Datsun went from small-timer to main pressure in the US in the course of the decade of the 1970s, and Nissan determined to rejoice 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. Right this 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 rather a lot cheaper than the Toyota Corona (then in its ultimate yr earlier than being changed by the Camry).
The Stanza lived on the Violet platform right here by 1989, then grew to become a Bluebird. For the 1993 mannequin yr, it grew to become the Stanza Altima in the US, with the Stanza title lingering on the covers of Altima proprietor’s manuals by 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 in regards to the de-Datsunification of its North American-market automobiles when this automobile 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 automobile by a junkyard shopper, but it surely as soon as had an enormous DATSUN emblem on the left facet of the hatch and an enormous NISSAN STANZA badge on the proper facet.
Formally, it was marketed because the Nissan Stanza, bought by your Datsun (“Product of Nissan”) vendor. In the meantime, 1982 and 1983 automobiles nonetheless badged as Datsuns have been getting “by Nissan” badges. The Sentra first appeared in the US in 1982, and it additionally obtained Datsun badging at first.
It took till 1984 for the title change to take full impact, though some early 1984 mannequin Nissans obtained Datsun badges right here. A long time 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 go away Tokyo in a rush.
Like its Altima descendants, the Stanza was quite a lot of automobile for the cash. It is a 2.0-liter SOHC straight-four rated at 88 horsepower and 112 pound-feet, not unhealthy for a Malaise Period automobile that scaled in at a mere 2,220 kilos.
A five-speed handbook transmission was base tools, with a three-speed automated priced at $280 ($911 right this moment).
This automobile has the handbook transmission, but it surely 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 price within the XE trim stage. 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 Crimson™ automobile interiors in the course of the 1980s.
The household automobile 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 automobile obtained totally different snouts.
