The Datsun 160J — marketed in several export markets as the Violet GT — was Nissan/Datsun's principal works rally car through the late 1970s, campaigned across multiple rounds of the World Rally Championship. Car No. 6, entered for Timo Salonen and co-driver Seppo Harjanne at the 1000 Lakes Rally 1979 in Finland, ran in a predominantly white livery and was prepared to night-stage specification, meaning additional auxiliary driving lamps were fitted to the front bumper and grille area for the demanding forest-stage conditions.
The Datsun 160J: Nissan's WRC Contender
Based on the A10 series platform and powered by a four-cylinder petrol engine, the 160J was Datsun's front-line rally weapon in the late 1970s and into the early 1980s. The works team and selected private entrants ran the car extensively across the 1979 World Rally Championship season, including events as varied as Sweden, Portugal and Finland. It represented a serious, factory-backed commitment from Nissan to international rally competition at a time when the WRC calendar was becoming increasingly competitive.
Salonen, Harjanne and Rally Finland 1979
The 1000 Lakes Rally — now known as Rally Finland — is one of the fastest and most celebrated events in WRC history, run over high-speed gravel forest roads. In 1979 it formed part of the World Rally Championship season, and Timo Salonen, a Finnish driver competing on home roads, was entered by the Datsun works programme alongside navigator Seppo Harjanne. Salonen was still an up-and-coming factory-supported driver in 1979; he would go on to claim the WRC Drivers' Championship in 1985, making this car a document of his early career. The night-version specification — auxiliary lamps mounted at the front — was standard practice for stages run in darkness and gives car No. 6 a visually distinctive appearance.
The Trofeu 1:43 Die-Cast Model
This 1:43 scale model is produced by Trofeu, a specialist manufacturer with an established record in accurately reproducing classic and historic rally cars at this scale. Built in die-cast metal, the model replicates car No. 6 as raced by Salonen and Harjanne, in white livery. The defining detail of this specific release is the reproduction of the front-mounted auxiliary driving lamps that characterised the night-stage configuration, distinguishing it visually from a standard-specification 160J and making it the variant of choice for collectors focused on rally-stage accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
Who drove car No. 6 at the 1000 Lakes Rally 1979?
Timo Salonen and co-driver Seppo Harjanne, competing as part of the Datsun works programme.
What is the night version specification?
The night version refers to the car's configuration for night-stage driving, distinguished by additional auxiliary driving lamps mounted on the front bumper and grille area.
Who manufactures this 1:43 scale model?
Trofeu, a specialist die-cast manufacturer known for historic and classic rally car reproductions at 1:43 scale.
Why is Timo Salonen significant for collectors?
Salonen became the 1985 WRC Drivers' Champion. This model captures one of his early factory Datsun appearances, making it a historically relevant piece for collectors tracing his pre-title career.
