Before the iconic Datsun 510 had a chance to mesmerize American gearheads, Nissan brought us the 410 and on its heels, the 411. Cutely named the Bluebird for the Japanese market – like many in its series both before and after – the 410/411 was a compact economy car with a snazzy little motor that put its performance head and shoulders above others in its class. Consequently, despite a harsh ride, small interior, and complete lack of attention to road noise, it sold like hotcakes. The charms of the 411 didn’t end there. It was designed by Pininfarina, lending it an Italianesque flair, and its reliability was legendary. This was the car that should have rung a bell over in Detroit, where the smallest economy car was nowhere near small and not half as economical. But alas, Detroit allowed the camel’s nose under the tent and in just a decade was fighting for its proverbial life as capable imports flooded our shores. Here on eBay is one of the finest examples of a 1967 Datsun 411 Bluebird that you will ever see, bid to $8550, reserve not met. This gem is located in Whitehall, Pennsylvania and it can be driven to its new garage. This car was purchased new by the seller’s grandmother; the original invoice is included with the sale.
The 410/411 arrived in 1964, coinciding with Japan’s hosting of the Olympics. Over its production span, engines ranged from a 1.0-liter four-cylinder to the 1.6-liter twin-carburetted four that resided in Datsun’s 1600 roadster. These cars were the so-called Super Sports Sedans and were offered in the US only in 1967. The rev-happy motor is good for 95 hp. The sole blemish in an otherwise spotless résumé is its automatic transmission rather than the four-speed manual that most collectors prefer. The seller says this car starts promptly, runs well, and doesn’t leak oil.
Is this car off the showroom floor? I can’t find a flaw here. The trunk is nearly pristine. Only this photo focused on the front seats reveals the slightest wear – on the door seal. The new owner could clean up the pedal pads too, but after that, looks like the next job is simply to get in and drive.
The fifteen-year-old repaint shines well with no noticeable flaws. The chrome is excellent; the lenses are clear and uncracked. The whitewalls fit this cheap and cheerful sedan perfectly. I rarely see a car that doesn’t beg me to change it somehow, but I wouldn’t do a thing to this Datsun. I also think its price has a fair chance of cracking five figures. What do you think?
To be honest, it’s a remarkable find, but the 510 didn’t mesmerize very many in Beer City, and to be even honester, wait, more honest, the 510, in it’s few numbers, was the 1st real Datsun we noticed. Before that, it may as well been bicycle rickshaws and donkeys. We were focused on the Kings amazing 27 wins in ’67, and of course what AMC had brewing, and the new hand grip on HDs, but a Datsun? Good heavens, I suppose unless you was dere, Charlie, it’s tough to explain. I can’t even remember who sold Datsuns in the Milw. area then, a brave soul, for sure. Random attacks on the one and only Toyota dealer, Jack Safro, were common. 1st Subaru dealer I remember was 40 miles out of town. Selling Asian imports in a predominantly All-American city wasn’t easy.
This particular example just shows, this person needed a little puddle jumper for the few trips she did, all in good weather, not some 396 Chevelle, and choices were few in ’67 for a car like this. VW, Fiat, not many with automatic. Toyotas, I suppose. I read this car cost $1876 new, $100 more than the Toyota Corona. I can only imagine the automatic added quite a bit to that base price. I’m sure mom had no idea the mega car giant she was getting into, just not much else like it. I tend to disagree with the author, the automatic, on a car like this, is an absolute bonus. What macho gear jammin’ , booze swizzlin’ cowboy would be seen in a ’67 Datsun Bluebird? Since I’m none of those, I’d love to have this.
I agree with you Howard about the nasty treatment of your Toyota dealer back then. My great uncle started a Toyota dealership in the quad cities back in 67, and oh boy all the crap he had to eat, but the family sold it in 2011 and retired from the business, not regretting anything.
Sweet car other than careless paint prep. Door gaskets and hood latch have overspray – things that could have been removed in 15 minutes. Please step away from the paint gun.
Back in that time, most import buyers chose the VW Beetle. Japanese cars were still a curiosity, especially East of California.
This is a nice example of a relatively rare car.
“Drive a Datsun, then decide”–1960’s ad slogan.
They sold relatively well in the east too, but those rusted out. Everything did.
Burlington, VT, my hometown had a Datsun dealer as early as 1959 and they stayed in business through the rebrand into the late ’80s, refusing to move from Essex across from the fairgrounds to Shelburne Road on the other side of town which was “auto row” (L-M was in Essex too, next to them. Lots of IBMers drove Mercury and Datsun…) until they sold up in the late ’80s.
Had one of these in ’66. It was one tough machine; drove it like a jeep many times. With AC and 4 speed it performed OK. Had small Japanese script with the word Taxi written on the door just for fun. Traded it in on a 510 when it came out – that was a smart move. But then moved on to a ’63 Cutass convert – an even smarter move.
I worked at a Datsun dealership 1972/ 75 the man who owned the dealership prior to feller that I worked for sold Studebaker’s and Datsun’s there were a few 410’s running around town most Datsun’s rusted out pretty quick in the rust belt .
Neat car – 99 ponies probably pulled it along nicely. Unfortunately it has what appears to be Datsun’s answer to the PowerGlide – 2 spd slusher. I believe that Toyota had a similar tranny dubed the Toyomatic – no idea what Datsun may have called theirs (Datsmatic? LoL) any – great car – lots of hop up parts in the 1600 parts bins for those wanting a bit more.
I think by 68 Toyota called the 2 speed a ToyoGlide (ala powerglide) or maybe my teen distain for automatics created a false memory!
Lots of chat regarding Datsuns, VWs, Fiats and Toyotas. Don’t forget the British Ford Cortina. 4 or 2 door, Deluxe or GT (don’t forget the Lotus Cortina), with 1600 crossflow engines. The GT had a 2 barrel Weber carb, headers, 4 speed, full instrumentation. Definitely better equipped than this Datsun. Still, I do like this. It would sit nice in my garage next to my 68 Cortina!
But I think GM was selling more Opel Kadetts at that point than Ford was Cortinas. They were a bit cheaper, priced directly with and custom-designed to compete with VW, with a powerful heater and big trunk for a car that size as prime design priorities.
I had one in Canada – it was a SSS version I bought used at a Brit car repair garage. Didn’t keep it long as I ‘became obligated’ to my future wife and elected to retain my Riley – a period of wrong choices in my life.
Sweet looking Datto. I used to know a neighbour when I was a boy who had one similar to this. His was s 1965 Datsun 411. I’ve never ridden in it as a passenger, so I don’t know the interior details, whether it had a manual gearbox or an auto, or if it was on the steering column (the tree) or on the floor.
The 411 might well have been the last 3-on-the-tree Datsun as far as America and all other left-hand-drive markets were concerned. In ’60s Japan floor shifts were for trucks and any respectable sedan had it on the column.
It was probably Yutaka “Mr. K” Katayama who informed the home office that in America “four on the floor” was considered sporty and a bit upmarket while a manual column shift was strictly for cheapskates. Toyota held onto them a bit longer but in the end the savings of not engineering an LHD column shift won out, and by the end of the decade the SSS models even in Japan had floor shift.
This is the rarer Datsun 411SSS with the Datsun roadster’s 1600 engine and dual SU carbs. The standard 411 had a 1300 engine and single downdraft carb.
If they were anything like the early Toyotas – and I’m sure they were – if you saw one new in the salty Northeast, a year later it would be a rusty mess.
Tin can bodies, at best.
That was true of most imports of that era and well beyond.
Actually It was the T45 Borg Warner 3 speed automatic (on the tree) that could be driven like the VW auto stick. I had one ( my mom’s hand me down) in high school. Great handling, and went anywhere off road! In fact the SSS won it’s class in the Baja 1000. Plus the 1600 Roadster motor made it scoot pretty good. I am in the process of restoring another just like it, 1967 SSS 1600 automatic. Can’t wait to drive it again!