Nissan Fairlady

The series began with the 1959 S211, designed by Yuichi Ohta, who had previously designed the Datsun DC-3 and the A80X prototype. Both the A80X and the S211 featured fiberglass bodywork influenced by the Chevrolet Corvette. The S211 was based on the Datsun 211 sedan and used a 988 cc C-series straight-4 producing 37 PS. Only 20 examples were built, making it the rarest model in the series.

In 1960, the SPL212 was introduced — the first Datsun sports car imported to the United States and the first to bear the Fairlady name, chosen in reference to the Broadway musical My Fair Lady. The SPL212 used steel bodywork and was based on the Datsun 223 truck chassis, with a 1.2 L E-series straight-4 producing 48 PS. Production moved from Yokohama to the Nissan Shatai plant in Hiratsuka during this period. A total of 288 SPL212 units were built through 1961. In 1996, a set of unrestored SPL212 cars sold for US$100,000. The SPL213, produced in 1961 and 1962, added a dual-carburetor E-1 engine producing 60 PS; 217 examples were built.

The second generation debuted at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show, designed for mass production in contrast to the largely handbuilt first generation. Built on the 310 series platform, it used a modified Bluebird 310 sedan platform in place of the truck-based underpinnings of earlier models.

The 1963 SP310, marketed as the Fairlady 1500, was the first model of this generation. It featured a 1.5 L G15 OHV engine sourced from the Nissan Cedric, with a single SU carburettor producing 77 PS. After the first 300 units, a dual SU carb variant delivering 85 PS was introduced for 1964 and 1965. Early SP310 models were three-seaters with a unique transverse single rear seat; a 1965 interior redesign eliminated the rear seat. The rear axle shafts and differential were also sourced from the Cedric.

In 1965, the SP311 replaced the SP310, featuring exterior restyling executed in part by Count Albrecht Goertz, who would later contribute to the design of the first Fairlady Z. The SP311 used the 1.6 L R16 OHV engine producing 96 PS with dual SU carburettors, 14-inch wheels, and independent front suspension with coil springs over hydraulic shocks. The R16 engine was a development of the earlier G engine. The first Nissan Silvia coupe shared the SP311's platform and used the same R16 engine; the Silvia was the first car fitted with Nissan's R engine. The SP311 continued in production alongside the later 2000 model through April 1970.

The SR311, introduced in March 1967, marked the performance peak of the series. Produced through April 1970, it used a 1,982 cc U20 SOHC engine with an aluminium alloy head and a five-speed manual transmission — described in the corpus as somewhat unexpected for a production car at the time. In standard configuration the U20 produced 135 hp SAE gross. An optional Competition package, which included dual Mikuni/Solex carburettors and a special B-model camshaft, raised output to 150 hp SAE gross and also provided higher-limit gauges and a licence plate surround. In Australia, where no emissions restrictions applied, all 2.0-litre cars were fitted with the Competition package as standard. The early 1967 SR311 units, known as "half year" cars, are sought by collectors; fewer than 1,000 were produced before 1968 model-year emissions and safety modifications were applied.

The 1600 and 2000 models were regular winners on the Sports Car Club of America circuit, winning ten national SCCA championships. The Datsun 2000 consistently won in the C-Production class (with Mikuni-Solex carburettors) and D-Production class (with Hitachi-SU carburettors), including after the model had ceased production. Notable drivers associated with its competitive success included John Morton and Bob Sharp. Actor Paul Newman began his racing career in a Datsun 2000.

For the 1968 model year, the entire line was updated to meet new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. The redesigned body featured a taller integrated windshield with an integrated rear-view mirror, a padded dashboard replacing toggle switches, built-in headrests, and new flush-fit lifting door handles. This version was first shown at the 14th Tokyo Motor Show in October 1967. In the United States, engines were also fitted with new emissions controls; the Australian market had no such requirements.

To coincide with the 1964 Summer Olympics, Nissan established a gallery on the second and third floors of the San-ai building in Ginza, Tokyo. Nissan created a group of female showroom attendants called Miss Fairladys, modelled after Datsun Demonstrators from the 1930s. The Miss Fairlady programme became part of the marketing effort for the Fairlady 1500 and subsequent models.

This article is based solely on the supplied corpus. No external sources were consulted; claims that could not be substantiated against the corpus were omitted under the drop-the-claim rule.