[doorgunner69]

No real idea about the name change. My perception at the time, unlike all those here with fond Datsun memories, was the name Datsun was tied to the old “made from beer cans” meme about Japanese products being inferior.

Datsun later shot themselves in the foot with execrable commercials. Awesome! GMAFB

[Oztrich Boy]

My perception at the time, unlike all those here with fond Datsun memories, was the name Datsun was tied to the old “made from beer cans” meme about Japanese products being inferior

It's hard to see that as a reason to drop the name in the 80s. By that time Datsun has a reputation on four continents of building nearly unbreakable rally cars.

1966 East African Safari Rally. 88 cars entered, two of them Datsun 411s.
Nine cars finished, two of them Datsun 411s: 1st, 2d in class, 5th, 6th outright.

Class win by a 510 in 1969. Outright wins by Datsuns in 1970, 71, 73. By this stage 40 of the 85 entrants were Datsuns - Porsches, BMWs, Volvos being considered too fragile.

Then there was the 1971 U2 Trans-Am.

IN the 70s, the BMW2002 was known as the rich mans Datsun 510.

Ten years later Nissan Co threw that all away.