Faults:

Engine overhaul.

Brake failure.

Bent prop shaft.

Whining 3rd gear.

General Comments:

This was my first Datsun. Grandad had a similar model, so I learnt how to drive in one. So when I grew up, I vowed to get myself one, and a coupe no less.

Picked her up from the previous owner who had kept it as her daily driver since new (first owner had it for less than 2 years since new). Had been abandoned for about 5 years. The floor was chewed by rust, but the body was still intact. It was love at first sight.

So I went about getting her back on the road in a condition as close to factory as possible. Now she starts and goes anywhere, anytime. So much fun to drive around. The simplicity sells it. Sips fuel and the engine is pretty nippy after 2nd and 3rd gear. Love it to bits and will never sell. KJT 527.

Faults:

In a quest for speed, broke many a rocker shaft with high lift .512" on valve side. Believe any pushrod A series engine can handle 11000rpm easily.

Before going cam and drafts, head gasket blew anytime the lower rad hose was allowed to go soft. It would suck in close for any long high speed runs.

Orig Hitachi carb had electric solenoid valve, which was not understood in 1975 and had a wiring problem.Due bad gas in Trinidad, carbs were opened often and unnecessarily, which would have led to break in copper strands of wire. Eventually I figured it out, and ordered the part from Barbados as we did not have it.

General Comments:

I still have mine - engine out for a refresh- Got some rust on hood now (roof), but it compliments the 300ZX TT (1990) and 2010 Vigo 4x4. Hoping to add an Aristo TT soon.

The car is the easiest for anyone to learn automobile repairs on. Considered ugly by many; in Trinidad it is a loved cult car as some 13 x 6 on 60series 205s makes the car look mean. Some of us consider a 120y a beauty!!

This was my Mother's car, passed on to me at about 7 years old. Then all Hell broke loose.. Only fond memories as no accidents except on the front gate doing a reverse burnout.

THE CAR SLIDES CONTROLLABLY WITH A LITTLE STIFFENING OF THE REAR VIA COIL OVERS ON THE DAMPERS. STOCK IS GOOD FOR 100MPH WITH THE ORIG 3.89M DIFF. with 2 Dellorttos and race cam - 3rd gear will cross 100, but should shift at 90.

The car was economical stock, and does about 25mpg (US gal) modified.

IT IS MORE fun to drive than anything else I've DRIVEN, EVEN IF IS ACTUALLY slower.

Faults:

Universal joints

Bushes in starter motor

Plastics cracked due to sun

Paint flaking

Water pump

Battery Terminals.

General Comments:

Very reliable car for a first buyer

Easy to work on

Fuel Consumption: ~7L/100Km (hwy driving)

The coupe gives the car a "sports car" look (without the performance)

Cheap to run (fuel and insurance)

Starts first time even in -10c frosts.

My first car, bought for $800 still going strong.

Faults:

Blown engine.

Blown diff.

Broken engine mount.

Crashed into a tree.

Heater didn't work although I am very lazy at changing fuses.

General Comments:

I only knew this car for a short time however we had an instant bond. When I took delivery of it a friend of a friend (the previous owner) had tried to kill it for about two years without success.

The body was in terrible condition thanks to a screwdriver that had been punched through every panel on the car.

I used the car for my CAREER as a pizza boy for about three or four months during which time I gently drove into a tree one night sustaining non fatal damage. OH yeah... ALL pizza boys really do drive like maniacs all the time.

I only ever remember filling the pathetically small fuel tank a few times in four months.

It was quite good mechanically with the exception of the diff which was already on the way out and due to stupid burnout antics I quickly blew it up.

I seized the engine by not checking the oil often enough.

If I actually had a mechanically sympathetic bone in my body my little car would have lasted a very long time indeed.

On the positive side it was only $500 to buy, the new diff cost $80 from a friend and I didn't put much petrol in the tank over it's time with me. It was also a fun little thing to drive, always happy to rev until valve bounce cut in or the steering wheel shake got too bad at around 170 km/h. No really that's what the speedo said.

After the engine died the car was broken into whilst sitting under a tree out the front of my house causing me to get upset and GIVE THE CAR AWAY!! I don't think anyone would have payed me to take it off my hands anyway.

It was rough, cheap, basic, dangerous, uncomfortable, reasonably reliable and a lot of fun. Given a chance though I would definitely buy another. It served me well at the time and I get the same silly grin on my face now just thinking of it, as I did when driving it as a pimply faced teen.