If you are confused by the name Datsun 310GX, you are not alone. We’ve got a support group for you — it’s called Car’s That Nissan Imported To The USA To Confuse Americans Anonymous. This next car isn’t the classic rear-drive Datsun B210, nor the front-drive Datsun F10 or even the Nissan Pulsar, well maybe […]
This next car is a Datsun S30 generation Z-car of someone obscure origins. The seller lists it as a 77 Nissan Quest, but that is because Facebash doesn’t have all car listed for all years, so he/she may have picked something close enough. The part where it gets more cloudy is when the seller says it has “minimal rust, no cancerous rust” which is the automotive equivalent to carcinoma instead of melanoma…but its best to avoid both. Finally the seller mentions that you’ll need to live in a state where you can register without a title or apply for a new one…and that the car was listed for sale a year ago. I’m not sure what I’m looking at here, but I love the fender flares. Find this 1977 Datsun 280Z offered for $11,000 in Birmingham, AL via facetrash fenderbook. Tip from Mark.
The Datsun 520/521 pickup was built from 1965 through 1972, right in the middle of the biggest explosion in performance and horsepower in the US market. But Nissan didn’t care, they were building a simple car for simple people and it was powered by a 1.3 to 1.6 liter J-series inline4 that made about as much power as the average domestic’s air conditioning system consumes at idle. Find this 1970 Datsun 520 Pickup offered for $6,700 in San Ysidro, CA via craigslist.
I’m gonna get up on my soap box and claim that this next car is too expensive. I’m not saying that someone won’t pay the owner a price close to the asking, but 15 large for a Datsun B210 that doesn’t have a trunk full of gold bullion is nuts. Yes, the car is in good shape, yes it has only 26k miles on the 5-digit odo, but this is a B210 which means it has the miserable 1.3 liter A13 overhead valve 4-banger which was a one-year-only engine, good luck getting parts to rebuild it when it hits 50k miles. And 75 horsepower is great in a ’59 Porsche Speedster or something pre-war, but in 1974 the typical Mustang had like 400 ft-lbs of torque and you’ll have a hard time keeping up with traffic in this pre-recycled tuna can. I’m sorry, I wish I could get behind this, but I’m gonna step off my soap box now and let you guys tell me why life is always sunny in a Sunny. Find this 1974 Datsun B210 offered for $15000 in Oxnard, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
The name Maxima was first used in 1980 by Nissan on a fully decked out trim of their 810 sedan — it was Maxima in its features and luxury. The Maxima name took over the 810 designation after the 1981 model year and today’s example is the last year of the original front-engine rear-drive Maxima G910 generation. I would normally say that this car needs an RB26DETT engine plus 6-speed gearbox, but with only 17k miles on the odometer, this car probably needs to be preserved as stock. Find this 1984 Nissan Maxima offered for $6,700 in Fontana, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
Under normal circumstances, I’d say that the 2+2 extended roofline ruins the classic looks of Nissan’s classic S30 generation Z-car…but today is no normal day. This gold/brown 280Z has those little back seats and the extended roof shape and doesn’t look bad at all in the photos…but the most shocking part is that asking price compared to the condition. By the time you read this, it is probably already gone. Find this 1976 Datsun 280Z offered for $8000 in San Jose, CA via craigslist.
I owned and drove an SVO Mustang a few years ago and it was an interesting car, but too heavy to really enjoy the 4-cylinder turbo under the hood properly. Sure, it made as much horsepower as the V8 version, but it was lacking in torque before the Garrett turbocharger found its breath above 3000 rpm. So it probably would be fun in a classic lightweight 2-seat roadster like this next thing. Find this 1968 Datsun Roadster offered for $17,900 in Springfield, MO via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!
Colin Chapman’s motto for car performance was; “simplify and then add diamond plate.” No. Wait. That wasn’t Chapman. That was a young Elon Musk — he was building his first electric car, a canvas backed quasi-camino and he needed a lightweight, space-age material to use for the front valence, rear bumper, bed liner, seat cover, and tail light surround…and he thought “I can’t afford anything light, so I’ll hack the roof off, add 2 tons of lead-acid batteries and use diamond plate wherever I can”. Diamond Plate Motors was a total failure, but he joined the guys at Tesla Motors when they were converting lightweight Lotus Elises to electric and the rest is history. Find this 1980 Datsun 310 offered for $1500 in Santa Cruz, CA via craigslist.
Tipper James sent in this next car with the subject; Please be real. I’ve have to agree that this car seems too good to be true…because a 1974 model year Datsun 260Z (that was the only year they were sold in the USA) offered for $10k, even if it is the less desirable 2+2 version with the later 1974.5 big bumpers, is a good deal. I guess it is a good thing for the brand (and maybe car preservation…but that is debatable) that Datsun’s Z is finally getting the price appreciation it didn’t see for decades…but today’s example is priced from a decade ago. Find this 1974 Datsun 260Z 2+2 offered for $10,800 in Brookhaven, NY via craigslist.
Nissan sold a pickup under the Datsun brand in the USA in 1964 – technically called the 320 Pickup, but many folks call them the 1200 or D1200 because that had a 1200cc engine and 1200 badges on the side. If you look closely you will also find a 60hp badge as well…which was never something to brag about, unless you were trying to drag race toddler on a tricycle, but the 60s were a strange time. Find this 1964 Datsun 1200 Pickup offered for $6,500 in Yucca Valley, CA via craigslist.