Datsun Roadster Vin Decoder

Type your car's vin# in the field below and press the "Decode vin" button to get exact information about your car. Note: This vin decoder is not fully tested. If you get weird or faulty results, please drop us a note.

Datsun Roadster Vin Decoder

Type your car's vin# in the field below and press the "Decode vin" button to get exact information about your car. Note: This vin decoder is not fully tested. If you get weird or faulty results, please drop us a note.

• Only 1.6L engine available.
• Low windshield with chrome handles and chrome interior trim.
• Gauges have a chrome ring.
• Individual gauges in dash only (no combination gauges).
• Dash has 4 toggle switches.
• Seat back has no latch to keep it from going forward.
• Fenders have medium flare.
• Hood support is on passenger side.
• No visors.
• Early style soft/hard top latches.
• All engine threads SAE.
• Emblems say "DATSUN 1600" in a straight line on left, right and back side.
• No head rests.
• 2 point safety belts.

• 2L engine with SU or Solex (option) carburetors.
• Stronger clutch
• 5-speed transmission (2L).
• Dual braking system.
• Aluminium rear brake drum.
• Larger disc wheel.
• Installed torque rod in rear suspension.
• Increased diameter of exhaust manifold (2L)
• Improved cooling with changed radiator fin.
• 50 A.H battery for SP311-U
• Three point safety belt
• Engine &  transmission metric
• Gauges have black rim
• Vent frames, door handle pockets dull grey
• Larger flare on fenders
• Emblem (1600 & 2000) on side of car below side moulding,
• Datsun emblem above side moulding.
• Side moulding is dished out
• Stainless trim around license plate area (2L)
• Headlight scoops are satin finish (2L)
• Dash has 3 toggle switches, wiper has separate pull switch
• The indication of the speedometer raised to 240 km/h (150M/H)  (2L)
• Color zone of the tachometer raised (red 7000 — 8000 r.p.m., yellow 6500 7000). (2L only)
• Unification of the oil pressure and water temperature gauge, and ammeter and fuel meter.
• Shape of seat changed and adjustable seat back inclination
• Sunvisor equipped on both driver and passenger side.
• Soft top frame cover
• 4 way flasher
• Hear restraint (optional)
• Steering lock
• Throttle Control
• Power Windshield Washer
• Door Lock: Inside handle changed to pulling type and lock system changed to knob lock type

Major redesign of the interior and many new safety features introduced.

Changes from previous year:

• New instrument panel padded with thick and resilient foam. 
• New and redesigned instrument panel gauges. Speedo on 1600 reads 120 max, on 2000 it's 160. Tach on 2000 goes to 8000, on 1600 to 7000.
• New combination meter consisting of ammeter, fuel meter, water temperature and oil pressure meter.
• New ignition switch with ACC terminal.
• Audible flasher.
• Brake safety light switch.
• New steering wheel and horn button.
• Collapsible steering column.
• New separate housing for radio and switches.
• Sigarette lighter combined with the ash tray on the floor console.
• Map lamp transferred from beneath the instrument panel to the center console panel.
• Larger inside back mirror and break-away inside mirror stay. Moved from dash to above the windshield.
• Shape of hand brake lever changed for safety.
• New seat trimming.
• Inside pull handles padded with leather thouch resin.
• Rubber knob adopted in the inside regulator handle.
• Door ventilator removed (triangle vent windows do not open).
• Fuse box moved inside the glove box for easy inspection and replacement. Fuse box has one row of fuses.
• Reduced glare finish for glazing surfaces.
• Windshield glass enlarged by 25 mm (aka high windshield).
• Windshield frame changed from sash type to the panel type for greater rigidity. Windshield frame no longer detachable.
• Padded windshield frame. Front pillar and windshield trimming padded with resiient foam padded.
• Windshield washer tank changed from bag type to box type.
• Tandem type two speed windshield wiper.
• Material of soft top changed from cloth to vinyl chloride canvas to provide greater durability.
• Soft top tensioner adjuster changed but with same function as former type.
• Soft top jaw fastener changed according to car safety arguments in the USA.
• Number of top latches increased from two to three.
• Roll bar and headrests available as options.
• Improved radiator shroud for better cooling.
• Arrangment of heater blower and core changed.
• Air flow capacity of the cowl ventilator has been increased.
• Frame and body construction modified for better protection of the passenger compartment.
• Engine hood support guide changed.
• Outside door handle changed from push type to pull type.
• Headlight "scoops" are "satin" finish (2L).
• Tail lamps incorporated into the turn signal lamps.
• Air injection system (USA).
• Fuel tank construction changed and attaching bracket reinforced.

Changes from previous year:

• Frame of soft top modified for finer appearance.
• Arrows added around fan switch knob and the throttle control knob to indicate their operating and locking directions.
• Color of sun visor changed to black to make it the same as that of the surrounding windshield.
• Dials of combination meters modified to make reading easier. Made interchangeable between 1600 and 2000 models.
• Rubber pieces placed between front ends of the rear bumber and the car body to prevent the ends from catching objects.
• Double latch type used for hood lock.
• Wiper blade shape redesigned to prevent it from rising away from the windshield glass at high speeds.
• Head rest employed as standard equipment (USA & Canada).
• Number of reverse lamps increased from 1 to 2 and their location changed (USA & Canada).
• Front and rear fenders fitted with front (tear drop) and rear (round) side marker lamps.
• Head lamp rims identical on both 1600 and 2000 models.
• Vehicle identification plate attached to upper left of the instrument panel pad.
• Cover of the radio housing beneath the instrument panel changed to split type fastened by bolts to allow easy servicing of radio and control knobs.
• Stainless windshield moulding mounted on the periphery of the windhshield by self tapping screws.
• Tunnel panel center carpet furnished with rubber protector to prevent wear caused by operating the accelerator pedal.
• Two rear license lamps attached to the back panel instead of one in the bumper as before.
• Stopper attached to back panel to prevent spare tire from striking license lamp unit.
• Wiring arrangement for the choke altered to prevent it from hampering the rocker cover in operation.
• Brake warning lamp changed to simplify replacement of bulbs.
• Seat slider lever changed from push type to pull up type.
• Muffler assembly mounted more rearward to prevent floor from being heated.
• Changes to the rear combination lamp.
• Battery earth cable shifted from the frame side to the engine side.
• Head lamp circuit altered to have 2 separete circuits to improve safety. Tail and parking lamp circuit also changed. Affected switches updated accordingly.
• Flasher unit changed to because of increased load capacity of the direction and hazard flasher unit.
• Terminals in the fuse block increased from 6 to 8 (two rows).
• Head lamp relay and passing relay changed to accomodate 2 separate fuse units in the head lamp circuit.
• Front apron (piece behind front bumper below grill) with large center vent holes (not the smaller of previous years).
• Steering box changed to recirculating ball style at SRL 09000, SPL 25000 / december 1968 (See also table on top of this page).

Changes from previous year:

• Rectangular side markerlamps, larger rear reflectors next to lower taillights, not above as on 62-69's.
• Front park lamp lenses do not have chrome rim around them.
• Most dash knobs have drawings not words like 68-69.
• Stainless trim above top of windshield frame is no longer used. (only visible with top off)
• Some 70's had extra fuel vapor tank mounted on forward wall of trunk. 

Sources:

• 311s.org Wiki: Service Bulletin - Feb. 1967 Vol.76:  Introduction of New Datsun Sports Car Series.
• 311s.org Wiki: Service Bulletin - Sep. 1967 Vol.84: Safety Features and Air Pollution Control.
• 311s.org Wiki: Service Bulletin - Oct. 1967 Vol.87: Introduction of New Datsun Sports Car (1968 Models)
• 311s.org Wiki: Service Bulletin - Sep. 1968 Vol.98: Introduction of New Datsun Sports Car (1969 Models)
• Rallye Enterprises: Year Your Car Really Is
• Fair Lady Japans First Sports Car by Phill Brook