1st & 2nd Generation Maxima History

1981-1984



The first car to wear the Maxima name was introduced in 1981. It was essentially a Japanese-market Bluebird 910 with a 3.9 in (99 mm) longer nose. The car was offered as the 810 Deluxe or 810 Maxima that first year, and all 810s became Maximas for 1982. In 1984, the last year of the first generation Maxima, American Datsuns began carrying the "Nissan" badge as well (only 1984 Nissans have both "Nissan" and "Datsun" on the back of the car). Toyota responded to the introduction of the Maxima with the Japanese market Toyota Mark II and named the car the Toyota Cressida.
Powered by the same 2.4 L I6 engine as the previous Datsun 810 and Datsun 240Z, the car was still rear-wheel drive. It was also available with the LD28 OHC 2.8L I6 Diesel engine (available in the US from mid-1981 through 1983) with either 5 speed manual or automatic transmission.
Some of the power steering pumps were sourced from General Motors' Saginaw Gear division, while others were sources from Atsugi. This was the second Nissan to use US-sourced parts besides the Borg-Warner T-5 transmission used in the Datsun 510.

1985-1988



In the fall of 1984, the first front-wheel drive Maxima (based on the Bluebird U11) was introduced. This Maxima was available with a 154 hp (119 kW) 3.0 L VG30E V6 engine and a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission. This engine was shared in the normally aspirated 300ZX and was the first V6 engine to be mass produced from Japan. The second generation was assigned the compact status. 1988 was the last year for the station wagon, which had been offered since the Datsun 810 days. In late 1986, the 1987 Maxima was introduced with a freshened exterior and interior. Automatic lapbelts were new options on both the sedan and wagon. Luxury amenities were offered on both the "base" GL, later renamed GXE and SE trim levels. Such features for the GXE included keyless-entry code on the driver and passenger side door panel (this feature permitted the windows to be lowered, the moon roof opened and the trunk to be opened without the vehicle running and the key in the ignition), power windows, locks, antenna, trunk release, optional leather seating, digital dashboard display and an optional power sunroof. 15" alloy wheels are standard for the Maxima. The SE (and some GXE) offered dual power seats, a five-speed manual transmission, 3-way shock adjust suspension, front and rear windshield defrost and a factory-installed security system. The SE also has a small rear spoiler, 4-wheel disc brakes, black side rear view mirrors and body molding (GXE got body color side rear view mirrors and matching body molding), and a dual exhaust outlet where as the GXE got a single. Again, the Maxima's prime competitor was the similar-specification Toyota Cressida. Maxima provided a combination of luxury and sporty features while the Cressida was generally seen as being more luxurious.

as sourced by Wikipedia

Good stuff MM, I want a first gen now. I can keep the max and get rear wheel drive.

birdman wrote:Good stuff MM, I want a first gen now. I can keep the max and get rear wheel drive.

Yeah man. You can nickname it the Bluebirdman 910.