Datsun Bluebird

1966 - 411 Series

The 1966 Datsun Bluebird 411 was the last vehicle in the 410/411 model line, but it featured quite a few changes in it's last couple of years.

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The most noticable changes were to the front and back of the car. At the front the 1966 model featured a new grille design that was significantly different to the previous models. On the older models the grille was heavilly concaved, with the middle of the grille being set well inwards from the front line of the car. On the 1966 model the new grille sits flush with the grille opening. The new grille features seven horizontal bars and has a tall and narrow badge mounted in the middle with a D in the centre.

At the back of the car there is a new tail light design, which required a new panel for the back of the car. On the previous models the tail light had a large round stop light with a rectangular lens attached to the side of it. On the 1966 model the tail light is a rectangular shape with the ends rounded off. The badges feature a new design, with a more angular font on the side Bluebird badges. Most non-Asian markets had a Datsun badge in block letters.

Mechanically the car remained largely unchanged, with it using the same engine as the 1965 411, which was the 1299cc 67hp J series engine. The SSS Super Sports Sedan version was also available, which was fitted with the 1595cc 96hp engine from the Datsun Fairlady 1600 sports car.

 By 1966, while the sales of the Bluebird continued to grow, their sales increase didn't match the size of the sales increase enjoyed by some of it's major Japanese competitors. Most of this was due to it's relatively small engine. The Toyota Corona, Isuzu Bellett and Prince Skyline by this time all had 1500cc engines and were comfortably quicker than the 1299cc Bluebird. The place this was felt the most was in the United States. 

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This situation would be fixed in a couple of years by the significantly more powerful Datsun 510, with it's over head cam 1600 engine, which was being developed at the time. Nissan needed a stop-gap measure to stand up to the opposition in the USA, and what they did was rather unusual. From part of the way through 1966 until the 510 went into production in August 1967, Nissan started selling the RL411 Bluebird SSS with a lower equipment specification in the USA. This car was effectively a SSS with a P411 interior, and no SSS badges. This model was only available in America, and was marketed as the Datsun 1600. A wagon version was also offered.

The last 411 Bluebird was built in August 1967, the car was replaced by the all new Datsun Bluebird 510.

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Model Variations

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Standard Model

 An entry level model was also available. These had no shiny stainless steel trims on the door frames, or the windscreen frames. They also have no trims along the sills and no over riders on the bumpers. The badges on these models are silver instead of gold coloured. Instead of having hubcaps that cover the whole wheel they instead have tiny discs that only cover the wheel centre.  

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WP411 - Wagon Model

 A wagon version of the 411 went on sale at the same time as the sedan. The wagon had a one piece rear door that was hinged at the top, the previous 312 had a two piece door arangement. Wagons have a Wagon badge on the tailgate door on the right hand side. A deLuxe and standard version were available.  

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P411 - deLuxe Model

The Datsun P411 is the deLuxe version of the Datsun 411 sedan. Amongst other differences it has stainless steel door window frame trims and wider strips along the side of the car.   

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R411 - Bluebird SSS

 The SSS was a high performance sedan version of the 1965 Bluebird. Essentially the same as the deLuxe version of the 411, except that the SSS used a slightly modified version of the engine and mechanicals from the Datsun Fairlady sports car.  

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Datsun DP411-L Fancy deLuxe  

A "Fancy deLuxe" version was offered for the ladies, included bigger mirrors, a vanity mirror on the driver's side sunvisor, an under-dash stilletto shoe holder, an automatic clutch, bigger inside door handles, and an indicator that plays music box music instead of just making a clicking sound. They were all pale yellow with a pale yellow and grey interior.

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Datsun V411 Bluebird Van    

A commercial vehicle version of the wagon was also available, this can be distinguished from the regular wagon by the addition of some bars in the windows of the cargo are to protect the glass should the cargo move around.

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Datsun P411-R Two Door

 A two door version of the 411 was also made. The 2 door is exactly the same dimensions as the 4 door, except that it has longer front doors. The seats are unique to this models, as they fold forwards to allow access to the rear seat, the buckets in the 4 doors have fixed backs.  

Other Model Variations

There were several different model variations for the 410 series, and these can usually be identified by their model code.

Prefixes

W = If the model code begins with a W, then the vehicle is a wagon.

P is the code meaning 'power up', which is Nissan speak for a larger engine. If a 410 series car is a P410, then it has an E-1 series engine, if it is just a 410 (no P), then it has the C-1 series engine.

D indicates it is a deLuxe version

L indicates that the car is a left hand drive version. 

Suffixes

-R signifies that it is the 2 door model

-L is a Fancy deLuxe

-M means that the car was fitted with twin carbs

-N indicates that the car has the auto-clutch option

-T shows that the car has the 4 speed floor change gearbox

-U indicates that it has the 4.375:1 ratio final drive. Only export models had the 4.375 final drive, so the -U also indicates that it is an export model.

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Many of these codes, particularly the suffixes, are internal codes used by Nissan themselves and are not printed on the vehicle anywhere.

1966 Datsun 411 Specifications

Length - 3995mm
Width - 1490mm
Height - 1390mm
Wheelbase - 2380mm
Weight - 885kg
Top speed - 128kph
Transmission - Column change 3 speed or floor change 4 speed

E-1 Series Engine Specifications

1200 Engine
Model - E-1
OHV 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 1189cc
Bore & Stroke 73x71mm
Power - 60bhp@5000rpm
Torque- 67ft/lb@3600rpm
Compression - 7.5 : 1
Carburettor - Nikki dual throat downdraught
Final drive - 4.625:1

J Series Engine Specifications

1300 Engine
Model - J
OHV 4 Cylinder
Capacity - 1299cc
Bore & Stroke 73x77mm
Power - 67bhp@5200rpm
Torque - 77ft/lb@4000rpm
Compression - 8.2 : 1
Carburettor - Nikki dual throat down draught
Final drive - 4.375:1 

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