No.217 Fairlady 2000 (1968 : SRL311)
In March 1967, the powerful 2000 series was added to the Fairlady lineup (sold alongside the 1600). It was powered
by the 4-cylinder in line U20 engine (OHC, 1,982cc). Equipped with twin Solex carbs it delivered a maximum output of 145PS, and its top speed of 205 km/h was the best in Nissan's history at the time. The vehicle
shown is the left-hand drive American export model with SU twin-carb engine (125PS).
Origin of the Fairlady name
The Fairlady pedigree is intimately connected with the development of the sports car in Japan. In 1961, the then president of Nissan, Katsuji Kawamata, was in the US
when he chanced to hear of the Broadway musical "My Fair Lady", which was enjoying a long run. At the time, Nissan was planning to launch an improved version of the Datsun sports car (SPL213) in North
America, and the President thought it would be a good idea to name the car "Fairlady" in the hope that it would prove to be similarly popular.
The Fairlady's predecessor, the Datsun Sports (S211), had indeed been popular when exhibited two years earlier, in 1959, Los Angeles Imported Car Show. Exports to the US had just started, so the new
name given to this improved version helped with the promotion, and as a result there was a surge in sales.
The SPL213 - the first-generation Fairlady, with a 1,189cc engine (60PS) - was launched in 1961. The SP310, often mistaken as the first-generation model, was actually introduced in the following year;
it had a 1,488cc engine (71PS) and cost 850,000 yen. The Fairlady Z with a closed body was launched in 1969.
Fairlady and the 1st Japan Grand Prix
In May 1963, the 1st Japan Grand Prix Race was held at the recently completed Suzuka Circuit, watched by a huge crowd of 200,000 fans. It was Suzuka's
first big race and the atmosphere was electric.
Driven by G. Tahara, the Fairlady 1500 (SP310) was entered in the Sports Car Race B-II (1,301-2,500cc). Having come in 3rd in the official qualifier, Tahara
managed to dash ahead at the start of the main event, taking the lead and staying there all the way to the checkered flag. In this class the foreign cars had been considered to enjoy an absolute advantage, but the
Fairlady 1500 had succeeded in shaking off the pursuing Triumph TR4, MGB, Fiat and other renowned sports cars. And with the best lap (3min. 14.4sec.) also to its credit, the Fairlady's victory was complete. It was a
memorable day in the history of Nissan, but it was also a glittering achievement for the Japanese automobile industry as a whole. In a fair contest of performance and skill, Japan had beaten the best sports cars
from the countries that had always been top in the field. Japan could now consider them as equals.
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