DATSUN 1600

THE MEDIUM CAR MARKET WAS AWASH WITH TEDIUM THE DATSUN 1600 CHANGED ALL THAT

Before 1969, Australia’s Medium Car market was the realm of underperforming engines and beam rear axles, drum brakes and sparse interiors. Then the Datsun 1600 arrived.

The 1600 was a four-door sedan with bucket seats as standard equipment and through-flow ventilation like a Cortina but with a good heater as standard and single-piece front windows. There were NO quarter vents.

In place of overhead valves, as in the Cortina, Corona, Torana and Hunter that were its rivals, the 1600 came with a grunty overhead-camshaft engine delivering 71.5kW. It also included disc front brakes and independent rear suspension.

Early 1600s with distinctive ‘clap hands’ windscreen wipers had a final-drive ratio so tall that when revved past 6000rpm on long a downhill run - such as Conrod Straight on Bathurst’s Mt Panorama – they would easily exceed 100mph (161km/h).

Dirt rally roads allowed the light but strong 1600 to write itself into the annals of motorsport, winning various State rally titles and sharing victory in the 1970 Ampol Trial. Only the arrival of Holden’s potent XU-1 Torana stopped it winning an Australian Championship, but at State and Club level the ‘Datto’ to this day remains a serious contender.

Three-speed automatic transmission became an option in 1970, adding $250 to the basic price of $2390. Auto-tranny cars sold well but survivors have become scarce; often because they have been converted to manual using a later five-speed gearbox.

Australia missed out on SSS versions of the 1600 sedan and also on the sleek ‘510’ Coupe. However, these do pop up for sale occasionally as private imports.

Aussies love a family wagon and in 1971 Datsun brought us a 1600 version. Due to engineering issues, the independent rear-end couldn’t be accommodated so wagons made do with conventional ‘cart’ springs at the back. They offer lots of room for their size too and are worth a look if you want a ‘family classic’.

1973 brought the 1600’s new-car reign to an end but from then until the 1990s, used ones could be found haunting ‘bargain’ car yards across the country. If only we had thought then to hide away decent-looking survivors (and noyt turn them into rally cars) because finding a stock 1600 has today become very difficult.

Early 1968-69 cars are the ones that enchant collectors and bring the biggest money. If you have a really good one, expect it to sell for around $40,000.

Easier to find and still costing the better part of $30,000 are notionally stock 1970s models and modified cars with bigger engines and wheels, brake and transmission upgrades. Prices can go considerably higher if the car has been prepped for competition and/or turbocharged.