Datsun Roadster U20
SRL311 – 02669
Apart from die hard Datsun fans, Europe is completely oblivious to the sleek, sporty Datsun Roadster. The very first Datsun sports roadster (SP210) was built in 1959. It had a plastic body, and the run was completed after only 20 units. The first series which was built in high numbers and exported to the USA was introduced in 1960. The ‘L’ within the code name SPL212 denoted left hand drive. The open top roadster body was now made of steel, built on top of the chassis of the Datsun 223 pickup. The 1189 ccm engine had an output of 47 HP, but as of the following model year, the SPL213 received a double carburettor which bumped output to 59 HP. The very first Datsun Roadster had a four-speed manual gearbox with an unsynchronized first gear. Brakes were drums, both fore and aft.
The second generation Datsun Roadster was revealed at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show, a few months before the official world premiere of the MGB. Hence, claims of the Japanese copying the British sports car are unsubstantiated. The first Datsun Fairlady Roadster (Code SPL311) arrived in the United States – the largest car market in the world at that time – in 1963. This generation was built on the shortened chassis of the Bluebird, while the 1497 ccm 77 HP engine, the fully synced four-speed gearbox, the rear suspension and the differential all came from the midsize Cedric. Standard specification included a transistor radio and a mechanical clock. The very first cars had a peculiar single rear seat positioned across at 90°.
March 1965 saw the introduction of the refreshed SP311/SPL311. The design was reworked by Albrecht Goertz who would later play an active role in designing the Z Series. The most significant technical upgrade was the 1598 ccm four-cylinder OHV engine. Sporting two SU carburettors, it had a maximum output of 95 HP that allowed for a top speed of nearly 170 kph. Up front it had independent suspension, while in the back there was a live axle with leaf springs. As of this point, even JDM models were denoted Fairlady.
Our Roadster variant, the SR311/SRL311 was built from October 1967. The most significant upgrade was, again, a new powertrain. The U20 engine, an SOHC inline-four with 1982 ccm, had an aluminium cylinder head. Maximum output was 135 HP, which, together with the modern five-speed gearbox, was sufficient for a 0-100 kph time of 9.1 seconds, and a top speed of 195 kph. The last of the Datsun Roadsters, #14450, left the factory in April 1970. New safety and environmental regulations necessitated a few minor modifications for model year 1968. Both the dashboard and the steering wheel received a soft surface treatment, and the interior rear view mirror was moved from the dashboard to the windscreen, the height of which was extended by 10 cm. The exterior mirror was relocated to the door, while door handles were given a new shape.
If rarity was its only trump card, the Datsun Roadster would still be a car of interest, a worthy alternative to contemporary classics built in much larger numbers, such as models from Alfa Romeo, Fiat, MG or Triumph. But with the 2.0-liter engine and the resulting driving performance, and especially the driving experience, it is far superior to any of them.
Base condition
