Datsun Fairlady 2000 Duo Debut In Assetto Corsa

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The Clubman race version is right at home at a classic Oulton Park.
Another classic work of art, the Datsun Fairlady 2000 (SR311), alongside its racing clubman version, has been brought to Assetto Corsa by the usual suspects: Pasta2000, Alguecool, and Bazza, with help from Benjamin Nash.

This mod comes in two parts: a download for the race car and a separate one for the road car version of this Fairlady. Choose the club man variant if you want to go wheel to wheel with legendary 1960s racing machinery. However, if you prefer cruising the open road and Japanese mountain passes, there is also an option for you!

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Datsun Fairlady 2000 (SR311) and Clubman racing varient. Images: Pasta2000

The history of the Datsun Fairlady 2000 (SR311)​

Although somewhat overshadowed by its younger and much more famous brother, the Fairlday Z, this Japanese sportscar, the Datsun Fairlady 2000, was a fantastic work of art from the late 1960s. The Fairlady's small frame and nimble suspension setup made it the perfect car for track and tarmac rally stages around the globe.

Japanese sportscars often suffer from the 'MX-5' stereotype of being fast in the corners but miserable at achieving impressive top-speed numbers. This Fairlday had something to say about that. The SR311 variant of the Fairlady was the first Japanese car to reach 200KPH.

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The SR311 Clubman loves to break traction if you push those 1960s tyres too hard.

The engine size of the second generation Datsun Fairlady started with a 1500cc unit, earning that generation the "1500" tag in 1962. The car eventually reached its final form, and whilst going Super Saiyan is a bit of an overstatement, the car managed to have a 2000cc engine crammed into it, nicknamed the "Fairlady 2000" SR311.

The combination of the U20 engine, the 1,982cc 4-cyl inline-four, and Solex twin carburettors generated a maximum output of 145ps. Thanks to the Porsche-derived 5-speed manual transmission, the car achieved a maximum speed of 205 kph.

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The road-going version of the Fairlady is a bit floaty, but it is excellent to drive on the limit regardless.

As mentioned earlier, the SR311 was known as the first Japanese car to break through the metaphorical wall of 200km/h. However, it wasn't just a show car with one top-speed trick up its proverbial sleeve. The SR311 also achieved results in motorsport disciplines around the globe, such as the 1967 Japan GP and the 1968 Rallye Monte-Carlo. It was often seen at events under factory and privateer teams until the release of the Fairlady's successor, the Fairlady Z, in 1969.

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The AI have not quite mastered the SR311...

A great addition to the classic racers collection​

Whether you enjoy racing or cruising, this Datsun Fairlady mod is expertly crafted for your enjoyment. Bazza has crafted the physics, so you know the level of quality to expect. Alguecool and mod publisher Pasta2000 created the model and textures. This combination of modding talent has produced a fantastic homage to a somewhat forgotten car.

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Cruising through the Japanese mountains has never felt more appropriate.

Have you tried this duo of 1960s sportscars yet? What do you think about them? Let us know in the comments down below!
About author
Connor Minniss
Website Content Editor & Motorsport Photographer aiming to bring you the best of the best within the world of sim racing.

Comments

Bazza has taken some flack over the years, some of the early stuff has been "questionable" to put it gently.
That must've been some crazy really early ****!?
All content I've collected from Bazza have ben of highest art anf immersion. Compared to Kunos std. sim take of classics it's several levels up to me.
But ok, maybe I was a late vandwagon jumper, started my first activity with first collected pack, not as stand alone alphas.
 
I did not mean any disrespect at all regarding Bazza, in fact I am a fan of his work. I am sorry if my words were misunderstood.
I'm with you on this. His mods are great, but I wish one of the suspension experts would create some physics files for some of his cars.
 
If you ever see one of these in real life,look under the bonnet/hood.Its almost an exact copy of an MG.Weird that back then Datsuns were copying British sports cars much like the Chinese are copying everything now.The larger Datsun 240Z from the same period has a straight 6 that is almost a copy of the Austin Healey 3000.Unlike the Fairlady 2000 the body does look very different.
 
Was expecting something like an older, lighter, more powerful and less refined NA Miata on slightly less grippy tyres.

Looks nice. feels... wonky. softer than than a grampa-spec eighties french hatchback(though it does occasionally lift the inside rear wheel on cornering just like a french hatchback) a and very unstable under braking and cornering. Keep it a gear higher than you otherwise would and always keep the throttle at least a bit open and it's almost manageable. The (I assume unassisted)steering feels like overly aggressive power steering half as light as the Kunos NA Miata. The very loud gearbox whine(?) even in the street version is also quite annoying. though it sounds like it's coming from the back so might be a diff about to explode :D

As for speed, on something with long straights like the Nords the street version is roughly equivalent to the Kunos NA Miata over a lap. A lot faster on long straights and uphill, a lot slower in corners. The difference would be larger in the Datsun's favor if it wasn't bouncing off the limiter at 170kph on every straight, whereas the Miata struggles to even reach 170kph anywhere. On something where top speed is irrelevant like Ahvenisto, the NA Miata on the 90s street tires trashes it despite being heavier with a lot less grunt.

TLDR looks nice but feels very WIP. More like version 0.69 than version 1.0. Looking forward to the upcoming physics update Pasta mentioned which should at least fix the handbrake engine braking issue.
 
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I'm with you on this. His mods are great, but I wish one of the suspension experts would create some physics files for some of his cars.
what do you expect? modern day suspension? have you driven 50 year old cars? the suspension work feels excellent for most of his work. Also all his work is free! not some stupid patreon paid mod. cant believe how much some gooners complain on this page for excellent free mods. make the mod yourself next time.
 
A buddy had one of these back in the 70's, the carbs were ****, but it was rather fun when they were running well.........
 
I focused on the road version only at the moment.
The modelisation by @Alguecool is great, and I enjoy much the care he put in many aspects.
Glad to know the work is going on concerning the physics!
I feel good with the susp. work, a bit less with the rough differential, and at last, the engine sounds and notely from the transmission, left me think that I was more in a race version than in a road car. just a question of mix to the ears. But maybe I'm wrong on the last point?
 
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As if your Porsche 912 is the golden standard in physics, with a rear roll center height of 64 cm above the ground... In reality a 911 is in the range between 8-15 cm depending on year
View attachment 818462
That app doesn't display roll centers correctly; especially not trailing arm roll centers. In fact, it doesn't display anything correctly.

The RCH at non-US normallage is about 90-100mm or so. I don't know how you'd ever get it to 150mm even at the US height.

EDIT: The 930 is about 150mm at non-US normallage, but that arm was never adopted onto the 911 AFAIK.
 
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I focused on the road version only at the moment.
The modelisation by @Alguecool is great, and I enjoy much the care he put in many aspects.
Glad to know the work is going on concerning the physics!
I feel good with the susp. work, a bit less with the rough differential, and at last, the engine sounds and notely from the transmission, left me think that I was more in a race version than in a road car. just a question of mix to the ears. But maybe I'm wrong on the last point?
Thanks!

Changes in the engine and transmission sound of the roadster will also be part of the update (most likely tomorrow, maybe a bit later). If you want, you can easily make the changes yourself :
in extension folder, ext_config, scroll to the sound parts, and adjust the values for transmission volume and pitch. 1.0 is original from the sound file, 0 is no sound, 2 is multiplied by 2, etc... The value will be lowered with the planned update than it is already, but you can lower/alter it as you prefer.
 
Premium
If you ever see one of these in real life,look under the bonnet/hood.Its almost an exact copy of an MG.Weird that back then Datsuns were copying British sports cars much like the Chinese are copying everything now.The larger Datsun 240Z from the same period has a straight 6 that is almost a copy of the Austin Healey 3000.Unlike the Fairlady 2000 the body does look very different.
The OHC Datsun straight 6 engine has nothing in common with the OHV Austin straight 6 engine except making the OHV Austin engine a boat anchor!
 

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