Datsun

In December 1965, Nissan held a national campaign in Japan to name its newest product in a mail-in ballot, and after receiving over eight million submissions, the name Sunny was chosen after having been suggested 3,105 times. The Datsun Sunny, exported as the Datsun 1000, was launched in September 1966 with two body styles, a two-door sedan and a van/station wagon. The car featured a four-cylinder, 988 cc engine and a four-speed gearbox. In October 1967, a four-door sedan was added to the lineup, followed by a coupé - only available in Japan and Australia - in February 1968. 

1967

The second-generation Sunny 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 car featured an economical 1,171 cc engine, an enlarged version of the one used in the previous Sunny. 

Exported as the Datsun 120Y, the third generation Sunny was extremely popular as it debuted during the 1973 oil crisis: it was economical, offered great value for money and was very reliable. A facelift was introduced in February 1976, which included a changed grille and other minor changes, such as new wing mirrors and hubcaps. The most important differences were under the hood, where the engine had been upgraded to meet Japan's 1976 emissions standards.

In October 1977, the fourth series Sunny was introduced. The design received a certain amount of criticism: it was seen as old-fashioned and dumpy at the rear, while the plastic detailing was referred to as overworked. This generation was the last Sunny to utilize the front engine and rear-wheel drive layout.

1979