 1959 Datsun 510 Bluebird |
The history of the Stanza started in 1959. Based on their success in Japan, the well-establised Datsun (Nissan) Co. was considering expanding into the United States. A new model of the Bluebird sedan had been introduced that year, with an 1189cc 60hp OHV 4 cylinder engine. Since it was such a hot seller in Japan, the decision was made that the 1960 Bluebird would be the first Datsun sold in America. However, in America the Bluebird Bus Company had trademarked its name. For lack of a better name, the Bluebird was renamed the Datsun 510. |
| The Datsun 510 had its first major redesign in 1964, with a stylish new body designed by Pininfaria. It still utilized the same aging powerplant. This changed in 1967, when the 510 was redesigned again. It was equipped with a 1595cc 96hp OHC 4 cylinder engine. With this change, the 510 became one of the world's first sports sedans. |  1971 Datsun 510 |
 1987-1989 Nissan Stanza |
Another of the Stanza's selling points was its reliability. I've heard of an '82 Stanza running for 17
5,000 miles with no signs of stopping, and another with 150,000 miles being run to the redline for two weeks before having its engine blow. Many of the original Stanzas would still be on the road today if it were not for their sheer age. The 1982 Stanza was also the first of the Stanzas to be imported to Europe. In Japan, it continued to be produced as the Bluebird, sharing the same engine as the American 200SX and the Japanese S12 Silvia. |
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In 1987, the Stanza was redesigned again. It now featured the 2.0 liter CA20E engine, producing 97hp. It was now sold with the idea of the same relative size as the Maxima, but for a lower price. Sales were booming for the sedan model, as the American manufacturers went running to the drawing board to combat their Japanese competitors. In 1988, the hatchback and the mini-wagon were dropped, because the sedan was selling so well that it did not justify producing the other two models. The Stanza was catching on, and it was only going to get better. By 1989, many cars had gotten larger-displacing engines and were making the Stanza seem stodgy and slow. Sales were beginning to slip, but Nissan had already planned its solution. 1989 saw the release of the 240SX, whic was powered by the new 2.4 liter KA24E engine, producing 138hp and 148lb-ft of torque. Since the Stanza had always been powered by the same engine as Nissan's small sports coupes, some critics began to see a bright future for the Stanza. They were right. |  1988-1992 Nissan Bluebird  My 1990 Nissan Stanza |
 SR20DET 2.0 Turbo, in Japanese Bluebird Attesa  1990 Nissan Bluebird Attesa Limited | In 1988, Nissan released a new Bluebird in Japan. It had a sleek new design, reminiscent of the S13 Silvia. It was powered by the 2.0 liter SR20DE, producing 140hp and 132lb-ft of torque. In 1990, with a redesigned back end and the KA24E engine, this car was released in America as the new Stanza. The new Stanza was a drastic change from the previous model. Besides having 41 more horsepower, it also had a much sleeker appearance while still having more interior space. Other improvements included a viscous limited slip differential and a stiffer, sportier suspension. The Stanza had returned to its sports sedan roots. Acceleration was now up to the sub-8 second range with a 5-speed transmission, and the top speed was up to 128mph, with the 5-speed, respectively. The improvements did not stop there, however. In 1990, the Bluebird also recieved an upgrade: the SSS Attesa Limited. The Attesa boasted a turbocharged SR20DET engine, producing almost 200hp. It utilized Nissan's Attesa all-wheel drive system, which is also used on the Skyline GT-R. The Bluebird Attesa, while not being as famous as the Skyline, still earned quite a reputation. It was known as sort of a "little brother" to the Skyline. By 1992, however, Stanza sales were falling. They had never reached as high as Nissan had hoped, despite the car's many advanced features and the fact that it was built and assembled completely in Japan. More luxury items and a special SE model failed to save the Stanza's slumping profits, and the Nissan executives called for a redesign. |
| In 1993, the Stanza name was dropped and the car was redesigned. The car was not completely eliminated, but it was renamed Altima to keep with the times. After all, this was the 90's, and the public didn't want a car named after part of a song. Early Altimas actually still had the Stanza name, albeit in small print, next to the Altima badge. The Altima was built on the same chassis as the Stanza, with the KA24DE engine (a KA24E with a dual overhead cam), now producing 150hp. The Altima boasted lots of extra luxury features for a low price, which appealed to the American public and raised Nissan's sales. The Altima ended up playing a role in saving the ailing Nissan Co. in recent years. It had its first redesign in 1997, and it is still produced in the same form today. |  1993-1996 Nissan Altima |
