The C110 generation was produced from September 1972 through August 1977. For export in the 1970s, the C110 and GC110 Skyline was sold as the Datsun K-series, with models such as the Datsun 160K, 180K and Datsun 240K.
The body styles were, once again, four-door sedan, two-door hardtop coupé, and five-door station wagon. The C110 was more fussy in its styling than its predecessor, particularly so in wagon form, where unusually for a wagon design, no windows were fitted between the C and D pillars. Its appearance seems to be influenced by the 1970–1975 Citroën SM. The C110 was the first version to return to the round rear tail and brake lights introduced in 1963 albeit with dual units from the previous generation, and the appearance has become a traditional Skyline feature. The styling also influenced a smaller, more affordable two-door coupe, called the Silvia, introduced in 1975. Nissan introduced its emission control technology, primarily consisting of fuel injection on trim packages ending with an “E”, using the moniker Nissan NAPS also in 1975. In February 1976, the model was facelifted and became C111 model.
The C110 Skyline was better known as the “Ken & Mary” or “Kenmeri” (ケンメリ) Skyline, stemming from the advertisement campaign in Japan at the time which featured a young couple (Ken and Mary) who relaxed and enjoyed the countryside in Ken and Mary’s Skyline (ケンとメリーのスカイライン). The ads were highly successful and perhaps as a result the C110 was sold in very large numbers in Japan. Kenmeri was also a play on the term “Meriken” (メリケン) an old Japanese slang term for “American” due to the new Skyline’s resemblance of American muscle cars of the time.
GT-R
The Skyline GT-R hardtop arrived in September 1972 but only lasted until March 1973, when Nissan ceased its production. The oil crisis saw many people preferring economy cars and high-performance sports cars were looked down upon. Nissan pulled out of Motor Racing, so there was no purpose to the GT-R. It was not officially exported anywhere, although Nissan contemplated exporting to Australia. Only 197 KPGC110 GT-Rs were ever sold in Japan, through specialist Nissan Performance shops (before it was called NISMO). This was the last GT-R for 16 years until the BNR32 in 1989.
Also called Datsun 160/180/240K Datsun 240K GT, Datsun Skyline 240K GT
Chassis codes:
Sedan/Saloon: C110/1HC110, BC111, PC110/1PC110, HC111, GC110/1GC110, GC111, HGC11
Hardtop: KC110/1KBC110, KBC111, KPC110/1KHC110, KHC111, KGC110/1KGC110, KGC111, KPGC110, KHGC110
Wagon/Van: VC110/1VBC110, VPC110, WPC110
Assembly Musashimurayama, Japan
Designer Shinichiro Sakurai
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door sedan, 2-door coupe, 5-door station wagon
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine
1.6 L G16 SOHC I4
1.8 L G18 SOHC I4
2.0 L L20A/E SOHC I6
2.0 L S20 DOHC I6 (GT-R)
2.4 L L24 SOHC I6
Transmission 3-speed automatic, 3,4,5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase
2,515 mm (99.0 in) (4-cylinder model)
2,610 mm (102.8 in) (6-cylinder model)
Length
4,250 mm (167.3 in) (4-cylinder model)
4,315 mm (169.9 in) (wagon/van)
4,460 mm (175.6 in) (6-cylinder model)
Width
1,625 mm (64.0 in)[28]
1,695 mm (66.7 in) (GT-R)
Height
1,380 mm (54.3 in) (GT-R)
1,385 mm (54.5 in) (6-cylinder hardtop)
1,395 mm (54.9 in) (4-cylinder hardtop/6-cylinder sedan)
1,405 mm (55.3 in) (4-cylinder sedan/wagon)
1,425 mm (56.1 in) (van)
Curb weight
980–1,095 kg (2,160.5–2,414.1 lb) (4-cylinder model)
1,135–1,240 kg (2,502.2–2,733.7 lb) (6-cylinder model)
1,145 kg (2,524.3 lb) (GT-R)[29]
1,030–1,070 kg (2,270.8–2,358.9 lb) (wagon/van)
Model details
Facelift Nissan Skyline 1800 GL sedan (HC111)
Facelift Nissan Skyline 1800 GL sedan (HC111)
Pre-facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GT hardtop (KGC110)
Pre-facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GT hardtop (KGC110)
Pre-facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GT hardtop (KGC110)
Pre-facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GT hardtop (KGC110)
Facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GTX-E hardtop (KGC111)
Facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GTX-E hardtop (KGC111)
Facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GTX-E hardtop (KGC111)
Facelift Nissan Skyline 2000 GTX-E hardtop (KGC111)
Datsun 240K GL coupe (KHLGC110, Australia)
Datsun 240K GL coupe (KHLGC110, Australia)
Datsun 240K GL sedan (HLGC110, Australia)
Datsun 240K GL sedan (HLGC110, Australia)
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R (KPGC110)
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R (KPGC110)
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R (KPGC110)
Nissan Skyline 2000GT-R (KPGC110)
Engine Outputs
1600/160K – 1.6 L G16 I4
100 PS (99 hp; 74 kW) / 135 N⋅m (14 kg⋅m; 100 lb⋅ft)
1800/180K – 1.8 L G18 I4
105 PS (104 hp; 77 kW) / 150 N⋅m (15 kg⋅m; 111 lb⋅ft)
2000GT – 2.0 L L20A I6
115 PS (113 hp; 85 kW) / 162 N⋅m (17 kg⋅m; 119 lb⋅ft) (single carburetor regular gasoline)
120 PS (118 hp; 88 kW) / 167 N⋅m (17 kg⋅m; 123 lb⋅ft) (single carburetor high octane gasoline)
2000GT-X – 2.0 L L20A I6
125 PS (123 hp; 92 kW) / 167 N⋅m (17 kg⋅m; 123 lb⋅ft) (dual carburetors regular gasoline)
130 PS (128 hp; 96 kW) / 172 N⋅m (18 kg⋅m; 127 lb⋅ft) (dual carburetors high octane gasoline)
2000GT-E/GTX-E – 2.0 L L20E I6 (fuel injected)
130 PS (128 hp; 96 kW) / 167 N⋅m (17 kg⋅m; 123 lb⋅ft)
2000GT-R – 2.0 L S20 I6
155 PS (153 hp; 114 kW) / 173 N⋅m (18 kg⋅m; 128 lb⋅ft) (regular gasoline)
160 PS (158 hp; 118 kW) / 177 N⋅m (18 kg⋅m; 131 lb⋅ft) (high octane gasoline)
240K – 2.4 L L24 I6
122 PS (120 hp; 90 kW) / 187 N⋅m (19 kg⋅m; 138 lb⋅ft) (1975–1978 European model)[31]
130 PS (128 hp; 96 kW) / 196 N⋅m (20 kg⋅m; 145 lb⋅ft)
Body styles
Sedan
C110/1HC110 – Pre-facelift 1.6L sedan
BC111 – Facelift 1.6L sedan
PC110/1PC110 – Pre-facelift 1.8L sedan
HC111 – Facelift 1.8L sedan
GC110/1GC110 – Pre-facelift 2.0L sedan
GC111 – Facelift 2.0L sedan
HGC110 – Datsun 240K sedan
Hardtop
KC110/1KBC110 – Pre-facelift 1.6L hardtop
KBC111 – Facelift 1.6L hardtop
KPC110/1KHC110 – Pre-facelift 1.8L hardtop
KHC111 – Facelift 1.8L hardtop
KGC110/1KGC110 – Pre-facelift 2.0L hardtop
KGC111 – Facelift 2.0L hardtop
KPGC110 – 2000GT-R
KHGC110 – Datsun 240K hardtop
Wagon/Van:
VC110/1VBC110 – 1.6L van
VPC110 – 1.8L van
WPC110 – 1.8L wagon