Datsun name to be revived?

[Ian]

Rumours are that the Datsun name is being readied for a revival, to appeal to a younger audience, in the same way that MINI does.

Datsun used to be synonymous with the 240Z.

[patpending]

Originally Posted by Ian

Rumours are that the Datsun name is being readied for a revival, to appeal to a younger audience, in the same way that MINI does.

Datsun used to be synonymous with the 240Z.

and there will be one with an MP3 link called the Datsun Sony?

a track on which will allegedly last longer than the bodywork?

NB Can't say Datsun means 240Z to me. It means mechanically extremely sound rustbucket.

240Z - wasn't that the MX-8-esque sportscar? Didn't there used to be a video arcade game based on it featuring two sets of electronic "poles" you drove between?

[Cap'n ZS]

ewwwwww. Datsun..to me means interiors that fell to bits, bodies that rotted to pieces and cars that didn't do corners. God help us!

[LeRich]

I think of the 240Z when I hear 'Datsun' but it also conjures up images of awful cheap vinyl-clad cars from the 70s in a colour range worse than BL's. Let it lie, Nissan.

[MGROVERnut]

Originally Posted by rlxs

I think of the 240Z when I hear 'Datsun' but it also conjures up images of awful cheap vinyl-clad cars from the 70s in a colour range worse than BL's. Let it lie, Nissan.

The only way Datsun would work is as a sportscar brand, and on a proper 240z not that thing Nissan are currently trying to flog.

[david_r_bates]

Mini-cab drivers everythere will be rubbing their hands in glee!

[patpending]

Originally Posted by david_r_bates

Mini-cab drivers everythere will be rubbing their hands in glee!

yes, no fuss about this road tax business with a Datsun. There would be an option of "no road tax holder"...

[MGR_Petrolhead]

The first car that springs to mind with Datsun is the 'Cherry' - not a good starting point.

What is wrong with Nissan?

I would say Infiniti would have more success with a smaller car than Datsun.

[xerif]

The logic maybe that bringing in cars like the Cube goes against the safe Nissan image and Datsun could be used on speciality products.

[JohnSwitzer]

The concept seems as half backed as reinventing Austin...

Regards

John

[MGFmad]

Originally Posted by Ian

Rumours are that the Datsun name is being readied for a revival, to appeal to a younger audience, in the same way that MINI does.

Datsun used to be synonymous with the 240Z.

And plenty of horrible 1970s saloons usually painted mustard or blue that rusted like mad. The 120Y being a good example and that horrible Datsun Sunny that my driving instructor had.

[MGROVERnut]

Originally Posted by JohnSwitzer

The concept seems as half backed as reinventing Austin...

Regards

John

Or inventing a brand like Roewe, which sounds like Loewe but is pronounced wrong way but is meant to be Rover.....

Give me a flying A anytime....

[Ian]

We had a couple of Cherry's - a 100A, and 1983 Y reg. Both were able cars, and supremely reliable, but rusted away very quickly

[streetrover]

Originally Posted by MGROVERnut

Or inventing a brand like Roewe, which sounds like Loewe but is pronounced wrong way but is meant to be Rover.....

Give me a flying A anytime....

You mean the 'new' brand people in China were already familiar with

I think its fair to say Austin has far more in the locker than Datsun did. That, and very little choice if the desire is to bring in a mainstream brand (whereas Nissan can stick with Nissan).

[oma2la]

I think the rumour (in which I don't put a lot of faith) was that the Datsun brand might be revived in the United States to go up against Toyota's Scion subsidiary. Here in the US Datsun carries an entirely different range of associations than in the UK. When you say "Datsun" people think of the 240Z and 260Z, as well as the still popular 510, which was rear-wheel-drive. There's still quite a few of the old Z coupes around - in fact I can look out the window and see one right now....