Seems like in the last week or so we’ve seen a veritable plethora of low mileage cars here at Barn Finds. This Datsun B210 is more than a survivor, having soldiered on all these years while registering only 28,800 miles from new: it also managed to surmount the normally rabid rust that afflicts early Datsuns as well as the “so cheap it is never maintained” phenomenon that sent many an example to the junkyard. Find it here on facebook Marketplace for the princely sum of $12,499 – approximately 360% more than it cost when new. The buyer can drive it away from Hamilton, Ohio. Thanks to Ted for finding this ’70s Japanese sedan for us.
In ’77, US cars ran with Nissan’s 1.4 liter A-series four-cylinder, generating about 70 hp. Blessedly, this car is equipped with a five-speed manual rather than the available automatic. Still, most of the fun was choked off thanks to the US’s focus on fuel economy, so zero to sixty required around 17 seconds. Lest this be too discouraging, better performance is only a click away; plenty of B210s went racing.
Japanese designers figured out early on that if they were going to dish up economy cars, at least they could increase appeal by offering bucket seats, quasi-sporty steering wheels, and a decent dash layout. Instrumentation was bare-bones, but the overall demeanor of these early sedans and coupes had at least a modicum of sporting pretension. This cabin appears near-new – and a nod to its owners: it can’t have been easy to keep this light-colored upholstery free of blemishes for nearly fifty years.
The B210 came in multiple body styles, propelling sales to the point where it seemed that everyone you knew owned one, was about to get one, or used to have one. A few special versions – the Honey Bee with decals but no radio and no carpet and the GX with the addition of decals but at least no subtractions – augmented the line-up. The B210 has wandered its way into collectability, with the occasional example’s value breaching five figures. Finding a nearly unused B210 is almost unheard of; if any car can break the B210 price record, our subject car just may be it.
Thanks Michelle. Wow talk about tidy.
Bought a new ‘81 which was basically the same car. Cheaply made, and slow as Christmas. Collectible is not a word that comes to mind here, unless there’s some sentimental value. I wrecked mine with 2K miles on it. Got it fixed but it was never the same, thankfully got rid of it shortly afterwards. I could have a lot more fun for my mad money than this, but GLWTS.
Japanese cars like this were good cars,not great cars
when they were new,or nearly new.Sellers seem to think
that they’re very valuable.On the other hand,I’ve noticed
that many of these are for sale for high prices for a long time.
Probably because there aren’t many survivors of these early Japanese cars, they can ask higher prices. One like this is valuable. They tended to rust away rather quickly. That’s a really clean engine bay. I’d want to see underneath before committing to his asking price, though. It’s sure a better asking price than the Fiat 850, also in this same day’s post.
The people that will pay up for these cars are collectors of the abstract, or weren’t around when these tin cans were prevalent.
Well, to begin with, the B210 changed the course of Datsun/Nissan forever. While the 510 was an outstanding reliable car, it didn’t have the styling Americans so sorely needed. The 1200, that the B210 replaced was no bargain either. That all changed with the B210. Good looks, comfy, still 510 guts,( except IRS was dropped) outstanding gas mileage, but a much nicer car. At about $3grand for a base B210, it bested a Pinto by almost $300 bucks( $3340) and by all rights, a much better car. Sales figures are sketchy for the B210, but in 1976, Datsun sold it’s 2 millionth car in the US, and many were the B210. Naturally, the stick is the deal breaker, but these cars were never meant to rack up the miles. Not that they couldn’t, but many stayed close to home. I see a B210 in my little town, same thing, clean, low miles, and hardly used. I can’t imagine someone would spend 5 figures on these, that doesn’t make a lick of sense, but here we are. Try and find another, if you would want to, that is.
I don’t know why a stick is a deal breaker. Who would want an automatic on one of these?
Howard made a living shifting gears. He’s done.
As for the car; a nice reminder of our options from 45-50 years ago. This is a neat little car that nobody should buy for a daily. It would make a nice conversation starter. Maybe better at a Japanese car show. You’ll quickly learn who owned one and if they liked it or not.
As Brian of Regular Car Reviews said about the K-Car, but it really goes for any 4-cyl automatic from this era: “How much power does the torque converter eat? Let’s just say it comes back for seconds.”
Hi Bob, aside from what Nelson mentioned, I’m looking to the future. I realize this site caters to people who shifted gears manually most, if not all their lives, but father time marches on, and manually shifted cars will not be attractive to many in the future. Take this car, for example. I’m sure someone driving a Nissan Whatchamacallit, would love a retro Datsun, but wait, a stick? Back in the car, kids. Luckily, we’re not there yet, and as long as sites like this exist, that attract older folks, you are right, there’s nothing wrong with a stick. That won’t fly in 10 years, and why most of these wonderful classics aren’t sold lickety-split. Obviously, people have the money, so something is holding back sales. I say it’s the manual transmission. Here is an excellent example of a great retro Datsun, needs nothing, would provide YEARS of service( provided no salt) cost negotiable, I bet, people in Ohio are cool, but it’s been 3 months, and no sale? Man, it doesn’t get much clearer than that,,,to me, anyway.
Owned one of these and later owned a Toyota SR5, both great little dependable cars…
Wow, most of you guys are way too serious. How about hold on “it just looks like a fun car to drive.
Good little economy cars for what you got for the money. My opinion this one is listed with I really don’t want to sell it price good luck to the seller
Although dependable, these were loud tin cans. Only got louder with use. Basic transportation at best.
Amazing to me how a company that could make as good a car as the Z was, could manufacture such crap as these 210’s and F-10’s. Trying to cover all the bases, I guess.
A member of the Eugene YMCA drives a really straight 4 door version of this car. I’ve never seen him (her?) with the car, but I bet his/her grampa had it stashed away in the garage and now the lucky grandkid has an interesting daily driver. If you’ve ever driven a 60s or 70s 4 cylinder car with an automatic, you know that a manual is essential. Automatics are so much better today, but I still wouldn’t want one in anything.
This one?
https://barnfinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eugeneb210.jpg
My mother was an antiques dealer and appraiser. She often said, “If it wasn’t of good quality and value to begin with age and time aren’t going to make it any better.”
Sort of put the kibosh on my cousin’s dream of collecting old tv antennas.
These cars weren’t particularly great to begin with. Just because they’re as rare as tv antennas does not impute value.
From Howard…. but these cars were never meant to rack up the miles. I would disagree. Had an Orange 74 Datsun 710 and put 275000 miles on it. Ran the absolute dog piss out of it. Only had to put it down because the front brake system broke down and I was going to have to replace the brake lines and the front brakes. Sold it for $150 bucks to the mechanic. It was an automatic and correctly was not a speed demon but it got great gas mileage when I had little money and it never failed to start.
Hi Bruce, again, another comment taken out of context. I said,,,they didn’t rack up many miles, NOT THAT THEY COULDN’T,,, people didn’t buy these to go cross country, for the most part, were city puddle jumpers, and probably had a “highway” car at home. I wish you people would read the entire post, sheesh.
This is by far the lowest mile and minty B210 I have ever seen. Mine has 146,000 miles on it. Just recharged the AC yesterday and it still works! Man, is it slow with the AC blasting! This has a standard 5 speed, which I believe has been swapped in because my 5 speed is a dogleg pattern which was factory, and was an option over the 4 speed. Also those are not factory wheels. This might have been a restoration, which is fine, cuz that paint looks showroom new. Someone installed a radio and speakers, because it didn’t have one from the factory. Interesting…
Audio was often dealer or aftermarket installed. Things were much different then.
I had a 1981 210 SL
I took it to Florida from near Chicago a few times. The bodies rotted off them and my Toyota trucks too. That car ran some 40mpg on the highway! I could get 400 miles out of a tank of gas. Fun little car.