The idea a fun, classic roadsters for the summer months is one of the more tantalizing concepts for gearheads like us. Of course, you could be the type who prefers an old 4×4 to get into the great outdoors, and I can relate to that sentiment as well. In the case of this Datsun 1600 Roadster, offered at no reserve here on eBay, this is one of the better arguments I’ve seen for the top-down option for the warmer months ahead. The seller claims it’s highly original and has been loved on by a long term owner; bidding sits at just under $9,000 at the moment.
To me, the Datsun has always been one of the more underappreciated classic convertibles on the market, a sentiment that doesn’t seem to be changing based on recent auction results. Some of the higher-powered 2000-spec cars have sold for about what this one is currently bid to, which is a shock to me considering how sprightly the performance is for a car built in the late 60s. Even the 1600 like our subject car will feel plenty athletic on some proper backroads, with just under 100 horsepower and about as much torque. My favorite detail? The tail lights.
The seller reports that the interior is in good shape with no odd odors, which is always a consideration in a car where water intrusion can be a problem. This being a later model means you get the somewhat boring pull-style switchgear; the older cars, like the Jaguar E-Type, had cool toggle-style switches before the safety nerds ruined our fun. The manual gearbox, crank windows, and manual controls means this Roadster is dirt simple to operate inside the cabin, with very little to break. The dash appears to be in nice shape.
The seller believes the 52,115 miles on the clock is original, which makes this Datsun a fairly low mileage example and helps explain why it appears to honest. The seller reports that the Datsun is 99 percent rust-free, and that the off-white paint job is original. Most of these Datsuns wearing somewhat “boring” colors have been resprayed to red by now, so it’s always refreshing to see one wearing its factory colors. The honest presentation, low mileage, and 1600-specs makes this Roadster a compelling choice for a summer cruiser, potentially for $10,000 or less.
I’ve always liked these too, and some will disagree, but to me, it was the Asian knockoff of the MGB, like the 240Z, an Asian XKE. In fact, I loved my MGB, but this car took the same basic style to a new level. It was simple, reliable, and above all, didn’t leak oil. Before Datsun became all Nissany and plastic and gray. You can’t go wrong here, unless of course you bleed BRG! Nice car.
I don’t disagree at all I think that’s the exact market they were trying to get into, I think if the Datsun reliability would have been better known they would have been more successful in the American market
Very nice Datsun. I agree that the older version has a nicer looking interior but the condition of this car is probably a more important factor.
One note is that I don’t think the seller says that it’s the original factory paint, but that it was painted 40 years ago in its original color.
Not to be picky, but the first Datsun roadster was a 1500 powered SPL310, in 1961 so predated the MGB by two years.
These 1600’s are great, pushrod motor that is dead reliable, turns 4k at modern freeway speeds but will do that all day.
These later models had taller windshields to meet DOT laws, better suited to tall people like me.
Thanks for that. I read, the design for the MGB began in late 1958 and was completed in 1959. The 1st MGB was made in Sept. 1962, so it’s entirely possible Datsun had spies in England at that time? :)
Helped a friend restore one and the workmanship on the chassis was top notch. Raced against a pretty blue and white a few years and we’d swap wins. Lots of fun.
simple to work on and if so not, many tools needed
Sold. $9,800.
Somebody got a nice little roadster for under 10k. The earlier shorter windscreen would be more handsome.
My sister had one of these back in the 1970s at school in MO. She had it up to 125 mph out there on the flat roads. She was a nut, what can I say.
By the way, these were not really mass produced so some parts (brake masters, example) are pricy.
But the pushrod 1600 was the workhorse in Nissan forklifts for decades, and the H-20 forklift crank strokes the 1600 to 2000 (a piston change required too) so performance is available.
That said, the 1600 is a blast.
These did not raise interest in US because SU carbs were not well understood, and they were still hand built, so repairs were time consuming. (Want to replace a fender? You have to remove and then rehang the door)