UPDATE – We featured this 1969 Datsun Sports 1600 Roadster back in December, and it has reappeared on the market. Previously it was a regular eBay auction, but the owner has now set a Buy It Now on this little Japanese classic. It is still located in Clackamas, Oregon, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. The BIN has been set at $9,999, and there are a few people who are watching this listing. A big thank you has to go to Barn Finder Boot, who spotted this relisting for us.

After struggling to establish itself in the 1950s, the Japanese car industry began to make moves to be recognized as a serious player on the world scene through the 1960s. Datsun came perilously close to collapse during this period, but government assistance saw the brand emerge as a strong contender in the sports car market. One of their more successful models was the Sports 1600, which helped to cement its reputation in foreign markets. This 1969 Sports 1600 Roadster is a tidy example that is claimed to be original. It runs and drives and is now searching for a new home. You will find the little Datsun located in Clackamas, Oregon, and while bidding sits at $5,377, the reserve isn’t met.

The owner talks about the originality of the Datsun, right down to the paint. This causes me to scratch my head slightly. The paint that the car wears looks to be Hustler (aka Pagoda) Red. That is all well and good, but Datsun didn’t offer that color during the 1969 model year. They did offer a shade called Spanish Red, but that was a lot darker than what we see on this car. That means that this car was either a special order or that it has received a color change at some point. Beyond that little fact, the Roadster does present nicely. The paint holds a deep shine, while the Black convertible top seems to be in excellent condition. The panels are straight, with no visible dings or dents. As is the case with many Japanese cars of this era, the mortal enemy of the Sports 1600 is rust. This can consume steel at an alarming rate, but it doesn’t appear to be a problem here. The panels are clean, while the underside shows nothing beyond some surface corrosion. I would be inclined to treat the corrosion reasonably quickly. There’s no point in tempting fate, is there?  The wheels are missing their original hubcaps, but the rest of the trim and glass show no issues or problems.

The Roadster interior is a mixed bag because it has both its good and its bad points. The upholstery seems to be in good condition, as is the dash. The carpet shows some wear and fading, while the lid on the console has been replaced with a non-matching item. An aftermarket radio/cassette player has been installed, and I think this could be the source of some work for the buyer. Many excess wires are hanging out, which is further emphasized because the side panel is missing off the driver’s side of the console. If I were to buy this little Datsun, I would be finding a replacement radio and side panel pronto. Otherwise, there isn’t a lot that the Roadster needs.

High-horsepower offerings from Datsun were a few years away in 1969, but the company still managed to extract respectable performance from cars with modest engine capacities. In this case, we find a 1,596cc 4-cylinder engine equipped with a pair of SU carburetors. This should be producing 96hp, which finds its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transmission. That sort of power is never going to produce a bitumen-burning monster. However, it is sufficient to push the 2.094lb classic through the ¼ mile in a respectable 18.4 seconds. Some surface corrosion is present in a couple of spots on the engine, but it does present reasonably well. It also appears that both master cylinders have recently been replaced. The listing states that the Roadster has a genuine 84,000 miles on its odometer, but no mention is made regarding supporting evidence. The owner says that the car runs and drives, but he doesn’t indicate how well it performs either of these feats. It does appear that the seller might be approachable, so he might be willing to shed some light on this aspect of the Datsun.

When the first true Datsun sports car emerged in 1959, it became clear that the company had become seriously aspirational. From these humble beginnings, the company produced a series of vehicles that are now considered collectible classics. The Sports 1600 is one of those cars, and pristine examples can now fetch some pretty healthy prices. Today, it isn’t unusual to find spotless vehicles selling for $30,000 or more. However, plenty of examples are available for under $12,000 if a buyer is willing to undertake some restoration work. This one generally looks quite promising, and I think that it is worth closer investigation if you’ve always harbored the desire to own an affordable Japanese sports car.