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ABOUT
THE C210 / C211 NISSAN SKYLINE |
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With the C110 having drawn to a
close and the oil crisis putting
an end to the more performance oriented
Skylines, where was the range to
go? Well it would just continue
its trend as it had done in previous
years and in 1977 the 5th Generation,
C210 was released.
Although the lineup did not include
a GT-R, it still used the same formula
as the previous generation, with
sedans, coupes & wagons with
a variety of engines all as part
of the mix. The approach to the
80′s was evident in the styling
of the 5th Gen cars, the curvy lines
of the 70′s had been replaced by
angular, sharpened edges, the unmistakable
Skyline look was still there though
with the square cut over the rear
arch and in domestic models, the
signature round rear lamps.
Again, the export market received
the '240K GT' label, though this
time it was partnered by 'Skyline'.
Instead of being a Nissan Skyline
as it was known in its home land,
in export markets it was the Datsun
Skyline 240K GT. One of the larger
export markets for the GC210 was
the UK who seemed to receive a disproportionate
amount of hardtops compared to the
sedan. Australia was the other market
to receive a decent share of the
GC210, continuing on from their
haul of GC110′s.
The Japanese nickname for the C210/211
was 'Skyline Japan' which makes
finding information on them relatively
difficult!
MODELS (VERY BASICS)
1600TI - 1.6 L Z16 I4, ??? hp
1800TI - 1.8 L Z18 I4, ??? hp
1800TI-EL - 1.8 L Z18E I4, ??? hp
2000GT-EL - 2.0 L L20E I6, ??? hp
2000GT-EX - 2.0 L L20ET turbo I6,
??? hp
Datsun 240K-GT - 2.4 L L24 I6, ???
hp
The landmark for the Skyline Japan
was the inclusion in the range of
a turbocharged version. Though this
did not come out until the face-lifted
C211 series. With the loss of the
GT-R the only version in the range
to receive anything of a real performance
nature was the GT Turbo. The problem
of course being that the 6-cylinder
L20ET wasn’t exactly a massive powerhouse
though that didn’t stop the Skyline
from becoming a cult classic figure
with the aid of the Seibu Keisatsu
series.
Such wonderful technological wizardry,
which of course continued in the
Seibu Keisatsu series when the R30
was released after the C210/C211.
Engines in the C210 series ranged
from the previous L-series in both
4 and 6-cylinder forms and when
the C211 facelift took over the
L-4 was replaced by the Z-series.
Not only was the C211 the coming
of the turbo Skyline it was also
the release of the diesel Skyline
with a LD28 6-cylinder diesel made
available in both Hardtop and Sedan
form. Power in the C210 ranged from
100bhp in the lowly L16 (4-cylinder
1600cc) version to 130bhp in the
L20E (6-cylinder 1990cc) and in
the C211 91bhp in the LD28 (6-cylinder
2792cc, Diesel) to 145bhp in the
L20ET (6-cylinder, 1990cc, Turbo)
Only 15bhp more than the non-turbo
version.
The differences between the C210
and C211 are quite evident in the
nose of the car. The C210 retaining
the quad round lamps at the front
and the C211 switching to the more
80′s sleek large rectangular lamps.
Such is the scary way of the 80′s
vehicles, sharp angles were considered
modern and futuristic.
This new front end was continued
on to the R30, where the 80′s had
truly taken hold and were the Skyline
made it’s return to the race-track.
Main
thanks: www.retro-classics.co.nz
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INFORMATION - IN BRIEF |
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PRODUCTION
- 1977–1981
- 539,727 units sold
ENGINES
1.6 L L16T, I4
1.6 L Z16S, I4
1.8 L L18T/L18E, I4
1.8 L Z18/Z18E, I4
2.0 L Z20E, I4
2.0 L L20E, I6
2.0 L L20ET, I6 turbo
2.4 L L24/L24E, I6
2.0 L LD20, I4 diesel
2.8 L LD28, I6 diesel
BODY STYLES
2-door coupe
4-door sedan
5-door station wagon
TRANSMISSIONS
??
LAYOUTS
Front engine, rear-wheel drive
WHEELS
??
ASSEMBLY
Musashimurayama,
Japan
RELATED TO
Nissan Laurel
DESIGNER
Shinichiro Sakurai
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