Based on the vendor of right this moment’s Good Value or No Cube Datsun, every thing works on it apart from the clock. That appears acceptable, seeing because the automotive as a complete seems caught in time. Let’s resolve if we are able to find time for it at its asking.
When somebody mentions Saab, most of us image a automotive, possibly one thing just like the 2001 9-3 convertible all of us thought-about yesterday. The factor is, Saab stopped constructing automobiles a decade and a half in the past. In the present day, the corporate completely makes issues like kick-ass jet fighters, stealthy submarines, and different weapons of struggle. Nonetheless, whenever you say “Saab,” I say, “let’s drive,” and yesterday’s five-speed convertible seemed able to hit the highway at its $8,500 asking. That took house a stable 57 p.c Good Value win.
Say what you’ll about Adam Carolla, the nasally-voiced comic, podcaster, and provocateur, however he does have a killer automotive assortment. For the longest time, his focus for that assortment has been to amass the automobiles as soon as campaigned by the late nice actor, racer, and humanitarian Paul Newman. That features a sequence of Bob Sharp-built Datsuns from the ’70s and ’80s, and one of the vital shocking of that clutch is the 1977 200SX that Newman raced in IMSA’s C Manufacturing class, successful 19 out of twenty-two races through the ’78 season.
Now, I’m not saying that right this moment’s 1977 Datsun 200SX is the idea for a group rivaling Carolla’s, however you by no means know. And it appears nearly as good a spot to begin as any.
Nissan launched the 200SX to the U.S. market beneath its Datsun model in 1975. The corporate positioned the two-door as a rival to the Toyota Celica, and it adopted that automotive’s blueprint of a semi-sporty however cheap-to-buy-and-run coupe. Nonetheless, in contrast to the Celica, which seemed like a miniature Mustang, the first-generation 200SX featured flamboyant styling with frameless home windows, a pinched C-pillar, and exagerated wrap-around hind lights. The house market automobiles seemed a great bit higher with their body-hugging bumpers, however the American automobiles suffered the ignominy of heavy 5-mph battering rams on every finish.
This mannequin ran via the 1979 mannequin yr, after which it was changed by the second technology, a bigger and extra refined automotive. 4 extra generations would observe till Nissan kicked the automotive to the curb simply because it had performed with the Datsun nameplate.
This 200SX sports activities simply 37,000 miles and appears prefer it has been fully obivious the years and ensuing fashions because it was constructed. Beneath the hood is a 2.0-liter SOHC L20B 4, making 97 horsepower and paired with that may be a five-speed guide gearbox. Collectively, they drive a leaf-sprung stay axle within the again. Brakes are entrance disc/rear drum. All fairly customary stuff for the period.
Additionally of the period is the moss inexperienced material inside that the manufacturing facility selected to suit to the automotive. It seems like any individual caught and skinned Kermit and his entire household to stitch up so garish an upholstery. The remainder of the cabin, from the door playing cards to the plasticky sprint, are much less flamboyant, however appear simply as effectively preserved. Plus, take a look at all these guages!
That inside alone makes this a worthwhile traditional, however there’s rather more. The bodywork, whereas in equipment white, is in wonderful form and appears to wish nothing. The automotive carries its comically styled manufacturing facility wheel covers and proudly declares its gearbox selection with a “5SPEED” badge on the butt. Copious quantities of chrome trim abound, which additionally all look to be in stable form.
Mechanically, every thing is claimed to work apart from a finicky middle console clock, which does appear to wfunction twice a day. This can be a true throwback and would make for an exquisite Automobiles & Caffeine entrant, particularly in locations the place Asian automobiles are much less frequent. The title is clear, and the worth is $12,000.
What do you say? Is {that a} truthful deal for a traditional Datsun in what seems to be nearly as-new situation? Or is {that a} value solely any individual like Adam Carolla would contemplate?
You resolve!
Lengthy Island, New York, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Whatsupdohc for the hookup!
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