I don't know the break point for model years.  October is either late 70 or early 71.  The date you're seeing is the build date.  All manufacturers start building next year's models before the first of the year.

It's neat car with paperwork.  Keep those documents and put a story together.

 

14 hours ago, Jem2749 said:

HLS30-12385  

So I'm thinking it was sold as a '71 even though the door tag says 10/70?

Nissan "generally" observed month 08 for the start of most model year changes, emphasis on "generally".  Titleing cars is left to the states so we find some of the earliest 1969 production cars built in month 10 titled as 1969 models and others as 1970 models.  Your 10/70 build was most likely titled as a '71, I would expect your search thru the papers will confirm the actual detail.  That is a great car, congratulations.

It was common for some  states to registrar a vehicle based on the date is was first sold in the time before smog equipment came into use.  Smog equipment forced tighter controls on what year a vehicle was/is.  This also forced tighter model year designations.

 

Edited December 15, 20186 yr by jwtaylor