The Datsun 610 series is also more commonly known in Australia as the Datsun 180B. It was released in October 1972. It was sold with a 1.8L 4 cylinder engine available with a 4 or 5 speed manual as well as a 3 speed automatic transmission. The 180B was a larger car and had a larger and more powerful engine than many of the previous Datsun models sold and it is said that this may be the reason why it was more popular than previous models.
In the case of the Datsun 1000, it had been produced with an engine so small so that it could bypass Japanese tax laws, making ownership costs cheaper. This was not as big a factor for Australian consumers. It was sold up until October 1977 when it was superseded by the Datsun 200B. The 180B was a very popular car in Australia. It was arguably the first Datsun car to sell in any significant number