Datsun

The Datsun Bluebird which debuted in August 1959 was an all-new car. It was a small sedan, fitted with a four-cylinder, 988 cc engine. The styling mimiced larger American cars. In July 1960, a five-door station wagon was added, the first station wagon to enter series production in Japan. This generation of Bluebird became one of the first Japanese cars to be sold in significant numbers in Europe, after Finland fully opened its doors to automobile imports in mid-1962.

In September 1963, Nissan brought the Bluebird up-to-date with boxier styling by Pininfarina, resembling European designs, particularly the Lancia Fulvia. It was Nissan's first car of a full unibody design. Initially, only a four-door sedan and five-door station wagon were in the range, but a two-door was added in September 1964. The sporty, two-door SS was launched in February 1965.

The third series Bluebird was launched in October 1967 as a four-door sedan, followed by a two-door sedan (June 1968), five-door station wagon and two-door coupé (November 1968). Its rear-wheel drive engineering was inspired by contemporary European sedans, particularly the 1966 BMW 1600-2 – incorporating an overhead camshaft engine and four-wheel independent suspension. The range became famous for Nissan's rallying successes outside Japan and paved the way for greater Nissan sales internationally.

1967

The fourth series Bluebird was launched in Japan in August 1971. In many export markets, including Europe, this series was badged as the 160B or 180B with respect to their particular engine displacement. The Bluebird name also often appeared in advertising and in brochures. The Bluebird received a facelift in 1974, with prominent turn signals mounted on the front corners and with a more squared off grille as well as new taillamps. 

The fifth series Bluebird was introduced in July 1976. Engine options were largely carried over, while styling was an evolution of the previous model, with slightly squared off features but retaining a slight "coke bottle" shape. The heavy-looking and rather outdated model did not sell very well and Nissan responded by accelerating work on the next generation Bluebird, leaving the fifth series in production for only three years and four months.