Datsun went from small-timer to main power in the US in the course of the decade of the Nineteen Seventies, and Nissan determined to have fun the next decade by promoting the Violet-based Auster with Stanza badges right here, whereas concurrently phasing out the Datsun title in favor of the particular title of the corporate. At the moment’s Junkyard Gem is a first-year instance of the Stanza, present in a Colorado self-service boneyard not too long ago.
The Stanza was meant to suit between the Datsun 310 and the Datsun 810 Maxima in Nissan’s 1982 American showroom lineup. The MSRP for the bottom four-door hatchback was $6,999, or about $22,767 in 2024 {dollars}. That made it a bit pricier than the better-equipped Toyota Corolla sedans however so much cheaper than the Toyota Corona (then in its ultimate 12 months earlier than being changed by the Camry).
The Stanza lived on the Violet platform right here by means of 1989, then grew to become a Bluebird. For the 1993 mannequin 12 months, it grew to become the Stanza Altima in the US, with the Stanza title lingering on the covers of Altima proprietor’s manuals by means of 1996 earlier than getting stuffed into Nissan’s reminiscence gap.
What to name the 1982 Stanza stays one thing of a problem, as a result of Nissan was getting severe concerning the de-Datsunification of its North American-market autos when this automotive was constructed, but did not wish to sacrifice all of the title recognition Datsun had earned right here. The badges have been pried off this automotive by a junkyard shopper, nevertheless it as soon as had an enormous DATSUN emblem on the left facet of the hatch and an enormous NISSAN STANZA badge on the correct facet.
Formally, it was marketed because the Nissan Stanza, bought by your Datsun (“Product of Nissan”) supplier. In the meantime, 1982 and 1983 autos nonetheless badged as Datsuns have been getting “by Nissan” badges. The Sentra first appeared in the US in 1982, and it additionally bought Datsun badging at first.
It took till 1984 for the title change to take full impact, though some early 1984 mannequin Nissans bought Datsun badges right here. Many years later, Nissan revived the Datsun title, earlier than killing once more it a few years again. The man who thought up that concept needed to depart Tokyo in a rush.
Like its Altima descendants, the Stanza was a variety of automotive for the cash. This can be a 2.0-liter SOHC straight-four rated at 88 horsepower and 112 pound-feet, not dangerous for a Malaise Period automotive that scaled in at a mere 2,220 kilos.
A five-speed handbook transmission was base tools, with a three-speed computerized priced at $280 ($911 right this moment).
This automotive has the handbook transmission, nevertheless it additionally has some few extra-cost choices. The air-con added $590 ($1,919 now) to the worth tag.
The AM/FM radio and tilt steering wheel got here at no additional value within the XE trim degree. Notice the DATSUN emblem on the tuner dial.
I’ve discovered a junkyard Stanza with higher than 400,000 miles on its odometer, however this one simply squeaked previous 160,000 throughout its profession.
Nissan was one of many premier producers of Bordello Purple™ automotive interiors in the course of the Eighties.
The household automotive of the longer term!
As soon as the 310 went away, the Sentra grew to become the mannequin positioned just under the Stanza.
The JDM variations of this automotive bought completely different snouts.
