Readers' Photos # 107: Datsun 200B (810) SSS

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I doubt there's a better example of a 200B than this superb SSS anywhere, such is its condition and presentation!  It's not an exaggeration to suggest that it looks absolutely brand new with pristine deep maroon duco, a sumptuous and oh-so '80s deep red velour interior, and a bang-on for period set of alloy wheels.

The grille identifies it as a second series edition (circa 1980), while the coupe-only taillights hint that its styling may have been more heavily influenced by JDM vehicles than their sedan and wagon siblings.  It might even be that all coupes were imported, even after production of the four door variants began in Australia.  As a two door, it'd be fair to say that the SSS sat at the top of the line-up, arguably classier than the up-market yet sporty Aspen and more performance orientated SX, both of which were sedan-based.       

A range of base- and mid-spec sedans and station wagons (estates) rounded out Datsun's 200B offerings.  Sadly, very few now exist - at least on Australian roads - the majority having succumbed to rust and owner neglect.

Research has failed to shed any light on the 200B SSS' specifications and if, like its 180B SSS predecessor, it ran twin SU carbies, a five bearing crank or even a five-speed 'box.  It's not clear if the 200B SSS retained the 180B's independent rear suspension, either; apparently only the fully-imported first series cars retained that feature with later Aussie-built versions going to a coil spring / live axle setup but sources are silent on the specifics of two door variants like the one featured here.


For some reason, the 200B SSS was not as popular as the 180B version, perhaps because it had lost some of the latter's performance edge.  They're actually so thin on the ground in Australia that the Canberra correspondent, who knows his cars very, very well, had never seen one before.  He certainly couldn't have hoped for a better introduction to the model that the one he found!








U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Photos by the Canberra Correspondent.





Comments

  1. nealed105 April 2021 at 12:05

    My understanding was the the SSS s door version had the independent rear suspension.
    I bought a TRX off an owner of one of this model (200B SSS) in Canberra; maybe this is the car he was doing up. He wanted to keep the TRX purely for it's head with proper Datsun twin carb setup and exhaust manifolding. The reason being, his 200B SSS did not have it. So maybe none of them came so equipped.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alastair Watson3 January 2022 at 08:37

      Interesting that the 200B SSS didn't have the twin-carbs / better manifold. It's cool that it had independent rear suspension, though; that'd been dropped on the rest of the line-up.

      Delete
  2. Galantman8 April 2021 at 12:23

    Stunning hardtop

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous30 May 2022 at 00:05

    I love that color! Would you happen to know the color code?

    ReplyDelete

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