All Nissan Bluebird
from 1955 to 2013
Nissan Bluebird road car |
1955 : Generation 1
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Although Nissan's own materials indicate that the Bluebird name emerged in 1959, some records show that the name first adorned a 988 cc, 34 hp (25 kW) four-door sedan in 1957, which was part of the company's 210 series.
Its engine was based on an Austin design, as Nissan had been building the Austin A50 Cambridge under licence in the 1950s.
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1959 : Generation 2
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The Datsun Bluebird which debuted for August 1959 was an all-new car, and was available in Japan at the dealership sales channel Nissan Exhibition.
The 310 series had a 1 L engine from the 210 model.
The 310 was built from 1960-1963.
There were three models built: 310 (1960), 311 (1961), and 312 (1962–1963).
In Taiwan it also replaced the 701 and was known as Yue Loong Bluebird 704.
The Datsun 312 was also sold in Korea.The 310 series was also built in South Africa at a factory in Rosslyn Pretoria in CKD f ...
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1963 : Generation 3
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In September 1963, Nissan brought the Bluebird up-to-date with boxier styling (by Pininfarina), resembling European designs.
The 410 was built from 1964-1967.
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1967 : Generation 4
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The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1974, and offered outside the U.S.
and Canada as the Datsun 1600.
According to AutoWeek's G.D.
Levy, the 510 has often been called the "poor man's BMW." The 510's engineering was inspired by contemporary European sedans, particularly the 1966 BMW 1600-2, incorporating a SOHC engine, MacPherson strut suspension in front and independent, semi-trailing arms in the back.
The European-influenced sheet metal design is attributed to Datsun in-ho ...
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1971 : Generation 5
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The 610 series was launched in Japan in August 1971 and was badged as the Datsun Bluebird-U.
The meaning behind the U suffix is uncertain, but it has been suggested that it was an acronym for either User or Ultra.
For the Japanese domestic market, the 610 was pitted against the second generation Toyota Corona Mark II.
Also in Japan, the 610 was initially sold alongside the 510 but eventually replaced the 510.
610's were available in a 4dr, 2dr hardtop (HT), and five-door wagon.
Trim levels in Japan were GL ...
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1976 : Generation 6
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The 810 was introduced in July 1976.
Engine options were carried over but a 1.4 L was reintroduced in August 1978.
Styling was an evolution of the 610's, with slightly squared off features but retaining a slight "coke bottle".
No two-door sedan was available, but the four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupé ( SSS Coupe) and five-door station wagon were offered.
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1980 : Generation 7
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Nissan began realigning its export names with the home market with the 910 series in November 1979.
The 'B' tags were dropped in favour of 'Bluebird', though the models were 'Datsun Bluebird' initially.
The body style options remained the same but the look was characterized by a boxy style, considered modern at the time.
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1983 : Generation 8
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The Bluebird switched to front-wheel drive in October 1983 but retained the boxy styling of its predecessor.
At the time, Nissan's design chief balked at curvy shapes and believed boxy ones would remain popular.
With hindsight, that went directly against the trend and the market's obsession with drag coefficients.
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1986 : Generation 9
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The T12 and the later T72 Nissan Bluebird, is in fact a third generation Auster, rebadged and sold in Europe.
However, its well known build quality and reliability and the influential role it had in what is now Europe’s most efficient car factory merits the T12/72 its Bluebird badge.
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1987 : Generation 10
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The Nissan Bluebird (U12) was released in September 1987 and was offered in four-door sedan and four-door hardtop body types.
It was designed to have a rounded appearance in comparison to the previous generation.
The hardtop sedan was later fitted with a center "B" pillar structure to increase body stiffness.
The top level car was the V6 VG20ET "Bluebird Maxima" station wagon from the previous generation U11 series and was still in production at the introduction of this generation.
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1991 : Generation 11
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The U13 series was launched in Japan in September 1991 as a four-door sedan and four-door hardtop.
The two models were visually distinct: the four-door sedan had curves where its U12 predecessor had edges, while the hardtop, called the Nissan Bluebird ARX, had more traditional styling.
The Bluebird wagon was replaced by the new Nissan Avenir.
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1996 : Generation 12
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Nissan switched to boxy styling for the U14 Bluebird for January 1996.
The American Altima had different front and rear ends, in keeping with its sports sedan positioning.
But in its home market, the Bluebird was targeted more at buyers who favoured the formality of larger Japanese sedans.
However, the SSS trim was retained, though it no longer referred to a truly sporting model in the range.
To fit in with a lower bracket in Japanese taxation legislation, the U14 retained a 1,700 mm width.
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2000 : Generation 13
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The G10 Bluebird Sylphy is basically the N16 Pulsar with more luxury touch and a vertical chrome grille.
The G10 Bluebird Sylphy uses Nissan's FF-S platform.
Engine choice are the 1.5 QG15DE, 1.6L QG16DE, 1.8 L QG18DE, and the 2.0 L QR20DE.
A 5-speed manual transmission is only for the 1.5 L and 1.6 L cars, others have a 4-speed automatic transmission.
4WD is only offered for the 1.8 L model.
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2005 : Generation 14
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The G11 Bluebird Sylphy was launched at the Tokyo Motor Show 2005; it uses Nissan B platform.
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