1975 Datsun 120Y review from Indonesia
"Unbeatable"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Original carburettor failure.
Rear spring failure.
Water pump failure.
Wipers stall when the headlights are on.
Front windscreen leaks.
Transmission leak.
Oil seal leak.
Rust in chassis.
Non-original boot and door lock failure.
General comments?
Have driven across Java in this vehicle; return journey with the broken leaf spring. Maybe Mr Clarkson should try that in some of his fancy-pants cars.
Good (skillful and honest) mechanic initially difficult to find, but found one who did a great job rebuilding the carburettor and removing rust.
Complete panel straightening and respray earlier this year (about $700). A light blue colour now.
Mostly original. I have a second one for spares. Changed over the transmission yesterday. It doesn't blow any smoke. It's hot without aircon (of course).
The roads here are brutal and the traffic is outrageous at times, but... I love this car. It has a never-say-die vibe and with the higher octane petrol, the rebuilt carby, routine servicing and a late night traffic-free drive, it puts a smile on my face every time.
I'm setting up a garage and I want to buy more. I've seen a few nice ones around in Jakarta and there are plenty of spares available.
Recommended reviews
| Driving this car makes me feel so young |
|
| Cheap, but not too bad |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1975 |
| Year of manufacture | 1975 |
| First year of ownership | 2007 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.2 Manual |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 6 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 190000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 240000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Datsun 120Y |
| Date of Entry | 1st October, 2009 |