Team Datsun Europa 1980?

Seven A10's in various stages of preparation and two of the special E20 works service vans

THANKS TO Venlig hilsen for this picture

Team Datsun Europa 1980 spares room. This collection must be on every A10 owners wish list.

The visible stock includes

5 complete rear axle assemblies

6 complete front strut assemblies with springs, adjustable tops and vented discs.

30 European spec and 30 Safari spec Atsugi strut legs

20 springs

6 special length lower control arms.

THANKS TO Venlig hilsen for this picture

THANKS TO Venlig hilsen for this picture

THANKS AGAIN TO Venlig hilsen for this picture

I purchased the orange coupe (CKD number 850083) from the estate of a retired marine engineer in Tasmania. The coupe was carefully maintained and full service records kept by her owner. The car was always garaged and has never had people sit in it without seat covers. Being garaged all the time when not in use, the chrome was bright as new. The paint has been touched up with a respray in original colour to get rid of any stone chips and any surface blemishes or scuff marks. I sold the car to a new owner in NSW at the end of 2003.

The build number is indicated by a tag on the inner upper surface of the left side guard. The Build tag has KPA10M 000XXX stamped into it. XXX being the build number. The engine numbers of these cars also were in 2 main groups with numbers around the L16 637 *** or L16671*** . These engines were fully assembled in Japan. The cars were fitted with Japanese struts and brake systems.

Prior to the 120 coupes being assembled here, there were two other cars imported by Nissan, one for evaluation that used by a Nissan executive before becoming George Fury's daily driver. This car ( fitted with lots of Nismo race/rally gear from the works team) including an L20B mis-stamped as an L16,  option one box, roll cage, 4 spot calipers and vented disc brakes. The wheels were Enkies naturally. The car was later fitted with a Z18 turbo (85?) around the time of the Bathurst bluebird program. This car was bought By Richard Justic in the early 1990's and is still in Sydney today but without most of the Nismo works bits.

I have owned 6 PA10 coupes at various times including the original jigging shell KPA10 000 000.

 I bought the car below to do up and run in the first Targa Tasmania. It was fitted with an L20B with a fully reconditioned late FIA head and 50mm Works Mikuni's with magnesium air box. The gearbox was a brand new option two. Suspension was by Peter Davis modified works safari struts. Works (Dunlop MK63) four spot calipers and ventilated discs were fitted to the struts. The rear axle was a brand new works stanza complete with (Dunlop MK63) 4 spots and ventilated discs. The completed car is shown beside. 

The car was ruled ineligible to compete in the Targa, as only cars manufactured before ADR's applied (1976) were able to have anything other than stock components apart from brakes and wheels. The car deteriorated badly in the scuttle area a few years after it was put together, due to bogged over rusting from faulty repair work. It was disposed of in 2000, although some parts survive on a friends 4 door stanza club rally car.

1980 STANZA COUPE SSS HISTORY

In 1977 Datsun released the 4 door 1600 cc Stanza PA10 model in Australia. This was a basic 4 door sedan that was tough and intended to follow along the lines of the immensely popular and financially rewarding P510 range of vehicles. In the American market the model was called an A10/510 causing some friction with hard core P510 owners. 

Datsun had SSS performance models in their product line dating back to the mid sixties. In Australia, prior to the A10 models the SSS name had been used on the 411 Bluebird, the P510 Datsun 1600,  the 610 - 180B and the 810 - 200B. The 610 and 810 models were available as 2 door coupes only.

Typically the SSS package uses a range of components to provide above average sportier performance. The SSS vehicles often had a different cylinder head fitted with larger inlet and exhaust ports, different combustion chamber shape and valve sizes. Other modifications were a modified distributor curve, a slight change in camshaft profile and twin SU style carburettors along with suspension and braking changes. On the P510 the SSS changes brought the power up to 109 hp @ 6000 rpm as compared to the base engines 96 hp @ 5600 rpm.  Traditionally Datsun SSS models are based on their small to medium sized cars where the best power to weight ratio gains are available.

THE KPA10 SSS

When the A10 model was introduced to Australia, a SSS version was discussed by the marketing division of Nissan and a prototype model was ordered from the British division based on the 160J SSS sold in the UK. The differences from the KPA10 GMX were black interior upholstery, 5 speed gearbox, revised suspension, larger (38mm) inlet port cylinder head, higher compression, modified camshaft and twin SU carburettors. It still retained the 1600 cc L16 engine despite pressure to use the better performing L18 engine.

The prototype SSS coupe car arrived from the UK in late 1979 for evaluation. It was built in 1979 in the UK but registered as a 1980 Nissan coupe. The car was not fitted with either ADR (Australian Design Rules) compliance plate or an Australian ID/build tag. The car was driven by Allan Robbins from the Nissan production department until 1981as a part of the evaluation process. The car was registered to Nissan Manufacturing Australia P/L and maintained by Nissan's own internal service division. The car was originally intended to be crushed at the end of the evaluation, but was included in batch of cars driven by Nissan executives being sent for sale. The car was delivered to Patterson-Cheney motors at Ringwood when it had 17987.6 km's on the speedometer and was purchased the day it arrived at the dealer. 

The next owner of the prototype kept the car until 1996. Over the 15 years it was fitted with Weber carbs, extractors, a modified camshaft. The cylinder head was modified by Datrally developments. The car gave a healthy 62 Kw at the rear wheels. Later model rectangular headlights and grille were also added.

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In 1996 the car was sold again. This owner kept the car for six years until March 2002.

History shows us that the Stanza SSS coupe was never sold in Australia. We were sold a 4 door SSS sedan that had a five speed, modified suspension and an aerodynamics package with the stock 92hp @ 5800 rpm L16. This package prompted one journalist to dub it -  "A sheep in wolfs clothing"    A sad end to what might have been.

A LIST OF THE COUPE NUMBERS ARE LISTED BELOW. PLEASE MAIL ME ANY OTHERS YOU MAY KNOW OF.