Most of us are familiar with Datsun’s famous 510 models in various body styles, but before that (yes) iconic line of cars, Nissan/Datsun produced the 410 and 411, also known as the Bluebird 410/411 in other markets. This rare as hen’s teeth 1967 Datsun 411 SSS wagon can be found here on craigslist in Santa Rosa, California, where I should be found. They’re asking $2,600 and I literally can’t believe that this car is still for sale and isn’t on a trailer heading back to our house. But as we all know, 2020 is a crazy year and nothing makes sense anymore.
I know, crazy Scotty G fawning over some oddball vintage Japanese car with basically zero chance of ever finding parts to restore it and then what, it’s worth $10,000 when I’m done with it? Hey, that’s what it’s all about, having a passion for something, pouring your heart and soul, and wallet, into it, and then losing your shirt when you sell it and move to the next one. Come on, who’s with me?!
I absolutely love the design of the Datsun Bluebird, they were styled by Pininfarina and were ready for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The US got four-door sedans and four-door wagons, but the two-door never came here and they are incredibly rare. You can see that the rear hatch window appears to be missing on this car. The seller is including probably much more than $2,600 worth of spare parts for this car but I don’t see a mention of the rear hatch glass. There is another rear hatch and several doors and a ton of other parts.
This is a special higher-performance SSS model with a bigger engine, front disc brakes, and other features. Sadly, it also has an automatic with a less-than-sporty column-mounted shift lever. That has to hold the value down, at least a little bit. The exterior of the car appears to be in fairly good condition but the interior will need a lot of work. The seller says that this California car is nearly rust-free so that’s a great start.
Speaking of start, or not starting, this is the famous finned 1.6L inline-four that makes it an SSS and it would have had just under 100 hp. Unfortunately, the dual carburetors are missing, and also the intake manifold, radiator, and a few other parts. The seller says that they’re all still available. This engine is basically the same one that powered the Datsun Fairlady/1600 Roadster. This isn’t a car that will interest probably the vast majority of Barn Finds readers at all. But, for those of us who are into such a thing, this is quite a find.
I’m always amazed at these car makers humble beginnings ( in this country) and what they turned into. We never saw these in the midwest, I don’t even remember a Datsun dealer in the 60’s. Besides, in the 60’s, Rambler was going great guns, the LAST thing we in Milwaukee worried about,,,,was a ,,,what’s it called,,a Datsun??? Ha,ha, ha, good heavens, you must be kidding, even thought there was one Toyota dealer back then ( Jack Safro) we never thought they’d amount to anything. The only benefit they boasted, was good gas mileage, and in 1967, @.32/gallon, that was the least of our concerns. The cars themselves were pretty cheap, by US standards, but a few bought them, word got out what good cars they were, and the US never caught back up to this day. I guess you could say, it was cars like this, that took down Detroit,,,eventually. Cool find, for sure.
Hey Howard, I used to work for a lady whose Dad started the first Toyota dealership in Milwaukee. It was called Indoor Auto Sales, located on south 44th street off of Mitchell. He sold Checker cars too. He sold the Toyota franchise to Jack Safro.
I recently went past the place, it is still in operation, but under different ownership. My former bosses Dad past away way back in the late 1970’s, had a heart attack behind the wheel of his Eldorado. I never knew her Dad’s first name, last name was Shikora. I believe Wilde was the first Datsun dealership, at least the first one I remember.
It’s gone now. There is a well embedded import car culture in the Bay Area and surrounding areas, no wonder it didn’t last long.
Steve R
Wondering do these have IRS like 510? This looks like a fun project.
I don’t think these have IRS. For that matter, neither did the 510 wagon, it had a solid axle with leaf springs.
AMC is correct. Only the 510 sedan and coupe had IRS.
sold
Been for sale 5-6 years. Same seller
I had one identical to this. I bought it for $200 in 1973. It unfortunately had an altercation with a gravel truck prior to my purchase. I pulled the rad and soldered it back to the point that it did not leak.
I’m glad I didn’t take my other car on a trip because it got 6 to 8 miles to the gallon.
I loaded a 16′ canoe on top and drove from home on the west coast to Ontario, Canada. I got 45 miles/gallon. The carb quit working in London, Ontario.There were no parts anywhere so I resorted to wreckers. Apparently about 1500 of these cars sold on the West Coast, and where I was in Canada only 50 had been sold in Eastern Canada. After much frustration, I finally found one behind a gate at an auto wrecker. They sold me any-parts I wanted for $5.
I spent another week in Eastern Canada and drove home.
Funny thing in my opinion, I Mac-Tac’d the wagon on every surface NOT usually associated with wood trim on station wagons. Where wood trim was normally found on a wagon, that was left as paint.
Right there with you, Scotty!!
Me too! My brother in law had a 1964 Bluebird sedan for many years, and only sold it as the family grew too big, and has regretted it ever since. I drove it once in the days that I owned a Ford Cortina 1500 and the Datsun was far superior in every way.
I saw a four door when I was in Kalispell,Montana a few
years ago.It was still there when I went back there last August.
I met the owner,& he told me it was for sale.
Scotty,if you’re interested,I could have someone there
contact the owner.
I live in Kalispell where is this located?
Just West of Kalispell,on Highway 2.
Not too far South of the bypass,on the right.
Just past Hathaway.South View Drive is almost
right across the highway from it.
You can see it if you look on Google Maps.
My Sister lives on Evergreen Drive.
I’ve been going up there since the early ’70s.
Nice looking car. I’ve seen a couple of Datsun 411 4 door sedans, but never a wagon. Given its condition, I’d consider paying close to $2000 for it.
I would think a car like this with an automatic would be very rare , and therefore worth more than a manual , even if it makes it less sporty
Rare doesn’t mean valuable. I had a rare car that after a few years I decided to let go. It was 1 of 200 made in the series, 1 of 100 made that particular year. I couldn’t even get $2,000 out of it. I recently found an old Jalopnik article about my former car, screen shoted the article.
My high-school sweetheart (and now wife of 47 years) had a 67 SSS sedan — 4 door, beige. It’s the one car we wish we had hung onto after all these years. VERY rust prone – but what a cool little car. And fun to drive. These had a double A-arm front suspension (camber adjusted with shims) and leaf spring solid axle in the rear. SO tough to find them in any kind of shape any more. And trim/interior parts really tough to find.
I really miss the days when Japanese cars were small , odd , cheap and realiable. Their still reliable. But the rest is history. Now they look like a chevy
I drove the 411 1967 to school my senior year of high school in 1985 his name was Fred. Warner Robins GA Great little car
there ya go Scotty, not alone (on mosta it). Some just to sell, some to keep a lill’n sell, some to DD till the next.
I have owned multiple 411 SSS both wagons and sedans. The are fun cars. Getting harder to find parts for tho.