Datsun Bluebird 310
The first Bluebird made a comfortable family car from a simple rear-drive package and a new independent front suspension.
Datsun Bluebird (310) 001.JPG · Tennen-Gas · CC BY-SA 3.0
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More than a set of wheels.
Datsun introduced the 310 in August 1959 as the successor to its 1000 sedan, and this was the first model officially named Bluebird. Nissan designer Shozo Sato shaped its tidy body. Buyers could choose 1.0- or 1.2-litre engines; this profile follows the early 1200 Standard sedan preserved by Nissan, with five seats and a three-speed column shifter.
Look a little closer.
Nissan says the first Bluebird's tail-lamp shape inspired an affectionate nickname in Japan.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
A softer ride from independent front wheels
The 310 replaced the earlier transverse-leaf front arrangement with coil-sprung independent front suspension, while the rear kept tough semi-elliptic leaf springs. For passengers, the key idea is simple: one front wheel can rise over a bump with less disturbance to the wheel on the other side.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun Bluebird 1200 Standard ↗The name became a long-running family
The launch copy promised a “Bluebird that brings happiness.” Nissan's archive marks August 1959 as the name's birth, while the preserved 1961 P311 shows how quickly the first generation evolved: more power and a fully synchronized gearbox arrived without changing the basic Bluebird idea.
Source: Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun Bluebird 1200 Deluxe P311 ↗Where these facts come from
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun Bluebird 1200 Standard
- Nissan Heritage Collection · Datsun Bluebird 1200 Deluxe P311
- Nissan Heritage Gallery · 1959 Datsun Bluebird 310 product brochure
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed October 1, 2026.