DATSUN 1200 UTE

Well who wouldn’t want a pint-sized oddball Japanese ute? The jury may be out in terms of actual load-lugging usability, but with room for two and a dog in the back, these things are just plain fun for those sunny-day cruises.

Utilising the same drivetrain and wheelbase as the 1200 sedan, coupe and wagon models, parts are plentiful, though many examples have been fiddled with due to the expansive interchangeable parts common to Datsuns of the same vintage.

There’s usually a handful for sale at any given moment, in various stages of restoration or modification. In any case, they’re an extremely affordable project, and thanks to their niche fan-base, should hold their value pretty well!