Nissan resurrects the Datsun brand

CNN ^ | March 21, 2012 | Kevin Voigt

[derfel]

Nissan Motor Company announced the return of the Datsun brand after 30 years, with plans to introduce a low-cost car in several emerging markets in 2014.

In a nod to the growing importance of developing markets, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn made the announcement Tuesday in Indonesia, one of three markets the new car line will debut.

[roadcat]

Nissan shot itself in the foot taking away the Datsun brand in the mid-1980s, confusing potential car-buyers. Datsun was a very well-known brand, particularly for their racing heritage with the sportscar line. I am glad they brought the name back, although I don’t like the idea that the name is only being used in 3rd-world countries for their low end of the line. I own several vintage Datsun sportscars, one is a 1966 with over 150hp that leaves modern cars in the dust - still runs great even with modern gasoline having 10 percent ethanol. These cars are rugged.

[real saxophonist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sff6Wi3fHVw

[onona]

Honeybee Ping !

[Lancey Howard]

Wow.. I am having flashbacks about the 240Z, then the 260Z, and then the 280Z.
Stopped keeping track after that. Nice cars, though.

[Oztrich Boy]

Nissan shot itself in the foot taking away the Datsun brand in the mid-1980s, confusing potential car-buyers.

I didn't realize it went away

1967 1300SS just 70+ horsepowers, solid rear axle, rear leaf springs, four wheel drum brakes, no seat belts - they had the nerve to call it a "Sports Saloon". And it was the best long distance driving car I've ever owned - still miss it sometimes.

[Joe 6-pack]

Some of my fondest childhood memories are bouncing around in the back of my uncle’s Datsun pickup with my cousins one summer at our family’s camp up in the woods of northern PA...

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

I owned a 510. It was a great canyon racer! (til I wrecked it)

[naturalman1975]

My first car was a Datsun. It served me well for about seven years. Some good memories with that car.

[MaxMax]

Same here. I gave my 280z to mom and she drove it till it died.
She loved that car and still talks about it.

[derfel]

>I don’t like the idea that the name is only being used in >3rd-world countries
Agreed.Considering the popularity of Datsun in US, they should not limit its market in developing countries.

[MachIV]

I remember the Datsun pickups. They were pretty good trucks. I currently own a 2004 Nissan Frontier and unfortunately it is a POS.

[Tainan]

The 510 was one of the ‘classic’ auto models built.

[Cable225]

That's surprising - I own a 2005 Frontier and it's hands down the best auto I've ever owned. Pretty good mileage, great acceleration, handles well, and has a good size bed for loading.

In fact, I like it so much I intend to drive it until it stops running and then buy another one.

[Timber Rattler]

My dad had a 1973 Datsun four-speed sub-compact that he used to drive back and forth to the coal mines. Best damned car we ever owned...he traded it for a brand new 1980 Chevette and regretted it almost immediately.

[6SJ7]

Datsun 240Z. A classic.

[bert]

There has never been an American sports car that could beat a Datsun. If a Corvette reached the speeds of the Datsun, it would spin out in the corners.

A Shelby Cobra could compete but was not a production vehicle, but a race car

The same is true of the British cars of the era.They could hold the road but lacked the speed.

The Datsun was but a precursor of what was to come. Accord, Corolla, Civic , Camry........ industry destroyers

[gunnyg]

YEAH!

Dump ALL this new Age BS! of the hippy+ generations!

[org.whodat]

Loved my old datsun truck, run and run and run on a dollar of gas. 55 cents a gallon. Left the 383 Plymouth in the drive when went to school.

[BOBWADE]

I wish I had never sold mine.