"FRIENDS INVARIABLY BROUGHT THE OLD 1600 BACK AMAZED AT HOW GOOD IT WAS TO DRIVE"
amazed to find that the old Datto had slipped its leash and was sitting easily at 115-120km/h.
The only sensation of increased speed was some vibration from front wheels in need of a balance and a strange gear-lever buzz that started at about 110km/h and wasn't cured until the standard 'box was flung to accommodate a five-speed.
That stop-gap Datsun became part of the family and for several years our spare car. It was frequently on loan to friends or neighbours in need of temporary wheels who invariably brought it back amazed at just how good the old ‘bomb' was to drive.
BUYING
Anyone buying a ‘cheap' 1600 in today's market will be in for a very different experience. ‘Cheap' now involves an outlay of $10-12,000 and the car will most likely come with a 1.8 or 2.0-litre turbo engine, late-model seats and maybe rear-wheel disc brakes. The wheels will be larger in all respects, carrying vastly superior rubber to the scrawny original tyres.
The paint will almost invariably have been replaced but hopefully no one has messed too much with the original dash – especially the early one with its evocative 1960s strip speedo.
Finding a stock 1600 in anything approaching showroom condition is going to be difficult and will now cost twice the money you might have paid just a few years back.
There aren't many Datsuns of any kind in the market, and most that are there have been modified to some degree. In a lot of cases their last major work was 15-20 years ago and these could be in line for quite significant expenditure. Be cautious before finalising a price on one of these then having to outlay half the purchase price again on refurbishing.
Two-door cars are scarce and should bring 30-50 percent more money than a sedan of similar quality. Wagons tend to cost less than sedans but this could be related more to the quality of vehicles on offer than lower demand.
When seeking out cars and parts, remember that the 1600 goes by its ‘510' model code in the USA and other overseas markets, so searching ‘Nissan 510' can bring results.