I had 72 Datsun pickup like this one (mine was multicolored tye-dyed style). Broke down nearly every week, but I liked it................
I had 72 Datsun pickup like this one (mine was multicolored tye-dyed style). Broke down nearly every week, but I liked it................
In the 1970s my husband was assigned by his company in Houston to take over (and manage from afar) their branch in the UK. Expenses were out of control.
When he went over to inspect, he found that there was some embezzlement going on, plus some conflict of interest deals prevalent (hiring the wife of one of the managers to handle purchasing, for instance, and all shipping to be handled by the spouse of another manager.) In addition, they had OKAYed the purchase of high end Datsuns for EVERYBODY.
My husband fired them all and was left with a fleet of Datsuns which he later sold. Somebody presented him with a T shirt that said “Datsuns last longer than People” emblazoned on the front.
I had a 72 Datsun 510 wagon as my first car. Being a teenager, I spent much more attention to installing an underdash FM/cassette unit than the engine. It still ran like a top for a good two years. I sold it and the next week the guy wrapped it around a telephone pole. No one was hurt, luckily.
I could fill it up for $5.
Also the fold down seat was very handy on Saturday nights for . . . storing tools yeah that’s the ticket.
My first pickup was a Datsun. It was a rust-bucket, but it did what I needed it to do.
The Datsun truck was also the Chevy “LUV” (light utility vehicle). I bought one to do a 50-mile, round trip commute to Atlanta and back everyday.
It was a great ride, the only thing I ever had to do to it was to change the timing chain, which was very easy, as it was an easy and simple engine to work on.
When it snowed, which is rare in Georgia, I’d let15 pounds of air out of the back tires, toss a couple of concrete blocks in the bed for weights, and go almost anywhere I needed to go.
Taught my son to drive a straight-shift in that truck.
The only reason I finally sold it was, no air conditioning, which is almost a necessity in Georgia in the summer.
Mine was red.
Journalism major
A fledgling Japanese automobile company asked a German man, well known for his expertise in branding successful automobiles to suggest a name for its new car.
“We need a name no later than tomorrow,” said the Japanese official.
“Dat soon?” replied the surprised German.
And Nissan’s famous Datsun series was born.
I had a B210 (79?), but as I was stopped to turn, someone (in another B210) clipped the back end. We pulled over, and, while the police were filling out the paperwork, some drunk rammed into the back end and totaled it.
We replaced it with a new 310. Someone stole it and ran it into a tree, totaling it. The next time we went to a Datsun dealer, all the cars hid in fear. (Actually, we bought an Old Firenza next, but I really liked that 310.)
"..I'll give ya a dollar each to git rid of the yelping oblong jihadist"....????..."oh wait"
Remember the Datsun “Honey Bees?”
My 1981 Datsun King Cab pickup was an engineering marvel. 4 cylinder with 8 spark plugs. High ratio of firing made for the smoothest 4 banger engine I’ve ever seen.
My 280Z was among my favorite cars.
Bought a 240Z when they first came to the US. A goodly chunk of my annual salary at the time, especially since they were selling above sticker, but I said, “what the heck!”
(The Fairlady Z came out a year earlier in Japan and had the 2-liter straight six. My US model, a year later, had the 2.4 liter engine.)
Even visiting LA during that first year, it was an attention getter (read: chick magnet).
I spotted occasionally the even more exotic right-hand drive model, most likely brought back from Asia by a US serviceman. The Asian models had factory standard external mirrors far forward on the front fenders.
Learned to actually seriously drive in that car, at some cost to its sheet metal.
I still have fond memories of my 260Z. One of the very best cars I have owned. It finally broke the differential after 3 years of hauling my race car and trailer.
I had one of those too — only it suffered every kind of abuse, and just kept on running. For all I know, it’s still running.
I had a ‘72 240Z. Took all the air pollution junk off the engine, put on a set of Cyclone headers, kicked the ignition timing up a couple of degrees. Got 30 mpg at 70 mph...and that was in 1973. Wish I still had it today.
My dad bought a new 280Z in 1977. That car was so cool. He let me drive it to Senior prom in 1980. And he still hasn't forgiven me for that night :(The earlier Datsuns were some of the most ugly, junky, funny looking cars ever seen on American highways.
I read that in the ‘60s they hired some high priced GM designers to design their next line of cars to make them more in tune with American taste. That was the beginning of the turnaround that led to their success.
Datsun was a name used to market cars in the USA. The company behind Datsun was Nissan but they wouldn’t put the Nissan name on the car line until they were a commercial success - couldn’t lose face you know.
Once the car line was successful they transitioned to the Nisson name.
Datsun's marketing was always at odds with the product. I had one of their earlier attempt at performance
NO just the standard instruments from the muggle version
only 100MPH? Yeah they claimed a 93mph top speed, but I once ran it out full scale (and it was later calibrated to be reading 2-3mph under true at that speed)
The Amazin' Mets were in the World Series and I found that the best way to hear the games was at 2AM on Armed Forces Radio happily ensconced at a small Japanese bed and breakfast with a refrigerator full of Kirin beer and other assorted amenities...it was wonderful.
The Mama-san decided I should sleep in after all that whoopin' and hollerin'all night,some of it actually about the ball game...but I digress.
I was supposed to be back aboard by 0800 for Quarters so Mama-san called me a cab and I knew it was gonna be close.
The cab was a Datsun Bluebird and the driver spoke no English so when I got in I mustered up my best pidgen Japanese and said,"Consterration Hayako!"
He took off downhill as fast as that little Datsun could go. Now the B&B was up in the hills and the pier was at the bottom...about half-way down the driver looked over his shoulder at me and said,quite coherently "No blakes!"
I have to admit I was a little concerned,especially when we ran through the gate at the pier while the driver was downshifting and exercising the parking brake for all it was worth.
The pier was a little shorter than the Connie,but we stopped just before we were gonna go for a dip in Sasebo Harbor...so I made it for Quarters after all.
The Mets won BTW>
Ah so, Dat-Sun! The original “made from recycled beer cans” car from Japan. The rust is just a feature.