240 Landmarks Top ＞ Passenger Cars, Part 2 ＞ Bluebird P311 　Bluebird P311 The Datsun Bluebird P310 was released in July 1959 as the culmination of improvements to the 110 model, which was originally released in the mid 1950s. The P311 was developed in the context of the motorization of Japanese society, in which the number of family cars was increasing and there was demand for better performance and lower price. The name "Bluebird" came from a fairy story of the same name by Maeterlinck. It was chosen as the name of the finished Japanese version of a small passenger car to represent the desire of the world for happiness as described in Maeterlinck's play. Its main characteristics were as follows: 1) elegant styling that combined a sense of modern beauty and stability 2) nimble steering and top-class road holding 3) smooth ride comfort with no pitching movement 4) Japan's first uni-servo brakes 5) a turning radius of 4.9 m (conventionally this was 5 m) 6) 1000 cc and 1200 cc engines with good acceleration 7) a trunk capable of holding 5 golf bags. After its release, the rear seats were widened by 40 mm and the passenger capacity increased from 4 to 5. As a result, it was well received since small taxis could now carry more people for the same price. In addition, 1960 saw the release of the improved 1961 model, in which the output of the 1000 cc and 1200 cc engines was boosted to 45 hp and 55 hp, respectively, by the use of a twin-throat carburetor. A fully synchromeshed 3-speed transmission was also offered. The 1963 model was released in the autumn of 1962, featuring minor changes centered on the design of the rear. The Bluebird sold 210,000 units in 4 years, of which 32,000 were exported, both records for a single model. Storage location : NISSAN ZAMA MEMORIAL WAREHOUSE (2-5000, Hironodai, Zama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 228-0012) Year manufactured : 1961 Manufacturer : Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Classification : Mass-production vehicle Current status : In storage: not open to the public Vehicle name / Manufacture Vehicle name : Datsun Bluebird (1200) Model name : P311 Company name : Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Year manufactured : 1961 Collaboration : Donation from Mr. Suzuki Vehicle type/usage : Passenger car Location of actual vehicle/replica : Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Zama Model / Weight Style : Sedan Number of doors : 4 Passenger capacity : 5 Vehicle weight : 890 kg Body / Size Bumpers : Steel Step : None Overall length : 3860 mm Overall width : 1496 mm Overall height : 1480 mm Tire size : 5.60-13-4P Body / Axle / Driving / Others Frame : All welded box section ladder type Front axle : Wishbone, balljoint type Rear axle : Semifloating type Wheelbase : 2280 mm Front tread x rear tread : 1209×1194 mm Vehicle height adjustment : None Steering : Cam and lever type Dampers : Hydraulic single-acting cylinder Stabilizer : Provided Driving stability devices : None Engine / Size / Power Engine name : E1 type Cooling/cylinder arrangement : Water-cooled/inline 4-cylinder Valve train : OHV Carburetor : Hitachi VAA28 type Bore x stroke : 73×71 mm Displacement : 1189 cc Ignition system : Battery ignition coil type Max. power/r.p.m. : 55 ps/4800 rpm Max. torque/r.p.m. : 8.8 kgm/3600 rpm Supercharger : None Variable ignition system : None Fuel tank capacity : 31 L Hybrid Hybrid system type : None Drive-train Transmission : 3-speed (full synchronization) Drive system : FR Performance Mode fuel efficiency : - Reference materials : 1) "Nissan Jidosha 30 Nenshi", Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., 1965; "Fifty Years of Datsun" (Separate volume of CG), Nigensha, 1983; 3) "Datsun Hensen-shi", Motor Age, 35 240 Landmarks Top ＞ Passenger Cars, Part 2 ＞ Bluebird P311