It never ceases to amaze me how a simple maintenance task on a classic car can rapidly descend into an automotive nightmare. Such is the case with this 1969 Datsun 1600 Sports Roadster. This little gem has been laid low by a quirky problem, but addressing it may not take much time and money. It is a rock-solid vehicle that should provide a new owner with years of motoring pleasure once it returns to active service.
The seller purchased this Datsun in 2005 from a previous owner who lived in California. It has been garage-kept since that day, making its rust-free status unsurprising. There are small spots of surface corrosion near the back bumper and on the passenger-side headlight shroud. Otherwise, this classic is as solid as the day it left the line. Condition is often a subjective matter, and such is the case with this Datsun. It received a professional bare metal two-stage repaint in 1990 in its correct shade of Light Gray. The seller describes the paint as fantastic, and there is no denying it holds a healthy shine. However, a close inspection reveals a few chips and marks that mean it isn’t pristine. It is presentable if the winning bidder’s goal is to own a driver-grade vehicle. Perfectionists may feel that a repeat performance is in order. The panels are as straight as an arrow, with tight and consistent gaps. The buyer faces the cost of replacing the soft-top, but these aren’t expensive. A few trim pieces sport minor marks and bumps, although most are in good condition.
The Datsun’s interior is very tidy, which is a relief since it is difficult to hide substandard trim in a drop-top. The upholstered surfaces feature Black vinyl that looks to be in good order. The dash is excellent, and the only visible fault is the cracked pad. Finding a replacement may prove challenging, with a few alternatives available for those wishing to improve the presentation. A cover for $60 will hide the problem, while a cap will lighten the buyer’s wallet by around $170. The new owner could try a DIY restoration, or throw caution to the wind by sending it for professional restoration. The glovebox houses a CD player that could be easily removed, but there are no other aftermarket additions.
Okay, take a deep breath, because this is where we tackle the root of this Datsun’s problems. The engine bay houses a 1,596cc four-cylinder engine that sent 96hp and 103 ft/lbs of torque to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission when the car was shiny and new. The 1600 wasn’t particularly fast in a straight line, but the low center of gravity makes these cars a blast to drive on a ribbon of twisting tarmac. The seller indicated that while the odometer shows 34,535 miles, they do not doubt that it has rolled over. They purchased the car in 2005, enjoying it immensely until deciding to perform a tune-up in around 2012. During that process, a spark plug snapped, with its end remaining firmly jammed in the cylinder head. That shouldn’t have caused too much grief, but a subsequent removal attempt resulted in a carbon extractor breaking off to exacerbate their mechanical pain. They haven’t managed to return to the task at hand for over twelve years, leaving that for the buyer to tackle. Careful work with an induction heater may help the situation, but budgeting to pull the cylinder head for professional attention would be wise. The brakes also require work after years of inactivity, and a new battery must go on the shopping list. The Datsun drove exceptionally well before the spark plug disaster, and returning it to that state may not be difficult.
The seller listed this 1969 Datsun 1600 Sports Roadster here on eBay in Arlington, Virginia. Bidding sits below the reserve at $2,750, but there is plenty of time for interested parties to throw their hats into the ring to become the next owner. Addressing its existing problems shouldn’t be difficult or expensive, with the car promising an entertaining ownership experience once in good health. It will probably never be a mega-bucks vehicle, but often that isn’t what owning a classic is all about. Fun is the name of the game with this Datsun, which is why it deserves a close look.
Is this a “fairlady”. Friend has one he’s a big guy and the thing scoots!
Yes, the 1600 was referred to as the “fairlady”. Great classic roadster. The headrests appear to be missing.
I believe these are interference engines, doing the timing belt or chain is imperative at this mileage so as not to fry the cylinder heads,
This is a “1600 Roadster”,not a Fairlady –
a “Fairlady” was the one not officially imported
to the US.
The same goes for 240Zs not officially imported here.
I had a 1969 1600 and don’t remember it having headrests or seeing two holes at the top of the seatback. I bought the car used so the previous owner could have replaced the seats but just wondering . . .
The missing headrests for this car are down low behind the seats! 🙂
The 2.0L version of these with the dual carbs were like fast MGBs…And much better built. Would love to own one.
Yes, and so was the 240Z, in Japan. They will say “Fairlady” where the 1600/1800/240Z are for the US market.
Will the heli-coil do the job?
Nice car. The helicoil would work if the threads are damaged getting the spark plug out but you would have to pull the cylinder head to do the machine work of drilling and threading the head. Too much chance of cut material getting into the cylinder. There are many options in getting the hole cleared without damaging the the threads, but as Adam said pulling the head is the best option.
Not an interference engine, and this is a timing chain, so lots of opportunities for maintenance and monitoring (and noisy wear indicators) long before anything happens. (these are not known for excessive wear)
’69 is more desirable because of steering box upgrades.
1600 timing chain set can be purchased from Nissan forklift dealer.
The headrests are removed in the picture, but the same picture shows them resting on rear package shelf. (some prefer the smooth look of the flat tonneau, and it is not like headrests made them much more safe, they only had lap belts, so were not so safe to begin with!)
Fun jumping off point for a rolling resto.
They perform well in the twisties!
Best option is dropping in a Z motor!
Too heavy. Car is almost 50/50 weight balance and you don’t want to lose that.
Looks like a nice clean body/chassis, which is a big plus. I’m surprised the owner didn’t just take the car to a pro to get the head off and have it fixed so he could enjoy it some more rather than just stare at it in his garage for years. It wouldn’t break the bank.
Just pull the head, heck, I’d had it back on the road in a day’s time as I used to work on these for years…..I owned a 1969 Datsun Roadster 2000, and yes the seatbacks had removable headrests…..I gave the 2000 to my Brother, he still owns and drives it.
jnard90 – I believe that the engine is a cast-iron block OHV design, with pushrods. it’s not OHC, no cam-belt involved just a short internal timing chain.
Yep. The 2000 was OHC, not the 1600.
The holy grail is a 1967.5 Datsun 2000. I owned an early 1600 with the short windshield and flat dash with toggle switches. Due to guvment regs the flat dash went away and smog horse power reducers were added. The 1600 drove very nicely. However, the 2000 was much more responsive. IMHO some dad or granddad should buy this secretly and pay for the mechanical needs, put a big bow on it, and give it to their teen daughter or grand daughter. She would have a blast while learning how to drive a stick shift. Just be aware, clutch replacement requires engine with transmission removal. If the frame is not rusty, don’t let this get away.