Carmudgeon's Choice: 1971 Datsun 510

I know that I'm going to sound like some old cranky curmudgeon when I say this...but I remember a time when Datsun 510s were appreciated for being a cheap way to drive something that looked like a sedan but handled like a sports car.  Time was not friendly to 510 -- its thin sheet metal reduced weight, but turned to mush in the presence of moisture, and more than a few 510s were stuffed under the tire wall at your nearest race track...so the pool of 510s got smaller, but the cool factor skyrocketed and suddenly people want money like they are a sports car instead of a sedan that drives like a sports car.  Anyway, lemme land this plane...prices for the 510 are high these days, but this next one has a certain combination of speed and flair that even a curmudgeon can appreciate. Find this 1971 Datsun 510 offered for $14888 CAD ($11k USD) in Vancouver, BC via craigslist. Tip from Erik202. 

Buick V8 Rad Rod: 1970 Datsun 521 Pickup

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 offered My neck is hurting just to look @ this !  But has Kewl Factor...Kewl indeed, you'll need a sweet neckbeard and sleeve tatts to truly do this thing justice, but a few days of itchy neck and arm dermatitis is a small price to pay for driving something that'll make women, children, and valets run with terror.  Find this 1970 Datsun 521 Pickup offered for $10,900 in Toledo, OR via craigslist.

Project Z: 1974 Datsun 260Z 2+2

The 1974 Datsun 260Z was an evolution of the original 240Z that was first released in 1970 but it was only a one year affair before it was replaced by the 280Z in 1975.  The difference between a 240Z and a 260Z is hard to see from the outside...unless you find a 260Z 2+2, which added a small back seat and notched roofline. Today's example isn't perfect, but if it runs/drives it could be a good buy. Find this 1974 Datsun 260Z 2+2 offered for $5500 in Dublin, CA via craigslist.

LT1 V8 + 6Spd: 1973 Nissan 240Z

Nissan's athletic 240Z was sold in the USA with a Datsun badge and a silky smooth inline-6 to go with its ninja-like reflexes.  For years, folks joked that Japanese cars would never be collectable, and 240Z prices hovered above scrap value, so many were (for better or worse) turned into hot rods. Today we've got one of those hot rods and it looks like it could use some freshening...but could be fun when done. Find this 1973 Nissan 240Z offered for $6500 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

KA24DE Swapped: 1970 Datsun 510

This next car comes as a tip from Erik202 who writes: I know good 510s are more common in the southern states but here in Canada they are pretty rare. This is probably one of the nicer ones I’ve ever seen listed locally.  Find this 1970 Datsun 510 offered for $16,500 CAD ($12,643 USD) via Kijiji.ca in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada.

Repeat Offender: 1978 Datsun 280Z V8 Custom

This next car comes as a tip from JB1025 who calls it Dat-Vette Custom V8 and says; Not everybody's cup of tea but looks well done could not build for this...but hang on just one minute...we've seen this car before.  Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z V8 Custom offered for $8,500 in Tukwila (funny...those wheels could use some tuck..hah!), WA via craigslist.

G35X Powertrain Swapped: 1972 Datsun 521 Pickup

The Infiniti G35 we posted the other day was well received because it combines the best characteristics of a reliable modern car with a nicely depreciated price curve.  The only thing it was missing was the cool factor of a moderately rusty pickup truck exterior...oh...here we go, another horrorod. Find this 1972 Datsun 521 Pickup with G35X powertrain offered for $6900 in Denver, CO via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Rusty Z Car: 1978 Datsun 280Z

The Datsun 280Z was the successor to the seminal 240Z car and lives in a middle ground of 260Z/280ZX before the revival Z performance with the 300ZX.  As such, the 280Z tends to be treated as somewhat of a middle child - it doesn't get the praise and admiration of its eldest successful sibling (240Z) or the pampering of the baby (300ZX).  Logically the 280Z is therefore a big disgruntled, often unloved, wears funky shoes and is rarely found in good shape...and this one is a good example of a cheap/used/abused version. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z here on eBay offered for $2,895 in Lucerne Valley, CA.

Pizza Box Scoop: 1984 Nissan 200SX S12 Turbo

I'm feeling nostalgic.  Nostalgic for a time when license plates were blue...louvers were cool...turbochargers were only available on performance cars...and hood scoops were shaped like pizza boxes. Find this 1984 Nissan 200SX S12 Turbo offered for $4000 in East Bay Area, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Sunshine State of Mind: 1987 Nissan 300ZX Convertible

The Z31 generation Nissan/Datsun 300ZX did not get a convertible version from the factory...but there was a company in California that converted the coupe version into a ragtop for a fee back when new. This is one of the original 250 convertiblized cars that still remains on the road today, so the price is higher than you'd expect for a Z31.  Find this 1987 Nissan 300ZX Convertible offered for $7500 in Parker, CO via craigslist. Tip from Jeff.

A What? 1977 Datsun F10 Sports Wagon

What in the blazes is a Datsun F10? If your memories of the late 1970s are as hazy as mine (no...not haze like Cheech and Chong, more like the haze of being a little thumb sucker) then you probably don't remember the Datsun F10 because they didn't make many when new and most rotted into the earth or were swapped onto Dodge Powerwagon chassis and turned into snowplows...but somebody has a complete example and is asking a crazy amount of money for one...but it isn't like you'll find many comps around. Find this 1977 Datsun F10 offered for $9000 in Torrance, CA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck. 

Corvette Some..errr: 1978 Datsun 280Z

By the 1978 model year the US spec Datsun Z had lost some of its original luster and it was looking bloated with big American bumpers and those heinous accordion mounting brackets. Even with a larger engine, the added safety and emission control bloat meant the car was slower and less fun to drive than the earlier models, but at least it wasn't as ugly or down on power with a boat anchor 305 V8 like a late 70s Vette...uggg. Find this 1978 Datsun 280Z offered for $4,800 in Gig Harbor, WA via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Epiphany Gold: 1985 Nissan 300ZX

This post is part of DT's 2019 Day After Epiphany celebration. Legend has it that a wise man named Melchior visited the baby Jesus from the Far East on the 13th day of Christmas and he brought with him a gift of gold to signify that Jesus was a king.  I think that perhaps a gift of a gold car would have been better befitting the King of Kings, but what do I know?  Find this 1985 Nissan 300ZX here on eBay bidding for $5,600 reserve-not-met in Lakeland, FL with 3 days to go.

6758 Golden Miles: 1980 Datsun 280ZX

This next car might have blended into the random menagerie of overpriced garp that is our old friend craigslist.  The price is higher than you'd expect for an 80 Z and the SELLERS ALL CAPS IS NOT A GOOD SIGN...but upon closer inspection we might have found a real diamond in the rough.  With only 6758 miles on the odometer, a scrumptious shade of bronzy-brown, a manual gearbox, and t-tops that show no sign of rusty trouble this car is a quad-fecta of cool.  Find this 1980 Datsun 280ZX offered for $8900 in Miami Lakes, FL via craigslist. Tip from Rock On!

Cheap & Interesting: 1981 Datsun 280ZX

Vintage muscle cars from the 1960s long ago became overpriced for the every-man and late model cars are still monstrously expensive, probably because they are well engineered, fast, and reliable...but where can I cheapskate find something that is fun and cool?  Go west, young man, go west...and buy something from the malaise era.  It doesn't get much more west than Seattle and it doesn't get much more malaise than 1981 when horsepower was low and bumpers were big.  Find this 1981 Datsun 280ZX offered for $2800 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from PAH.

Pick Your Poison: '72, '73, '74 Datsun Z Turbo Swaps

How do you like your eggs?  Fried, scrambled or poached?  That is an easy question, but I think a much harder one is how do you like your vintage turbo swapped Datsun Z cars-- with a Toyota 2JZ, Nissan RB20DET, or L28ET?  Because you can't have them all...you could, but I think it would be like eating 24 eggs for breakfast.  Which would you drive?

Ford V8 Powered: 1970 Datsun 240Z

The original Datsun 240Z was a nicely styled 2-seater from the land of the rising sun.  It combined the basic sportiness of a unibody chassis with MacPherson struts up front and an independent coil spring (upper Chapman struts, lower wishbones) rear with a 2.4 liter inline-6 that split the difference between 4-cylinder zippiness and V8 grumbliness.  However...there are times when you might want that V8 torque and this next example has been transformed into a real pony car.  Find this 1970 Datsun 240Z offered for $11995 in Bellevue, WA via craigslist. Tip from JB1025.