(first posted 11/04/11) This rather nondescript boxy wagon sitting on the street might not catch the casual eye, but it has quite a bit more a bit more history associated with it than average. Starting with the fact that it’s a diesel. It’s getting easy to forget just how massive the Diesel Boom was at this time. Everybody was piling in, and I’m still keeping my eyes peeled for a Tempo Diesel. But there’s more history than that here too. This was the first Maxima. And it came right in that muddle of Datsun becoming Nissan, as its rear badge “Datsun by Nissan” makes awkwardly un-clear. And then there’s its ultimate claim to fame: it was the first talking car.
It’s become a legend now, the little phonograph that announced “Fuel Level Low”, among its limited repertoire, and also known as Bitching Betty. Murilee Martin took one apart, (his picture above) and even posted a you tube video of it here. The Victrola was alive and well in the 1980s.
The Maxima replaced the 810, although in the first year (1981) they were still called 810, expect for the top line version. And like its predecessor, the Maxima was a Nissan Bluebird with a nose extension, to make room for the inline six that was (rightfully) deemed necessary for the US market. The classic L-series SOHC six had 2.4 liters in this application, fuel injection, and made 120 hp. Sounds modest by today’s standards, but in 1981, the Maxima was a relatively brisk car. Not to mention a solidly built and decent handling one.
The diesel was a 2.8 liter version, with all of 80 hp. Compared to the many inconsistent diesel efforts of the time, this one seems to have a pretty good rep. Some folks have logged very high miles on theirs. Too bad turbos were still not common on diesels; that would have really made this one attractive, and a serious threat to the 3 liter Mercedes turbo-diesel that ruled the oil-burner roost then.
The Maxima interior was pretty typical for a mid-grade Japanese car of the times. Not exactly brimming with atmosphere, but plenty of fairly high quality materials. Made for the long haul.
This first generation Maxima was of course the last with rear wheel drive, and enjoyed four wheel independent suspension. The result was considered to be quite competent, and the Maxima made a good impression. Datsun’s sporting aspirations were still a bit more on display than in cometitive cars like the Toyota Cressida. And as lots of Detroit sedans were going fwd, the Maxima’s rep as a sports sedan was not unfounded.
I’m not totally sure, but I suspect the Maxima wagon continued the Datsun tradition of a live rear axle in the wagon version, for maximum load capacity. With the diesel, it made a good lower-cost alternative to the then very popular W123 Mercedes 300TD wagon. And for hard core diesel aficionados like the owner of this one, it clatters on…and on.
The first of the Many Maxima Musings, I hope! A nice follow-up to the CCCCCCC.
I second that, Imperial guy. And that’s not just my daily driver bias showing. I loved this car for years before I owned it.
The first generation is a little bland, sure. But lined up next to every other sedan from the 80’s, it has its strengths. Not captivating in the least, but handsome. Maximas had a decent thing going with their straight-edged, rectangular design motif–until the blob-tastic mid 90’s happened, when they seemed to have lost their theme. If Cadillac got through the jellybean era with their sharp lines intact, for the most part (as always, ignore the Catera), then why did Nissans of the era melt so badly? Maybe they cooked too long, like the Taurus did?
Part of me is a little disappointed in my 2001’s vanilla styling, though I do appreciate the sleeper quality inherent therein. I’m not sure how many fans we have here of the latest automotive design happenings, but I’m smitten by the 2008-present Maxima.
I love the first gen Maximas, wonderful driving cars. Didn’t even realize they offered a diesel though…
I don’t know why, but I always loved these. They’re a bit more crisply styled than contemporary Cressidas and seem more frisky too (well, at least the gas ones). A friend of mine had one in high school. Always loved the howl the Inline 6 made. You still see them on sale on occasion around here.
C & D did one of their “Battle of the Beaters” stories, except it was Battle of the Diesel Beaters, and this was one. I think the Max did ok, but an Olds 88 Royale Brougham coupe diesel won if I remember right…
Yeah, it was oddly a big praise of the Eighty Eight. I always heard the later ones were “better” but…
Anyways it makes for an interesting read: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/battle-of-the-diesel-beaters
Until I read this article in the print version of C&D a few years ago, I had no idea that any Japanese automakers had ever sold a diesel in the US.
I actually feverently watched the eBay auctions that they did on the beaters post battle. Good thing I didn’t have any money. I remember thinking the Maxima needed a tear down and rebuild (leaking oil and a little low on compression), and the Eighty Eight and Mercedes needed engine transplants to something with more power. I’ve dreamed about a Duramax&Alison automatic combo in the Oldsmobile, you just know there’s enough room under the hood of that B-body.
I’d look into the weight of the Max&Al combo in the front of a B-body first. I heard of someone swapping a GM 6.2L diesel into one place of the original Olds 350 diesel. The stock front suspension couldn’t handle the extra weight.
to be honest, the stock front suspension of many ’80s GM cars couldn’t handle the stock engines. GM cheaped out on spring quality and they all sag in the front eventually getting down to the stops.
our 84 Olds was on the stops by the time we retired it in 1996.
The Nissan LD28 is very popular in NZ for repowering anything it can be shoehorned into there was a turbo 2.8 in some Nissan patrols available in Aussie but most of the NZ versions seem to be the Nissan Laurel LD 28s.Not sure if the Maxima came here new but ex JDM every damn thing is here now the official dumping ground for the south Pacific.
I have two Datsuns and Bitching Betty still works in both of them. I did have a bad door sensor in one and the inside of my car sounded like a pinball machine for a while. It was entertaining at first but got old quickly. The only problem I ever had with Betty was solved by a good whack with the palm of the hand.
The Maxima came with a Jatco 4-speed automatic which makes a nice nearly-bolt-on replacement for the lousy 3-speed Nissan used on their other L-engined models. The Nissan 5-speed was smooth as butter. I’ve never seen an LD motor, but the diesel crank can be swapped over to a L28 to make a 3-liter stroker.
I never realised the first gen. Maxima was a long-nose Bluebird. Don’t think we got these in Europe.
For some unknown reasons, the Maxima wagon wasn’t sold in Canada. 🙁
This is one that was totally off my radar. Not surprising, actually…1982 was the lowest of the low times I’d had…kicked out of university (I was no the Dean’s list, but not for good grades. I was on his OTHER list…and yes, my name did finally come up)
…and was living in a YMCA in Houston while driving a cab nights. WALKING to where the owner would have the cab for me…
Anyway. I can take the styling; acceptably bland. Having had a 1979 Datsun-By-Nissan pickup, I’m sympathetic to that generation. But the real seller for me is, the diesel engine.
Now, just because I’m down on Volkswagen and Mercedes diesels, doesn’t mean I’m down on diesels. No, I’m down on overpriced Teutonic scheissemobiles and all the grief they’ve given in the past and promise if I ever again choose foolishly.
No, I’d pony up money for something like this today. Happily. Nissan…Toyota…Hyundai…you listening?
I sold a used Datsun Maxima Wagon to a couple of graduate students from Japan in 1989. I fully expect to answer for this transgression in the afterlife.
An older co-worker of mine bought one of these new in the first year (1981), with the gas engine. Riding in it was a revelation.
Mmmmm, nice car, and practically unknown here in NZ. We never got the long-nose Bluebirds new, and I’ve only ever seen one used one – the 1975 Bluebird 2000GT (610 shape to y’all in America) with L20 engine pictured below. It would have been the pictured Maxima’s grandad I guess. Our first Maxima was the 1989 J30 model (not to be confused with the unrelated Infiniti J30).
Great engine the LD28, considering it was basically the petrol L28 converted to diesel. I think the LD and RD Nissan diesels are excellent motors. Most folks seem to prefer the LD with its timing chain, but the updated RD with timing belt and alloy head has served me very well in 3 different Nissan Laurels over the past 10 years. The change from LD to RD series diesels coincided with the change from L to RB series petrols – although the petrols were changed more, becoming cross-flow, whereas the diesels kept their intake and exhaust on the same side. Being straight sixes the LD/RD are very smooth for diesels – most passengers in mine don’t realise it’s diesel as you can’t hear the clatter over 50km/h. And despite only 100hp, my 1997 RD28 performs well and economically too. With a big exhaust the LD/RD sound great too – a nice grunty RB sound.
Nice find. A friend of mine had a diesel sedan for a while. He used to get offers for it from the Datsun Z guys. Apparently the crank can be used to great a 3.1L stroker L-series engine.
I was not aware of these, interesting they had a 2.4 6cyl – the Bluebird we got in Australia had a 2.4 4cyl, along with a live axle. No diesels though, although as Bryce mentioned they were in the Patrol where they had to work hard
Count me as another fan of the early Maximas. The boxy, no-nonsense styling works well, particularly on the wagon. And almost anything with a straight 6 and rear wheel drive should get bonus points. I had forgotten that these came as diesels.
My sister and brother in law have been diesel people for close to 30 years, so I have developed a bit of an appreciation for their strengths and weaknesses. I am not sure that the diesel would fit my lifestyle so well, but I think that I could like one of these with the gasoline 6. Nice find.
Nice styling on these but I never saw any of the 1981 to 1994 models until I moved from the Midwest/Great Lakes to the West. Right down the street is a “first of the FWD Maximas” wagon version in brown (Brown Car Appreciation Society warning) with a brown interior. It gets driven weekly and belongs to a middle aged lady that goes to my church.
I don’t remember these much, but I do remember the incredibly popular next boxy generation, primarily for its out Broughaming the American Broughams button-tufted, plush velour interiors. They were like Japanese interpretations of an K Car New Yorker. I daresay a landau top and opera lamps were even available as dealer installed accessories.
I’ve always liked the Maximas, my favorites were the 3rd gen cars. I remember riding in my Uncle’s 86 once. He dusted a Monte Carlo SS with it playing stoplight commando. I was stupified(I was also 13 so that wasn’t too hard..)
The VG engine was a decent little mill. I have the 3.3 version fronting a 5 speed in my Xterra and the noise it makes at 4000-5500 rpm really makes you think you’re in a sports car!
This was my first car! For a moment I wondered if the pictured car was my actual car, as I’m in the Northwest and it wouldn’t surprise me that it’s still on the road. But this car is silver and mine was a charcoal grey metallic.
My parents bought a barely used 1982 diesel wagon from an estate sale in 1984. This car replaced our 1967 Buick Skylark and I was amazed at how high tech the Maxima seemed. As our family car from 84 to 94, then my car from 94-98, I have a lot of fond, funny and sometimes annoying memories of Maxima diesel. One I’ll share is when our fully laden car on a family trip could barely pass a mountain biker while going over Grand Teton Pass. That diesel with an automatic and A.C. was completely gutless. Let’s say my dad has had no interest in a diesel since. We mostly bought our diesel fuel through our home heating oil company. Through them we had access to the Commercial Fueling Network (CFN) and I always enjoyed refueling alongside logging trucks while exploring the backroads of western Washington. I was bitten by both the diesel and wagon bug. I now drive a diesel Mercedes w124 e-class, though unfortunately not a wagon. The voice warning was only annoying in the “key is in the ignition” mode, as a high schooler the talking car always impressed people. We didn’t call the car Betty, but my mom did call it Betsy. Later it became The Ratmobile after we found rats nesting under the hood after the car sat parked several weeks one winter.
Thank you for doing a Curbside Classic post on my first car!
There’s one of these for sale somewhat near me and I’m very, very tempted. Oh if only I had $4,000 right now…
I just put my 1982 Datsun Maxima on ClassicZcars.com as they had “all things Datsun”. It is in GOOD condition and is my daily driver (when I can’t steal the Yaris from the wife). Hope it gets a good home as she is a good car. 1982 was a first gen version of the MAXIMA. This is a factory DIESEL (LD28) automatic. Pictures are available, Just ask for them…(other site will email me when you request them). http://www.datsunclassifieds.com/
Nice looking car. It’s too bad Nissan (Datsun) quit selling diesels in the US for automotive use. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’d think there’d be people who like diesel cars and trucks.
Nice looking car. It’s too bad the diesel version didn’t sell in the numbers Nissan (Datsun) had hoped. I don’t believe that’s Nissan’s fault, or the buyers’ fault. I believe the marketing people didn’t do a very good job with selling the car and explaining the benefits of diesel, if not for performance, certainly fuel economy and durability.
i own a 1982 model diesel 2.8 inline 6cyl everyday driver. i live in Cape verdi Island and it is automatic. I am fixing it little by little it is almost done, i have 18 inch wheels for it but waiting for some front and rear shocks to arrive from USA.
The Bluebird version was the first Nissan built at the Sunderland plant in Britain back in 1986 and the only RWD model. The factory is still going strong, the most productive and efficient car plant in Europe – something of a contrast to BL then…
Nissan sold diesels in their pick up truck, and the Sentra, as well as the Maxima. Toyota also sold diesels in their truck, the Corolla and the Camry. Isuzu put diesels in their pick up and their I-mark sedans (the “Opel by Buick” RWD model).
Honda “recently” added a diesel to their line up….nearly everywhere but North.America. And the same with Subaru.
I know there were major differences but I always just thought of these as a truck with extra seats. They were tough, I loved them, and I know why. It was the whole rwd/I6 thing. I think they were still rwd when they went V6 but I was stuck on them till they became just another wrong wheel drive Nissan.
These were always part of the automotive scenery but I remember being astonished the first time I noticed the “DIESEL” badge on one, many years later.
The wire wheel covers on this one are quite unfortunate–they looked much better with the metal full hubcaps, in Nissan’s typical techno-early-80s design.
I’ve always liked this generation Datsun/Nissan Maxima. I was disappointed, not only that Nissan switched to front wheel drive, but they also discontinued the diesel engine. Why should only big rigs and big trucks be the only ones to be available with the diesel engine?
Here is one near Seattle, barely broke in ….185K
http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/4715918068.html
Sweet looking car. I’d buy it if I were in the market for one.
Seen this one around
We had an 81 Laurel with the 2.8 diesel engine in our vehicle fleet at a USAF base in Japan in mid 80s – it had great low end torque and drove very well.
My cousin who lives near Sacramento hoards these things, he swears by them, apparently they are capable of biblical mileages if treated right. As for the voice synthesizer, this might have been the 1st car to offer such a thing but the Renault 25 was not far behind. I had one of those and was not aware of the contraption until it almost gave me a heart attack by suddenly deciding to offer a low fuel warning although the tank was 1/4 full… Mine spoke English in a US accent even though it was a UK spec car. Here’s the French version which disappointingly has a male voice… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Azn8ECNRnk
Didn’t know Nissan did the “talking car” feature of the early 80s. I always thought that was mostly a Mopar feature of the era, remembered my aunt’s E-class sedan with the talkies.
Any word on whether this one is still around?
Biblical miles indeed, out of this world reliability and longevity amazing.
Why, because I have owned one for 20 years and nearing 400k and has been flawless.
Bill–is your 400k vehicle a diesel?
Thank you,
Kevin
i have one maxima …. fasth and strong car ….. today don”t builth than kain of car
I had 3 Datsun Maxima diesels. Z engine made into a diesel power plant. Got over 40 mpg. Used in ocean vessels as generators. But US buyers don’t like stinky diesel fuel so I told Nissan to put this engine into a pickup truck but they ignored me.
Lovely looking car. I remember when this generation Nissan (Datsun) Maxima was intro’d. Compared to the Datsun 810 before, I found it not very attractive to look at. By the time the Nissan front-wheel drive Maxima was intro’d, I found this version more attractive. It’s too bad the diesel engine didn’t continue with the change into the 80s and 90s.