When did the name change fron Datsun to Nissan?

Answer 1

Hi, according to Nissan, the first time they used the By Nissan subscript was on the first 280zx sold in the U.S.

Hi,

From what I understand that Nissan has always been Nissan in Japan but when the Datsuns came over here they were badged Datsun possibly because the name would market better over here.

Nissan markets well over there in racing. NI sounds like two and SAN sounds like three in Japanese. 23 is written on some of those cars. ;) get it?

The first year I remember seeing a Nissan badged car was in 1984. It was the first year for the "Z31" or Nissan 300zx. I owned an 83 Datsun 280zx and an 84 Nissan 300zx. :) So, that is where I base this on.

I would bet that you can find out more of the history of the company at nissanusa.com or shoot them an email. Nissan corp. has always been very helpful!

Zya!

Anna N. DesignQuest Auto Enhancing Tri-State Z Car Club

AnswerHi folks.

To refine your search a bit more I will tell you that back in the early 90s I bought and drove a Datsun 810 witha 3.8 litre in line six cylinder diesel. A rare find indeed! On the cover of the owners manual it was listed as a Datsun Nissan Model 810 and as I recall it was also an early version of the Maxima. The car was a 1976 model so its been almost 30 years.

Thanks a lot see ya

AnswerWell folks I have a datsun labled truck 1982 that has a 2.2 Z motor made by Nissan.The other label on the side says datsun made by Nissan. I believe that was the last year of the transformation.It says datsun on the grill and on the tail gate. I still have it and as far as I know its hard to find parts for too.I have been restoring for the past 5 years. She runs like new with the original motor rebuilt 4000 miles ago and with these gas prices 35 miles to the gallon feels good to me with my little truck. Any one else with the 1982 720 model out there? I havent seen any in North Carolina except mine.Rare I guess! That exsplains it folks 1982 was the year so hang on to those last year transformations they could very well be worth a lot of $$$$$$$$$ some day! If not already. Ive been offered 10,000 for mine already cant see it, Maybe 20,000. Good luck everybody atleast I can change my plugs easy! Answeri have the same truck, however, my numbers don't match. I live in Arizona and have seen at least ten.I am getting ready to restore it. mine has the hood vents (one on each side). mine is a 4x4, No a/c. i really like the truck. mine was built in Japan. that is the first year they changed their name on their trucks. AnswerI have a 1975 260z the badging says datsun, but the valve cover on the original 260 block says Nissan, also on my buddies 1972 datsun 240z the script on his block says Nissan, but i think it wasi n the 80s that they started using Nissan script on the cars themselves, only the badgeing stated its a datsun, and i remember seeing nissane on some 280zxs in the yard.

Answer:

1985 Was the first year that Nissan no longer carried the name Datsun on vehicles exported to the US market (except for on some leftover parts like radiator caps or pages in manuals). 1985 Began the "The Name is Nissan" campaign. 1984 is the only year you can buy a Datsun 300ZX. After that, it was all officially Nissan.

Datsun was marketed only in US markets, I believe. It sounded less Japanese, and when Nissan vehicles first entered US markets, Americans were still reeling from WWII. I think the name came from Nissan's acquisition of Datson, meaning son of DAT, an offshoot of another company that began with three guys whose initials were D, A and T. Originally it was DAT motors, I believe. Cool story worth looking up on Wiki. Yes, the 280ZX first carried badging reading "by Nissan," in 1979. Dual badging lasted until 1984, the first year of the Z31 and S12 (and Pulsar? Perhaps.) Cheers!