The North American market has seen some bold changes from Nissan over the years. Originally imported under the Datsun name, Nissan cars in Canada and the US changed to the new name in the early 1980s and the company has not been the same since. A broader lineup and the introduction of the luxurious Infiniti brand in the late 1980s greatly changed the face of Nissan. The winners are consumers around the world who can get a great vehicle at a fair price.

It was in 1965 that the first Datsuns arrived in Canada. Who could forget the 1600cc 510 wagon with 4-speed manual transmission? The only thing that could kill this car was rust and a bucket of rust. Now how about the 620 pickup? A great little carrier that’s in a league of its own. My personal favorite was the 720 truck equipped with a diesel engine. A good, sturdy truck that really drank fuel.

Nissan’s current lineup is a far cry from the cars that dotted the landscape during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. For consumers, that’s probably a good thing, too. Today’s lineup still offers glimpses of the original Datsuns with the Sentra reminiscent of some of the old B210, but also about ten times more comfortable at that. The Altima, Maxima and revived 350Z round out the car lineup and when you add in all the SUVs and trucks that Nissan now sells, the Japanese automaker has something for everyone.

Consumers keep their Nissans / Datsuns with premium Nissan parts and accessories. Your dealer will have what you need, but remember that the prices you pay for parts through the dealer will be the current retail prices. Some national auto parts chains will have a decent selection, but they may have a hard time finding the rare Datsun or early Nissan part for you.

A new option for consumers is auto parts wholesalers, particularly those that sell online. Prices are usually much lower because wholesalers buy direct from major manufacturers, including Bosch, K&N, Hella, Monroe, Covercraft, and others. Still, make sure the retailer is based in Canada and doesn’t charge outrageous shipping fees and taxes for parts shipped from the US or elsewhere. The selection they offer you must be excellent, parts in stock must meet or exceed OEM requirements, and customer service must be just a mouse click and / or a toll-free number away.

Be wary of retailers that specialize in generic Nissan parts, as counterfeit auto parts are a big problem in North America. Always learn in advance what the company’s shipping, return and warranty policies are before making your purchase.