[Healeys] Datsun AH Fairlady Copy

[Alan Seigrist]

Hi Reinhart -

Yes, both before and after the war, Nissan had a very close
relationship with Austin - in fact many of their 1930s models are
Austin 7s build under license.  After the war they built A40s and
A50s.   Actually the connection was so close that even after Datsun
started building their own cars and motors, the engine-gearbox mount
patterns were still interchangeable.  For example, Datsun 1500 motors
are direct bolt up compatible into MGBs (MG was part of Austin in the
1950s and 60s).  In addition those of use with BJ8s in California were
unable, for years, to find HD8 carbs at any auto wreckers because all
the Datsun 240 racers and modders would take the HD8s and put them on
their cars as a direct bolt on upgrade to the SU-Hitachi H6 carb.

Cheers,

Alan

On Wed, Oct 3, 2012 at 4:02 PM, Reinhart Rosner <reinhart.rosner at aon.at>
wrote:
> Alan,
>
> thank you for sharing. I only knew about the later Datsun Fairlady, which
> had straighter lines.
>
> Very interesting in the film is that they show an Austin at 0:14 which
might
> be an A 30, from the size it is rather an A 40 or A 70. Did they produce
> Austins in Japan?
>
> Best,
>
> Reinhart
>
>
>
>
> Reinhart Rosner
> 55 100 BN 1
> Vienna - Austria
>
>
> -----Urspr|ngliche Nachricht-----
> Von: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
> Im Auftrag von Alan Seigrist
> Gesendet: Mittwoch, 03. Oktober 2012 03:25
> An: Healey
> Betreff: [Healeys] Datsun AH Fairlady Copy
>
> Here's a very nice picture I saw today in today's WSJ of the Datsun copy of
> the Austin Healey.
>
> Figured you might appreciate it.
>
>
http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-SA732_0302da_H_20120302150341.j
> pg
>
> And you can see one in the Nissan's DNA garage video:
>
>
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443890304578009284279919750.ht
>
ml?KEYWORDS=cars#project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB10001424052970203986604577257
> 653971375934%26articleTabs%3Dvideo
>
> Best,
>
> Alan