Lots of great info in this article. Even some diesel content.
Here's a few highlights:
Second-Generation 810/Maxima: 1981 to 1984
"America's new 810 was actually a revision of the four-cylinder Japanese-market 910 with the biggest change being an additional 3.9 inches of length spliced into the nose between the firewall and front wheels in order to accommodate the longer six-cylinder engine. Of course Datsun could have called the new car a 910 here in America as well, but why throw away what brand equity had been built for the 810 nameplate?"
"The Maxima is loaded for American bear," wrote Car and Driver during its first road test of the second 810. "Gimmicks, comforts and competences are everywhere, and delivered in a very handsome package. The new 810 has gotten the sort of face-lift that snugs up lines without stretching too tight. The old 810 was just as much fun to drive, but it was unrepentantly gawky. The new car gathers a better grade of stares." They also noted the Maxima's most controversial feature — "a little artificial voice that will scare the wee out of you in the middle of the night at the Texaco station in Chetopa, Kansas, by whispering, 'Please turn out the lights.'" That's right, the 810 Maxima was in the vanguard of that oh-so-'80s fad — cars that talk."
"Another early-'80s fad was the diesel engine and the 810 got one of its own midway through the '81 model year. The 2.8-liter diesel six was rated at just 80 hp. That's wholly inadequate against 3,100 or more pounds, yet at least a few were sold anyhow."
"Road & Track measured its 810 Maxima traipsing to 60 mph in 12.3 seconds and completing the quarter-mile in 19.0 seconds at 75.5 mph. Solidly competitive for the era and enough to make the new 810 a hit even though the Maxima's price was just a few bucks short of $10,000."
"For no apparent reason, the 810 name disappeared with the coming of the 1982 models and all of Datsun's biggest sedans and wagons were now known as Maximas. This was also the year when Datsun began its transition to using the "Nissan" brand name. So both names appeared on most of the company's products."
"The Nissan name change was complete by the 1984 model year and the unloved diesel engine option was dropped,
but except for some slight trim changes and audible wear warnings from the front disc brake pads, the Maxima soldiered forward pretty much unchanged. But not only would this be the last year for this generation Maxima, but it would be the end of rear-wheel drive for the line as well."