A10 series (1977–1981) Nissan Violet

1 a10 series (1977–1981)

1.1 australia
1.2 new zealand
1.3 europe
1.4 taiwan
1.5 mexico
1.6 north america
1.7 south africa
1.8 motorsports
1.9 wrc victories

a10 series (1977–1981)

the previous generation violet expanded , joined 2 badge engineered versions, called japanese: nissan auster, , stanza 1978 model year. nissan auster, named latin equalivent of greek god notos south wind, smaller companion nissan skyline sedan @ nissan prince store; stanza, italian room or apartment , introduced affordable family car 1 level above nissan sunny, sold @ nissan japan dealerships nissan satio store. third version (violet) sold @ dealerships called nissan cherry store locations. in australia, called datsun stanza, , in canada , united states datsun 510, name recalled successes of previous datsun 510.

datsun 160j coupe (a10)

originally sold 1.4-litre a-series engine , 1.6-litre l, although north american market cars received two-litre version. in october 1978 car underwent facelift, becoming a11 in process. @ same time, l16 engines replaced cross-flow z16, meet newer stricter emissions rules. nissan introduced emissions control technology generation, called naps, , cars received new chassis code of a11. more luxurious stanza never available 1.4-litre engine in japan, 1.6 until larger engines joined lineup.

nissan stanza (a10, japan)

in november 1978 1.8-litre engine added @ top of line-up, domestic japanese market. 1800 naps-z engine available in more luxurious stanza model.

five body styles on offer: two- , four-door saloons, three-door hatchback coupé ( violet openback , auster multi-coupé ), 5-door hatchback (only introduced in august 1979, quite late in car s production run) , five-door estate.

the five-door liftback stanza marketed stanza resort in japanese domestic market, , given chassis model code t10. five-door bodywork became available in auster , violet versions of april 1980, meaning built fourteen months car replaced t11 generation in june 1981. a10/a11 wagon not replaced in 1981, all-new nissan prairie or nissan vanette instead filling place cargo carrying duties in japanese market.

transmissions offered four-speed manual (in except hatchback models), five-speed manual (hatchback models only), , three-speed automatic. generation available sale around same time first generation toyota celica camry , honda accord, formed direct competitors in domestic marketplace.

australia

1982 datsun stanza gl sedan (a10, australia)

the stanza assembled in australia 1978 1982, in four-door 1.6-litre four-door saloon form, fill gap between sunny , 200b. trims available gl , gx , , sporty sss .

while popular buyers, australian stanza heavily criticized motoring journalists of day (particularly wheels magazine), regarded car being unadventurous , particularly regard styling , conventional drivetrain.

in 1979, 120 two-door coupé models assembled in australia, apparently due mix-up nissan australia s kit ordering system. released market anyway no promotion, , promptly sold out.

new zealand

a batch of a10-series 160j, in three-door hatchback form, imported new zealand when local assemblers not keep demand.

europe

in united kingdom, generation marketed datsun violet, , sold in 1.4 l gl , 1.6 l gl engine/trim combinations. no estate models offered. in rest of europe sold 160j (or 140j), variety of bodystyle , equipment combinations offered, coupé sss twin su-carburetors available @ top of lineup. power outputs 63 ps (46 kw) 140j, 81–83 ps (60–61 kw) 160j, , 87 ps (64 kw) 160j sss. fuel-injected version of 160j available in european markets, 86 ps (63 kw).

taiwan

the a10 violet locally assembled in taiwan yue loong until @ least 1985. sold yln 709, 711, , 712, depending on facelift version. in later years (712) available hatchback bodywork , 1.4-liter engine.

mexico

datsun 160j wagon (a10, mexico)

the a10-series violet commercialized in mexican car market 1978 1984. introduced 1979 model, superseded previous 710-series second generation datsun 160j . @ first, mexican a10 violet range included 4-door saloon , wagon, being (as previously) respectively marketed datsun sedan , datsun guayin (badged violet van in japan), continuing former promotion strategy of nissan mexico lineup. first time here, 2-door saloon version added range.

from 1979 1981, mexican-produced a10 units had pretty same design of japanese-spec a10 violets produced between 1977-1979 lapse. front grille of 4-door , wagon featured same doubled-circle headlight set (i.e. 2 pair of circular lamps), while 2-door saloon sported distinctive front grille, set of single circular right , left lamps.

for 1982, mexican a10 cars sported same facelift works made on 1979-1981 japanese-produced violets, going on bit north american-spec a10 units (marketed in usa datsun 510, hinting well-gained reputation of former 510-series bluebird model of late 60 s-early 70 s). slight facelift focused majorly on updated front grille, featuring singled or doubled set of new squared or rectangular-shaped headlights. here, commercialization of mexican a10 lineup changed datsun 180j, referring more powerful 1.8-liter carbureted engine swap.

also in 1982, 5-door liftback/hatchback version of a10 violet launched toward mexican market, datsun samurai. intended sleek, sporty while -by then- modern style saloon in nissan mexico lineup.

in 1984, in context of nissan s brand global name unification, datsun brand name phased out off world s market, in favor of single nissan brand name. thus, mexican a10 violet production phased out nissan mexico, switching manufacture domestic market production of b11 sunny/sentra range then, launched all-new nissan tsuru (1st. gen / b11).

north america

1978 datsun 510 2-door sedan (usa)



datsun 510 wagon (a10, usa)

in united states , canada violet sold datsun 510, cash in on popularity of earlier 510 bluebird. available two-door sedan, four-door sedan, five-door hatchback, or five-door wagon. powered 2.0 l inline-four l20b engine, although in 1980 california-market cars received twin-plug z20 naps-z inline-four of same displacement. 1981 model year, became engine available 510. power 92 hp (69 kw; 93 ps), , new 1981 four-speed manual accompanying existing five-speed. five-speed installed in five-door, while wagon , two-door received four-speed unit. three-speed automatic optional on models.

datsun 160j in short-lived five-door liftback bodystyle


south africa

south african-made violets sold 1600j or 1800j depending on engine fitment between 1978 , 1980. four-door saloon or station wagon bodywork available, 1800 sedan available sporting sss model.

motorsports

nissan violet southern cross rally car (a10)

the violet 160j nissan s successful car in world rally championship. won safari rally in kenya 1979 1982 consecutively, shekhar mehta behind wheel. 1979 , 1980 winners powered sohc engine; 1981 , 1982 winners violet gt models dohc engine. these safari records matched toyota celica gt-four won 1992–95 events. driven timo salonen, violet won 1980 rally new zealand , 1981 rallye côte d ivoire.

wrc victories