Datsun Cars | Used Cars, Motorbikes, Vans & Other Vehicles

Buying a Datsun
As Datsun is a very famous brand of car there are a huge number of models produced by this company to choose from when looking to purchase. Some models include the 510, 240z, 1200, 260z, 1200 club, 280zx and Wiki. The prices of these models vary greatly however and this does not entirely depend on the condition of the car as some models are both rare, collectors items and also associated with the heyday of the Datsun sports-car. This guide will briefly give an overview of the history of the company, its heyday and most famous lines, its technological advancement and market values.

History of the Company
The Datsun Company was never a company but a brand name used in production for Nissan. In 1931 the name was created by the DAT motorcar company to complement the creation of a new smaller car. The DAT + SON (originally DAT called the line Datson) was indicatory of the size but it was soon changed to Datsun as in Japanese the 'son' part of the name also referred to loss. The name was changed in 1933 to Datsun and the line of cars produced was successful over a long period of time until 1986 when it was discontinued. Buying a Datsun today usually means that you will be purchasing a classic car which is a collector's item rather than a car for more practical purposes.

The Datsun Heyday
The Datsun sports-cars were produced by Nissan in the 1960s and were a pre-cursor to the famous Z cars. In particular the Datsun DC-3 and Datsun 240z were designs that the Z car followed on from. The Datsun models were a series of roadsters (lightweight, two seater cars). They had no permanent top, although some were convertibles, and they had a free, open top enjoyment of travelling feel to them. They were not built so much for practical purposes as pleasure and the initial famous Fairlady range took this one step further as the design was marketed as an inexpensive alternative to the European MG and Triumph Sports car.
In 1959 the first Datsun sports model was introduced. The S211 was a small car with only 988CC producing just 37 horsepower (the equivalent of 28 kilowatts). The Fairlady range was developed when making more technologically advanced cars such as the SPL212 which had a 1.2 litre engine, produced 48 horsepower and had a 4 speed manual transmission.

The first Datsun sports car, however, was the SP310 which had a 1.5 litre engine, a single SU carburettor and a unique sideways third seat. It was well kitted out with a transistor radio, map lights and a clock. While there is a common misconception that this was a copy of the more famous MG MGB model this model was actually introduced earlier. Later models continued to develop at an accelerated rate such as the SR311/SRL311 1967 model which had a five speed manual drive. There were only one or two thousand produced therefore it is a rare and more desirable make than the later 1968 model which was less popular, partly due to new safety changes and laws on emissions. The marketing for these models and the continuation of this range followed in the earlier vein of the cheaper alternative sports car to more prolific brands such as MG. This marketing was propelled forward by using famous people such as Paul Newman and John Morton who raced these cars raising their profile and making the brand far more competitive in this market.
The overall quality of the line improved from 1968 as changes were made to update the entire line. This included the taller integrated windshield, integrated rear view mirror, padded dashboard and lifting door handles.
This overhaul, combined with the success of the famous Fairlady range, the enjoyment of the roadsters and the profile lifted by famous faces, made this range of sports cars a unique collection. The cars belonging to this range - the 'heyday' of Datsun - are now collectors items, and some fetch a high price as they belong to a limited number produced, whereas others are valued highly because they have been slowly, carefully and lovingly restored and replicated.

The Modern Range of Datsun
The Datsun of the 1980s is of far less interest in Europe as the majority were produced as part of a global pursuit strategy by Nissan as it tried to conquer America. Nissan wanted their brand name to become a household name like other Japanese companies such as Toyota and Honda had done. While the Datsun name was known in America, Nissan was not and attempts to re-establish as Nissan simply caused brand confusion even when Nissan introduced a Datsun by Nissan model. Millions were lost in sales and advertising as people avoided the brand altogether. This led to the dramatic reduction in Datsun production up until it was discontinued in 1986 after the losses. As a result the few cars (mainly the less glamorous pick up model) made in the early 1980s are worth less than the earlier sports car. However, the pick up has found a small market niche as Nissan launched the D22 pick up model in 2001, but most of the Nissan car range are under their own company name now.

Buying a Datsun
This Datsun guide should give an indication as to which cars are worth more. However, to give an idea on actual prices it is likely that the 70s and 80s models are usually priced at less than �1000. The 1960s models have a much higher market value, particularly if they have been restored or rebuilt according to the original model. In their original condition the 240Z, 260Z and 280Z models are usually worth between �2-5,000. A restored model in mint condition can cost around �30,000 and is a real collector's item which might be worth even more in the future. It is not designed for practical purposes but is for genuine collectors. The 1970s onwards range of cars can be used as small run arounds and the later pick ups do have their practical purposes, which is why they have a much lower price. You can also buy less expensive models to be restored as there are many companies which sell parts specifically to be used for restoration projects