The Datsun truck was a compact pickup built by Nissan in Japan from 1955 to 1997, with a line that goes back to the Type 13 of April 1934. It was sold under the Datsun brand until 1983, when Nissan took over the name. In 1997 it was replaced by the Frontier and Navara.
Datsun truck at a glance
| Line began | Type 13, April 1934 |
|---|---|
| Datsun-badged until | 1983 |
| Nissan-badged until | 1997 |
| Replaced by | Nissan Frontier and Navara |
| Japanese dealers | Nissan Bluebird Store |
| Post-war first model | Datsun 1121, 1946 |
| 120 series | from January 1955, based on the Datsun 1000 |
| 220 series | from November 1957, 850 kg payload |
| Early engines | 860 cc Type 10, then C and E units |
based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the Datsun truck; the collected material covers the early history, so the later generations are summarised.
History of the Datsun truck
Pre-war and post-war beginnings
The Datsun truck line began with the Type 13 in April 1934, later used as the basis of the Datsun DC-3 roadster. Small trucks based on passenger cars, the 14T, 15T and 17T, were built until early 1944. The 17T was followed in 1946 by the Datsun 1121, technically almost identical but with a very simple pressed-steel body and some wooden parts because post-war Japan lacked materials. Its 15 PS Type 7 engine came from pre-war stock. As supply improved, the 2124 and 2225 took over in 1947; a numbering system described each part of the truck, with the first digit for the chassis and engine, the second for the bonnet and grille, the third for the cab and the fourth for the rear body.
Post-war progress
Later models followed quickly: the 2125 in July 1948, the 3135 in January 1949, the 3145 in January 1950 and the 4146 in August 1950 with the 860 cc Type 10 engine of 20 hp and a stronger gearbox. The 5147 of 1951 brought a longer 2,150 mm wheelbase and hydraulic brakes instead of mechanical ones, and the final 6147 of 1953 used a 25 PS D-10 engine, raising payload from 500 to 600 kg.
120 and 220 series
The all-new Datsun 120 arrived in January 1955 as the load-carrying version of the Datsun 1000 saloon, with delivery van, panel van and double-cab bodies and the 860 cc Type 10 engine. It was one of the first Nissan products sold in Europe, with 200 units shipped to Spain in 1956, and the L123 was Nissan’s first left-hand-drive build for Middle Eastern importers. The Datsun 220 of November 1957 raised payload to 850 kg, was the first Datsun truck exported to the United States and came with the 37 PS C or 48 PS E engine; the G220 had a 1,000 kg payload and a 300 mm longer wheelbase. The line continued through many generations as a Datsun and, from 1983, as a Nissan until 1997.
Design and features
- Longest line: from a 1934 truck to the 1997 Frontier.
- Passenger-car base: each generation was built on a contemporary Datsun car.
- Export pioneer: one of the first Nissans sold in Europe, in 1956.
- Bluebird Store: sold at one Japanese dealer network only.
Datsun truck versions
- Datsun Type 13 and 17T (1934–1944): the pre-war trucks.
- Datsun 1121 to 6147 (1946–1955): the post-war rebuild generation.
- Datsun 120 (1955–1961): van, panel van and double cab.
- Datsun 220 and G220 (1957–1961): heavier payload and longer wheelbase.
- Nissan-badged trucks (1983–1997): the final years of the line.
The pick-up line was replaced by the Navara and Frontier, and the small truck role was later served by the Nissan 1400. More cars are in the Nissan collection.
Video: Nissan Pickup D21 Offroad
Video by YouTube on YouTube.
Sources
- Datsun truck, English Wikipedia: pre-war and post-war history, 120 and 220 series, end of the line
