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Datsuns at Barrett-Jackson 2018

January 16, 2018 by Greg

I’ve attended the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale each year since 2009, and a couple times back in the late 80’s and early 90s. One thing that’s a relatively new development is the recognition of classic Japanese cars as being worthy of representation on the docket.

This event, like so many others, has historically been the domain of European classics and loads of America iron. But let’s face it – auction houses like Barrett-Jackson have been, shall we say, “late to the party” when it comes to Japanese classics.

Certainly, there are those who will argue that the value simply isn’t there, but they can’t come up with a good reason. Why aren’t there more Japanese classics at these auctions? Some will say the cars were initially “cheap” and therefore not worthy of collector status. Still others will claim that “too many” were built, so there’s no collectibility. Another argument – they’re simply “too new” to be collectible. Obviously, those people are, in a word, wrong.

Sure, many Japanese cars were affordable. So was a VW Transporter (yet they commonly command six-figure sale prices).
Sure, they were built in large numbers – But do you really think a 1970 Chevelle SS was “limited production?”
As far as recency, the vast majority of offerings at this auction were built after 1960.

Bottom line: Other than a general negative sentiment towards Japanese auto manufacturers, there’s simply no valid reason they shouldn’t be well-represented at shows and auctions.

Several years ago, a lone Datsun Roadster sat awaiting its turn on the auction block. Unless you were a restorer or collector of Japanese classics, you’d think the car was pristinely-restored and rare as hen’s teeth – in fact, the placard on the window contained several inaccuracies that were very important.

Truth be told, it was just a fairly average high-windshield 1600 car, with some incorrect bits and a laundry list of flaws – but hey, the paint was shiny! Basically, it was a good “driver-status” car… and yet it somehow crossed the block for well over $20k.

That’s great news for anyone looking to sell a classic Datsun, but terrible news for the uninitiated buyer. Clearly, the buyer didn’t consult an expert, and could have easily purchased a lot more car for his money. Of course, you don’t go to the world’s largest collector car auction looking to find a bargain.

But a great rule of thumb is: “Your car is only worth what someone is willing to pay.” Couldn’t have been more true on that day.

Having watched this process for several years, we thought it might be fun to look at some of this year’s offerings, and dissect the seven Datsun auctions that took place this week.

Let’s get started: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #24

Filed Under: Events

Datsun 510 – March 1969 Motor Trend Road Test

December 28, 2017 by Greg

The first thing everybody said after they saw the all-new ’68 Datsun 510 with its McPherson strut front suspension, trailing-arm rear layout, and general body shape, was that a cheaper BMW was here. Then they drove the car and found it quite a machine, but not a BMW by any stretch of the imagination. Two things were wrong: Japanese detailing was not in the same league and it didn’t handle as well, not quite. The error in this logic is that the 510 wasn’t built to compete with the BMW, it’s the Beetle you’re supposed to compare it with, dummies. From this aspect, things get a lot more even in a hurry.

Standing on a 95.3-inch wheelbase (VW Is 94.5), overall length of the all-steel unit body Datsun is 160.2 inches, width 61.4 and height 55.1. Not much different from the Bug whose measurements go 159.6, 61.0 and 59.1 respectively except the four-inch lower roofline which means a corresponding reduction of front headroom.

Despite the overall dimensional similarities, though, total interior space utilization is improved over the Volkswagen and because of the wide doors it’s easier to get in and out – Especially the back seat. With those so-called throne-room front buckets, putting something like a bag of groceries in a VW’s rear passenger compartment is a hassle, especially for a woman. Datsun must have recognized this hang-up because their seat mechanism incorporates the neat trick of sliding the whole unit forward on its tracks when the seatback is pushed ahead. But in all fairness, the VW seats are more comfortable, and, with near true chair height, will accept a six-foot three-inch driver’s frame, though neither is is Will Cham-berlain territory.

Datsun’s windows-up, draft-free ventilation system is on an efficiency level with Opel and Peugeot, which says a lot and as heaters go, this one pumps out BTUs like an open-hearth furnace. These things, excellent ventilation and heating characteristics, demonstrate that the Japanese have studied the wild variations in our various geographical sections and built a car to suit existing conditions. You can yak all day about how the German detailing, finish and fit is far superior but a long, high-humidity, Eastern summer in a poorly ventilated car that, after a time, becomes your own personal portable forge, will sour a customer forever and Volkswagen had better realize it.

In all out, one-on-one performance the Datsun has a bunch of people covered in its class and then some. The all-aluminum overhead cam 97.3-cubic inch (1595cc) engine puts out 96 horses at 5600 rpm, which, for a 2125-pound car, equals a pretty decent power-to-weight ratio. As a point of fact, the 510 will out-accelerate the 1.9 Opel Automatic to sixty, quite interesting since the Opel is lighter and has 300 more ccs. Better yet, from fifty to seventy mph the Datsun was 1.8 seconds quicker, 158 feet of additional room you’ll appreciate when passing on a two-lane highway sometime. At speeds where most other cars in this class begin to fade, the Datsun is coming on. Part of this is engine, part transmission. The 510’s four-speed looks and acts like one of those beautiful Alfas and even with a distinct whine in second and third, has to be the best around.

Stopping capabilities of the front disc, rear drum brake combination border on the aircraft carrier-arresting-hook league. At 117 feet, the 510 took only a yard more to stop from sixty than the 200-pound lighter Austin America, a feat all the more impressive because the standard Toyo E-41, 5.00 x 13 tires are as slick as bear grease. Toyo’s questionable adhesion qualities also made the suspension amazing because the car theaded through tight corners and switchbacks like O.J. Simpson. Ex-racer Bob Bondurant, who uses a Datsun 510 sedan as well as a Datsun 2000 sports car in his School of High Performance Driving at Orange County Raceway, tried our test car and commented it seemed inclined to slide more than the one he had equipped with fatter tires.

There was no time to experiment with our particular machine, but Datsun, who also realize the original skins leave something to be desired if you have any sporting blood, offered us a four-door shod with Goodyear 175R-13 radial-ply tires. In the space of about four blocks we realized we tested the wrong car, or rather that Datsun ought to just make some good radials standard equipment. The improvement is staggering, something in the magnitude of driving off a sheet of ice onto a dry, concrete road. Riding qualities – good to begin with, are certainly not impaired, they’re improved. Another distinct plus we noticed about the four-door was that it had padded carpeting instead of the plain rubber mat that came in our job, so the noise level was de-escalated at least 25 percent. And, that’s a good thing. Finally, for some reason, a Datsun, even with its quaint hand choke, has about the poorest cold start characteristics of any car we know. The people of International Falls, Minnesota, will not love them for it.

Look Datsun, this is your golden opportunity. Nobody really believes that an $1895 510 is as good as a $2700 BMW. But, if you add a set of radials, a sound-absorbing carpet and a choke that works, the tab will be just over $1,900. That they might believe, especially after they drove it. And then, VW would be in deep water.

Filed Under: 510 / Bluebird

Datsun Electrical Service Training Manual

August 23, 2017 by Greg

This factory technician training manual covers the finer points of testing, diagnosing, and troubleshooting common Datsun electrical issues for the 1968-1976 model year vehicles.

Bookmark and save it as a reference, or print it out to keep in your shop!

Continue to the next 30 pages on Part 2!

Filed Under: Restoration

Long Lost, but Unforgotten – The Recovery and Restoration of Datsun Scarab #160

April 26, 2017 by Greg

Lies. Betrayal. Murder. Horsepower… A tabloid cover, or the rediscovery and restoration of one of the rarest of Datsuns?

Let’s start off thusly – What’s a Scarab? Well, Datsun enthusiasts know the Scarab as the most potent of the early Z cars, a V8-swapped monster with power to spare.
scarab valve cover
But historically, what’s the significance of the Scarab, and how does it relate to this story? Well, according to “The Egyptian Book of the Dead,” when a person died, the gods of the underworld would judge them with detailed and intricate questions. Incorrect answers would condemn the deceased to Hell. Unfortunately, illiteracy was commonplace. As such, the priests of the time would read the expected questions (and the requisite answers) to a scarab beetle, which would then be killed, mummified, and placed in the ear of the deceased. When the gods then asked their questions, the ghostly scarab would whisper the correct answer into the ear of the deceased, who could then respond with accuracy and pass along into paradise. So, that’s the significance of the scarab in history.
scarab emblem
Relevance? Perhaps the scarab represents something of a “cheat code” for regular car owners to compete with the upper-crust high-performance enthusiasts of their time, much like the scarab beetle allowed those less fortunate to bypass judgment and enter into paradise in ancient Egypt.

OK, enough history lessons – back on topic! Many of you may remember Randy as the crazy genius who traveled cross-country to buy and drive home a barn-find Datsun 510. He already owns a great 240Z and a Roadster… Well, he’s at it again.

Join us as we document Randy’s acquisition, meticulous research, and restoration of this 1975 Scarab 280Z.

We’ll let him tell the rest of the story – Click here for Part 2, and Enjoy!

Also, during the series, Randy will be providing some commentary and answering questions here: Datsun Scarab Restoration

Filed Under: Z cars

Datsun Z432 Fairlady Technical Illustration

April 10, 2017 by Greg

For early Z aficionados, the Z432 has to be at the top of every collector’s wish list. While the more pedestrian S30 cars were equipped with the L24 engine and a set of SU carburetors, the Z432 was powered by the same dual-cam, inline six-cylinder 24-valve S20 as the venerable Skyline GT-R (Hakosuka). 7000 rpm was right in its wheelhouse, and the magnesium wheels, 5-speed, and factory LSD made the Z432 a formidable opponent on track or touge.

Of course, the ‘432’ references the S20’s 4 valves, 3 carburetors and 2 cams, and the rarity of the Z432 is reflected in recent sales of well over six figures.

From the DatsunForum archive of classic Japanese literature, this technical illustration was included in Motor Fan magazine in 1969 as a fold-out enclosure. How many of these were tacked up in bedrooms and garages all over Japan in 1969?

You can keep that Toyota 2000GT – Here at Datsun Ranch, we’d certainly rather have the Z432 to play with! Rather than squirrel these scans away, here it is, in high-res for your viewing pleasure. We hope you enjoy it.


[Super-high-res versions are available here: Datsun Fairlady Z432 1 and Datsun Fairlady Z432 2 ]

Filed Under: Performance, Z cars

1968 Datsun 1600 SSS Export Market Brochure

April 10, 2017 by Greg

Here’s a great reference piece from the DatsunForum archives – This went to press in May 1967, and documents the soon-to-be-available Datsun 1600 four-door and two-door sedans destined for the export market. Note: At the time, the 510 designation was not being used, and note the SSS nomenclature (which didn’t make the US market).

Enjoy!

Filed Under: 510 / Bluebird

1963 Datsun Pickup Truck Dealer Brochure

January 27, 2017 by Greg

The DatsunForum literature collection library is extensive and varied, much like the history of the Datsun vehicles it chronicles. From time to time, we’ll bring you high-quality scans of these brochures for your enjoyment.

Here’s a great one for the first Datsun pickups that rolled onto our shores – and an awesome resource for anyone doing a restoration!

Filed Under: 320 Trucks

Datsun 320 truck water temp gauge adjustment

January 12, 2017 by Greg

Contributed by Ted Heaton

Is your 320 water temp gauge off scale and reading too high or low?

It is adjustable.

I am doing some gauge maintenance and here are some pictures of the gauges. The little hole on the outside edge of the back of the temp gauge has a tiny star wheel that can be turned to raise or lower the needle reading on the gauge scale.

The wheel can be turned with the gauge in the dash with the right pick tool. Not as easy in reality as theory due to the wheel being stuck in place after 50 + years of age, but if you have the gauge out of the truck you possibly can free up the wheel.

When removing the gauge pod try to keep the gasket whole. Apply mild heat at the star wheel area and lube can be sprayed inside gauge pod from the needle opening. The gauge pod does not open easily but it can be separated at the copper folded tab rivets.

If you can free up the wheel reinstall the gauge and make the adjustment while the truck is running so you can set the needle where you want it to read at idle temp. OR, you can test it with the temperature probe, a thermometer, and a pan of water on your stove for additional accuracy.

The gauges in the 60’s Datsun vehicles were dated. The pictures show the build date in the European day-month-year format (DD-MM-Y). Note the speedo shown has 68 date (8) indicating it was a post production replacement part.

Filed Under: 320 Trucks

Datsun 1600 SSS Brochure from France

December 16, 2016 by Greg

For all you 510 aficionados out there, here’s something you may have never seen – an original factory color brochure from Datsun for the French market. Note the subtle differences in the European-market car… and how about the poor quality photography, especially of the engine bay?

Filed Under: 510 / Bluebird

1972 Datsun 510 Factory Options Brochure

November 18, 2016 by Greg

Here’s a great resource for those of you working on a correct restoration, or if you’re like me, just love to know what was offered for the 510 in 1972. We’ll be rolling out some more of these from our collection in the near future – Enjoy!

[Click images for full-sized versions]
1972-options-brochure-page-001
1972-options-brochure-page-002
1972-options-brochure-page-003
1972-options-brochure-page-004
1972-options-brochure-page-005
1972-options-brochure-page-006

Filed Under: 510 / Bluebird

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Datsun Electronic Fuel Injection – Wiring Diagrams

Datsun 1971 Consumer Information Manual

1972 Datsun emissions maintenance, adjustments and warranty

76 Datsun 280Z Widebody Build – “Banzai Runner” – Part 9

Datsun B310 (210) Rescue and Rehab – Part 2

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #24

Datsun postage stamps?

76 Datsun 280Z Widebody Build – “Banzai Runner” – Part 6

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