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.
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