Known in the US as the Datsun 1600 Roadster (also 2000). Still see them
occasionally -- my neighbor down the block used to have one. Probably most
were sold on the west coast of the US -- Datsuns weren't marketed to the
entire country in the early 60s, and I don't know if they were in Europe at
all.
There is an "urban legend" to the effect that the car is the result of
industrial espionage; i.e. literally copied from the MGB plans, but this is
bunk. In fact, I think the Datsun hit the market first. It is however fairly
obvious that it was an attempt to tap the same market, and why not?
I recall someone on the list reported he was once told that the cylinder
head on the Datsun was interchangeable with the B-series engine, but that
seems highly improbable, and likely is just a further instance of the
legend.
on 8/30/04 4:58 AM, Paul Hunt at paul.hunt1@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
> Local paper had a small feature on 50 years of Datsun/Nissan. Did a
> double-take at the car at the top of the article as I started noticing
> similarities with the MGB. It was a Fairlady made from 62 to 70 -
> http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/3823/fairlady.html
>
> I was struck by the overall similarity and particularly the rear quarter,
> windscreen and 1/4 lights. What's more the front treatment is almost
> identical to the BL 1800 Landcrab that came along a couple of years later
> plus an MGC bonnet. When you start looking at the detailed photos they are
> as different as chalk and cheese, but that first 3/4 view is uncanny.
>
> PaulH.
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires
Check out the new British Cars Forum:
http://www.team.net/the-local/tiki-view_forum.php?forumId=8
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