Description:

🏁 Motorsport

In Japan, the Sunny achieved major success as a base vehicle for Touring Car racing (TS class), and even after production ended, it continued to compete for many years as a top-tier contender. Following the end of B110 production, its successor—the B210—was largely avoided as a racing platform due to increased weight and size. As a result of repeated petitions from competitors, the B110 received multiple homologation extensions, allowing it to continue racing at a championship-winning level in Minor Touring competition until the end of the 1982 season.

In the fast-evolving world of motorsport, this was an exceptionally rare occurrence.

Racing-tuned A-series engines, combined with fuel injection in later stages, extracted an astonishing 175 hp at around 10,000 rpm from a naturally aspirated 1,300cc OHV unit—an output unimaginable from the engine’s humble origins as a practical, everyday powerplant.

The lightweight body, excellent agility, low drag, and suspension layout—despite being an old-fashioned leaf-spring rigid axle—produced impressive traction and cornering performance. Thanks to this synergy, the B110 was capable of defeating newer, high-tech DOHC rivals on track. These strengths and achievements were later inherited by the B310 touring car program.

📌 Major Achievements

• September 11, 1970 –
Won Class A (vehicles under AUD 1,960) at the Bathurst 500-mile race in Australia.
With no modifications permitted under regulations, the victory—earned in full production form—secured Nissan’s fifth consecutive class win and showcased the Sunny’s remarkable potential.

• November 23, 1970 –
Made its race debut in the TS1300 class at the “All Japan Fuji Stock Car 200-Mile Race” and took victory.
Driver: Seiichi Suzuki, entered privately through Tomei Motors, which Suzuki co-founded.

• October 1971 –
At the 19th Rift Valley Rally, the final round of the East African Rally Championship, the Sunny 1200 placed 2nd and 3rd in Class A—both private entries.

• May 1973 –
At the “1973 Japan Grand Prix,” the Excellent Coupe swept 1st through 3rd in the TS-A-II class (1,300cc–1,600cc).
Driver of the winning car: Hajime Kitano.
The Works machine was equipped with an LZ14 engine converted to a 16-valve DOHC configuration, producing over 200 PS. The engine build was handled by Yasuo Kubo, later founder of Speed Shop Kubo.

Even after the debut of the B210, the B110 continued to compete in racing until the 1982 season.

• May 1974 –
At the “’74 All Japan Suzuka Formula Race,” SS1 class, Sunny Coupes swept 1st through 4th, filling the entire top nine positions.

• November 1974 –
At the “’74 JAF Grand Prix,” SS1 class, the Sunny Coupe finished 1st and 2nd.

• May 1975 –
At the “’75 Japan Grand Prix,” TS class, the Sunny Coupe secured 2nd place.

• June 1977 –
At the “JAF Fuji Grand Prix,” TS class, the Sunny Coupe finished 2nd.

(From Wikipedia)

📐 Specifications

Item

Specification

Overall Length 3,825 mm

Overall Width 1,515 mm

Overall Height 1,350 mm

Wheelbase 2,300 mm

Suspension (F/R) Strut / Semi-Trailing Arm

Track (F/R) 1,240 / 1,245 mm

Transmission 5-speed Manual

Engine Displacement 1,297 cc

Maximum Output 175 PS / 10,000 rpm

Engine Type A12 Racing Engine

Configuration Inline 4-cylinder OHV

Vehicle Weight 650 kg

Keyword Search Terms:

JAPANESE TOURING CAR