Description
The Datsun Sunny B10, introduced in 1966, was Nissan’s first car under the Sunny nameplate, designed to compete directly with Toyota’s Corolla in the emerging global market for small, affordable family cars. It marked a major milestone for Nissan, offering modern styling, solid engineering, and practical performance in a compact, economical package.
The B10 was powered by the newly developed A10 engine, a 988 cc inline-four with an overhead valve design. It produced around 56 horsepower, which provided lively performance for a car of its weight and size. The engine was paired with a 4-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive layout. Known for its fuel efficiency and reliability, the A-series engine would become a cornerstone of Nissan’s small car lineup for many years.
The design of the Datsun Sunny B10 was clean and conservative, reflecting global styling trends of the mid-1960s. It featured smooth, uncluttered lines with a slightly squared-off shape, round headlamps, and modest chrome trim. The car was initially offered as a two-door sedan, with a four-door sedan and a three-door wagon (van) variant added later. A two-door coupe version was also introduced to appeal to younger buyers.
Inside, the Sunny B10 had a simple but well-laid-out interior. It provided seating for four or five occupants, depending on configuration, with a relatively spacious cabin for its class. The dashboard featured basic but clear instrumentation, and materials were practical rather than luxurious. Despite its modest price point, the car offered features such as heating and optional radio, helping it appeal to a wide range of customers.
One of the defining features of the Sunny B10 was its light weight and balanced chassis, which made it nimble and easy to drive, especially in urban settings. Its compact size, strong fuel economy, and affordability made it extremely popular both in Japan and in export markets. It was one of the first Japanese cars to gain significant traction in markets like Australia, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The success of the Datsun Sunny B10 laid the foundation for the long-running Sunny line, which would continue through multiple generations and remain a cornerstone of Nissan’s global strategy well into the 1990s. It helped establish Nissan’s reputation for building reliable, economical, and well-designed compact cars.
Today, surviving examples of the Datsun Sunny B10 are prized among collectors of vintage Japanese cars. Their historical importance, charming simplicity, and mechanical robustness make them a significant part of the early JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) legacy.