4-litre years
In 1980 the South African car received the 1.4-litre A14 engine and was renamed Datsun 1400; in 1982 it became the Nissan 1400. A 1985 update brought a cab roof 75 mm higher, front disc brakes, rectangular headlights and black instead of chrome bumpers, by which time local parts content had reached 100 percent.
Sport, Champ and the long run
A sport version, the 1400 Sport, was sold from 1988 to 1990 with a five-speed gearbox, brown interior, bucket seats, spot lamps, a tonneau cover and side stripes, in Firecracker Red, Yellow and Ice White. From late 1990 it was rebadged the 1400 Champ with a grey interior. Further facelifts followed in 2002 and 2005, and later cars had a five-speed gearbox. The carburettor engine, leaf springs and rear-wheel drive never changed. Production ended with 150 Heritage Edition cars, stopped by stricter emission and safety rules.
Design and features
- Simple mechanicals: carburettor, leaf springs and rear-wheel drive from the first car to the last.
- Half-ton payload: a working load carrier rather than a lifestyle pick-up.
- Local production: built at Rosslyn with 100 percent South African parts content by the mid-1980s.
- Long service life: nicknamed kanniedood in Afrikaans, “cannot die”, and called the Champion of Africa.
Nissan 1400 versions
- Datsun 1200 / 120Y (1971–1980s): the original B120 with a smaller engine.
- Nissan 1400 (1982–2008): the standard 1.4-litre bakkie.
- 1400 Sport (1988–1990): five-speed, brown sports interior, three colours.
- 1400 Champ (1990–): the Sport renamed, with a grey interior.
- Heritage Edition (2008): the last 150 cars.
The 1400 was replaced by the NP200, a front-wheel-drive pick-up, and the name survives in the same market as the Datsun and Nissan pick-up line. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: Schalk’s Nissan 1400 destroying the R35 GTR @ Amsterdam Raceway
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Nissan 1400, English Wikipedia: production years, engine, 1985 update, Sport and Champ, Heritage Edition
