1977 Datsun 120Y Coupe review from Australia and New Zealand

Original 1.2 motor had no power, started blowing blue smoke. Probably needed valve stem seals.

Hitachi carb had a warped top. Seeped excess air into the mixture.

Vinyl seats have tears and cracks. Stuffing falls out the back onto the floor.

Cracked dashboard (typical of the period).

Tachometer is inaccurate (reads too high).

Car gets hot at constant highway speed or even at slow speed on hot days, but has never officially overheated on me.

Rust in the corners of the doors, quarters, and roof (originally had a vinyl roof so it trapped water underneath).

The original carb was completely stuffed so I replaced it with downdraught weber from a Cortina. Works heaps better, but had to downsize the jets because it was getting too much fuel.

When the A12 motor began to drink oil I replaced it with an A14. It now has bags more power and better economy because it's not having to work so hard.

Car gets hot so I fitted a thermo-fan, but this has not made much difference. I hear that a Gemini radiator is the perfect swap, it has the hoses in the right places, and once you have done this conversion it never gets hot.

There isn't much leg room in this car even in the front. Very uncomfortable.

They have the worst body roll in any car I've ever driven, but handle OK. Can be quite frightening for the passengers though.

Will beat Falcons and Commodores up hills - no joke.

I've never had any problems with this car except for general wear and tear and that godforsaken rust that all Datsuns seem to be plagued with.