Japan copy of MGB engine

I have read, somewhere, that the MGB engine was later copied in Japan. And used in their
cars.
Does anyone know what Company, Make and years of cars that used the MGB engine design??

Many thanks

Datsun...

Dick

The British took the assignment of restoring Japan's auto industry after the war, the Allied Powers were very interested in getting Japan back on its feet and modernizing its economy.

The engineers took what they knew and helped them out, including the A & B-Series Austin Engine and SU carburetors.

warmly,
dave

Austin licensed them to Datsun. The J-series engines were based on the Austin B-series like the MGA and MGB had, J12 (1200) & J13 (1300) were sold here in the 4xx series cars and pickups (and used in an "Austin" badged pickup like the Datsun ones, in the Antipods--I have a picture that I can't find right now and it looks just like a 1200 PU) until replaced, in 1969, by their new L16 that also powered the 510.

There was also a J-15 but I don't think any vehicles came to the US with that engine.

One of the J-series engines is, or was until fairly recently, used in a lift truck.

The J1300 in my pickup 35 years ago: I could bolt on an MGB head (tried it one day when I blew a head gasket but the greater bore made it not work at all!!<G>) I did use MGB rocker shaft assembly and there were some other pieces I swapped as well. Some claim the J series was based on the Austin A series engine (Sprite) but I know this is not true since if that were true my MGB engine parts on a J13 experiences in the late 70s would not have been possible. Also used an MGB radiator (flipped front-to-back).

I suspect it would be a simple thing to swap in a B engine (with Datsun 5-speed) into one of these 67-68 pickups. They had a real short rear end though, something like 5.12:1. Motor mounts in the right place and all that (the L16 mount is in the middle of the block).

Some claim the Datsun A-series (as used in the 1500 and 1500 "Fairlady" roadsters) was also based on the Austin design but I have no hands-on experience with that engine so don't know. The engine used in the 2000 roadster is totally different, a SOHC lump that I don't think saw use on anything else seen in the US.

More specifically, the 1200cc and 1300cc engines used in Datsun sedans and PU trucks in the 60s.

Ironically, the 1600 used in the Datsun roadsters and the Datsun SSS sedans was a totally different engine

I know that the engine/transmission unit in my early model Datsun 310 could have been a clone of the Mini power unit.

We had a '67 Datsun 1600 roadster and it had SU copy Hitachi carbs, and the head gasket from an MGA would fit. First hand experience there. otherwise didn't look too much like a B engine.