| 1970–1973 | 1971–1989 (Sunny Truck) }} | Japan:
Zama, Kanagawa (
Zama Plant) | Australia | New Zealand:
Thames (
CMI) | New Zealand:
Waitara (
Motor Holdings) }} | 2/4-door
sedan | 3/5-door
wagon/
van | 2-door
coupé }} | | (PB110) | (GB120/122) }} }} The second-generation Nissan Sunny (
B110) was launched in January 1970 and was known as the
Datsun 1200 in export markets. This new model was slightly larger in all dimensions to match its market rival, the equally popular
Toyota Corolla. The two companies continued a game of one-upmanship which had started when Toyota gave the Corolla an 1,100 cc engine and prominently featured the additional displacement over its Sunny rival. Predictably, Nissan responded by giving the second generation Sunny a 1,200 cc engine and a somewhat controversial marketing campaign with the theme "the car next to me looks small." The Datsun 1200 featured
MacPherson strut front suspension with optional
disc brakes and an economical
1.2-litre A12-series engine, an enlarged version of the A10 used in the B10-series Sunny. A five-door
station wagon was added to the Sunny range in addition to the three-door wagon. In April 1970 a GX (Grand Luxury) trim with
twin-carburetor engine was added for the Japanese market. In January 1972 a minor facelift occurred in the Japanese market with a new hood, grille and other small modifications and equipment fitting. In August 1972 the GX-5 model was added in Japan, which improved on the GX by fitting a direct-fifth (non-overdrive) five-speed manual transmission. The Sunny Coupé 1200GX was offered as an alternative to the Toyota Corolla Levin and Toyota Sprinter Trueno, which were performance package trim levels on the more economical Corolla and Sprinter models. For the 1973 model year, US models were re-specified with energy-absorbing bumpers, fire-resistant interiors and other government-mandated safety items. The B110 made its racing debut at the Fuji 200-mile race on 23 November 1970 in the TS1300 class, a class dominated by the
Toyota Corolla; only one
works Nissan challenged Toyota yielding a victory for driver Makoto Suzuki. In Australia and New Zealand, the Datsun 1200 was highly regarded for its effectiveness as a rally car. The
Datsun 1600 generally rated highest among entry-level Datsuns, and the 1200 a close second. The 1200 also took road racing victories, such as winning Class A (for cars costing less than AU$1960) at the
1970 Bathurst 500. In South Africa, the B110 was sold through 1976. A pick up derivative, featuring a 1400 cc engine, was sold until 2008 when emissions laws forced the end of its production. Over 275,000 were sold to customers who appreciated the rugged rear-wheel-drive design. In New Zealand, a special edition
Datsun 1200 SSS four-door sedan with twin side-draft Dell'Orto 40 mm carburetors, different camshaft, 5-slot aluminium wheels and cosmetic changes in both exterior and interior, it was assembled and marketed locally, about 800 were made. The 1200 was popular in New Zealand, where it was contract-assembled at a two factories (sedans at Campbell Industries in Thames; three-door wagons at Motor Holdings, Waitara). A small number of Deluxe sedans and more numerous coupes were imported from Japan. The car remained in NZ production well into 1974 as Nissan NZ was unsure how the public would react to the oddly styled 120Y successor.
Europe In the UK the Datsun 1200 was the first Japanese car to sell in large numbers, being the company's best seller there when its sales soared from just over 6,000 cars in 1971 to more than 30,000 a year later. The 120Y model, launched there in the autumn of 1973, helped take the brand from strength to strength, as did the smaller Cherry models. It was well equipped for its price with disc brakes and reclining front seats. This model established Datsun as the top Japanese exporter of cars to the United Kingdom. In Portugal, Entreposto Comercial assembled the 1200 locally from 1972 until 1974. It was very successful in the Portuguese market, and dominated the local racing and rally scene. The 1200 was so popular in competition that a single-car racing series, the
Troféu Datsun 1200 ("Datsun 1200 Trophy"), was instituted and ran for several years. To capitalize on its competition success, a sporty Datsun 1200 S1 two-door sedan was also derived by Nissan's local affiliate. The S1 made use of the free-flow exhaust from the Troféu cars, a modified camshaft, increased compression ratio, modified valves with double springs, polished cylinder head and manifold headers, and double carburetors. Power increased from the of the standard car to . Cosmetically, it received side stripes, wider wheels and tires, a sports steering wheel by De Moura, and a centre console with additional instrumentation. The
New York Yankees used a Datsun 1200 as a
bullpen car in the 1970s. The Datsun 1200 was rated the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the United States by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1973, in overall driving pattern. as rated by the government at The Sunny, however, was only rated the most fuel efficient as the EPA had not yet tested the
Honda Civic. These values dropped in 1972 as various power-sapping anti-smog measures were introduced. It was assembled locally and marketed in New Zealand during the 1980s in two trims: "RoadStar" and "SportStar". It was capable of . B120s were not sold in North America, partly due to the US "
Chicken Tax" and partly because perceptions of vehicle size meant that the 620/720 series were considered small pickups. In 1978, in the Japanese market, the B121 model replaced the B120, with the most notable change being a switch to a plastic grille of the type used by the B110 coupé. Also notable was a change to upscale round instrumentation. The B120 was particularly successful in South Africa. In 1977, for instance, it was the most sold commercial vehicle of any type there. It continued in production there long into the 21st century. It received a very mild facelift in 1978, with a new grille and taillight treatment, as well as interior upgrades. == Third generation (B210; 1973) ==