1968 Datsun 1600

Description

Back before Datsun's soon to be popular Z car was just a schematic drawing, Datsun 1600s ably represented their manufacturer in the sports car niche. They were nimble handlers and their sporty looks prompted many a would-be buyer to fantasize tooling down the road behind the wheel of one. The vast majority of these roadsters are no longer on the road, so this 1968 Datsun 1600 is certainly a welcome sight and would be a great score for the sports car enthusiast looking for a distinctive, seldom seen ride.

This compact, open air car proved to be a big hit when it debuted at the Tokyo Motor show back in the early '60s and it, along with its descendants, would go on to make quite an impact in SCCA competition, bringing home a nice collection of trophy hardware that included a total of 10 National Championships. This 1600 represents the action-oriented model well - it's looking straight and solid, with doors, hood and deck lid that show nice even gaps and a foundation that shows no signs of sagging. The white paint it now wears still carries a nice shine and looks perfectly presentable - there's no doubt this sports car will draw its share of admirers whether you decide to freshen things up or not. From front to back, the brightwork is in great condition and both the front and rear bumpers were very likely recently replaced, judging from their fresh condition. When the skies darken, you'll have a black manual convertible top with a clear plastic rear window at your disposal that was also added not long ago and includes a new frame for easy operation and a nice fit.

The interior is very much in road ready condition and features a pair of low-backed bucket seats wearing black vinyl covers with appealing blue plaid cloth accents. Back when it debuted, one of the decided advantages a 1600 had over its competitors was in the interior room it offered, along with a wider toe box and a steering wheel positioned high enough that there was ample leg space underneath. The carpet lining the floor shows no obvious stains and the dash area is in outright good shape, offering an assortment of factory gauges that still function as intended and are easily readable behind their clear lenses, as well as a straight dash pad over the top that shows no signs of cracking. The trunk area in back is looking solid and offers a little more luggage space than you'd likely expect.

A 1600cc 4 cylinder engine fills the compartment while still leaving enough working room, and sports a pair of SU carbs sitting next to the vertically mounted air cleaner. The powerplant established quite a reputation for its rock solid durability - it propelled a variety of Datsun models over the years, a surprising number of which you still see on the road from time to time. It teams with a 4-speed manual transmission to provide just the "hands on" driving experience you'd want in a sports car like this. The handling is great on this classic - it sits close to the ground, yet not too close to make every day driving impractical and offers a low center of gravity that gives it a slot-car feel. Front disc brakes help bring this very appealing vintage ride to prompt stops as it cruises on a set of sharp looking 14" wheels wrapped in blackwall radial tires.

This 1968 Datsun 1600 offers a very appealing driving experience and represents a unique period in the import sports car segment. Call today!