As confusing as you’d expect with a Datsun/Nissan in the late 1970s, this 1979 Datsun 210 Hatchback is known as a Nissan Sunny B310 in its home market and other places, but they were known as the Datsun 210 here in North America. No “B”, no Sunny, no 310, and they were rear-wheel drive. The seller has this beautiful rust-free example listed here on eBay in Benton City, Washington, and they’re asking a somewhat eye-watering $16,900, about four times what it cost new. But then again, how much was a new Hemi Cuda compared to its value now?

For the record, I’m not comparing a Hemi Cuda to a ’79 Datsun, I’m just saying that the new cost of a vehicle decades ago has zero bearing on what they’re worth today. Sometimes they go up exponentially, sometimes not. I don’t like the wheels at all, but you know I like my vintage vehicles to be as bone-stock as possible so I can keep living in the past, as I’ve been doing my whole life. That’s an easy fix, though. The Nissan B310 series was known as the Datsun 210 here in North America, and this model is simply a Hatchback. They also made a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, and a four-door wagon. I had a 1983 Datsun-Nissan Sentra two-door sedan and a 1984 Nissan Sentra two-door sedan recently, I really like a notchback coupe for the unusual factor.

The fourth-gen Sunny (B310) was made from late 1977 through late 1981, and Nissan kicked up the quality over the previous B210 that we all know and some of us love. The early cars were tinny and loud, with thin metal, and build quality hadn’t been refined like it was for the new B310/210. More welds made for a quieter ride, and interiors were a little nicer. Overall, they’re hard to beat if a person is looking for one of the last rear-wheel drive Nissans in a funky body style.

I don’t know how else to describe this seat fabric other than “smart”, as in crisp and stylish without being crazy plaid or otherwise show-off’y. Comfortable for sure, especially compared to the older B210 hatchback, although you can see that rear legroom (or lack thereof) is still an issue. There’s a dash pad, but being in Washington state and reported to otherwise be in outstanding, mostly original condition (it had a Cherry Red repaint years ago), I hope the dash pad is there to protect a perfect dash, but we don’t know.

Still holding onto the MPG trophy for America, this 210 Hatchback should have Nissan’s A14, a 1.4-liter OHV inline-four with 65 horsepower and 72 lb-ft of torque when new. It sends power through a nice five-speed manual to the rear wheels, and the seller says they’re helping their stepdad’s brother sell the car. It has air-conditioning, and it looks like a Weber carb conversion from the tiny chrome rectangular air filter, but we don’t know. All we know is that it runs like a top and is rust-free. What more do you want? Well, maybe a lower price…