Vehicle Description
England doesn't have a lock on neat, affordable 2-seat sports cars,
and it's probably safe to think of this 1967 Datsun 1600 roadster
as a Japanese MGB, although the Datsun got to the market first. And
like their British competition, these cool little roadsters are
seeing new-found appreciation in the hobby, making them a great
choice today and in the future.
Repainted in vivid red, this Datsun still looks great with a bright
shine and a cheerful disposition that practically invites you to
slide behind the wheel. The look is familiar, perhaps because
various styling elements have been borrowed from some of the great
cars of history and they all work rather well here. The hood scoop,
the headlights, and vestigial tail fins on the rounded quarters all
give the diminutive Datsun a much more substantial look. The
bodywork underneath that nicely polished red paint is in very good
condition, and like many 2-seaters, this one has probably lived its
entire life more as a toy than daily transportation. Chrome
bumpers, the delicate grille, and the strip of stainless along the
flanks give it an upscale look, and we especially like the crease
running through the middle of the deck lid. You'll also note an
accessory back-up light hanging under the rear bumper as well as a
locking gas cap.
Black upholstery works well with the bright red paint and the
interior has been freshened as needed over the past 50 years. '60s
style buckets with pleated upholstery are actually pretty good at
holding you in place during spirited driving and once you're behind
the wheel, the big, round gauges and low-slung driving position
feel very British indeed. The three-spoke steering wheel is '60s
skinny and has a period-perfect look with three aluminum spokes.
All the gauges are functional, but sadly the original radio is long
gone, replaced by a Clarion AM/FM unit that actually looks pretty
good and fits well in the original slot. The stubby shifter feels
great and the pedals are well-positioned for heel-and-toe shifting
to really have some fun at the wheel. Black carpets might be
showing their age a bit but the dash pad is pretty good save for
some wrinkles that are probably inevitable on a car that sees a lot
of sun. The trunk is well-shaped and reasonably spacious even with
a spare tire and for inclement weather, there's a newer black
convertible top that's fairly easy to raise and lower.
The engine is an energetic 1600cc four-cylinder that makes a pretty
decent 90 horsepower, which is plenty in such a lightweight car. A
pair of familiar-looking side-draft carburetors feed the engine and
it's got a wonderfully playful feel on the road and a great exhaust
note to go with it. The engine bay isn't detailed for show, but it
runs great thanks to a recent tune-up and for a mostly original
car, the engine bay shows the effect of caring ownership. The
Datsun engineers knew that this car would attract car guys, so they
gave it a finned aluminum valve cover to dress things up, and even
today service is easy and parts are plentiful and inexpensive. A
4-speed manual transmission was the only choice in '67, and it
slips through the gears easily and the ratios are well-chosen to
make the most of the engine's powerband. An independent front
suspension and surprisingly effective brakes make this car a lot of
fun on a twisting road, as you'd expect. Standard steel wheels with
hubcaps are in excellent condition and carry right-sized 175/65/14
blackwall radials.
Fan of Japanese cars? Looking for something fun and affordable?
Want to stand out from all the MGBs? This Datsun has you covered.
Call today!
