1976 Datsun B210 from North America - Comments

It was 1981 when I bought my 1976 mustard yellow hatchback B210, and I still remember where and how much it cost to fill the tank. From empty it cost me $8.10.

Needless to say, as a teenager I caught a lot of hard times for not having a muscle car, but then again my Dad knew I was a lead foot and only allowed me a four cylinder vehicle. The fix to that was to race in my friends cars.

It was by far the most ugly car I have ever owned, and had a hard time pulling the hills in the Ozarks. It ate brakes like a mad giant, and the timing was always inconsistent. I timed it at least once a week, but still got that annoying backfire after a total release from the accelerator.

I drove my 210 for 7 years. It was easy and cheap to fix, easy on the pump and most times very reliable. Bang for the buck this was the best car I ever owned, even though it was ugly.

Finally gave up the ghost. If you need some good parts from this 1976 Datsun B210, 2 dr sedan, A14, 4 cylinder, 4 speed... contact garydalef@msn.com.

Well I just inherited a 1979 datsun 210 wagon from my grandma. I drive a big giant suburban now, and hate the darn thing. Gas is killing me!! Needless to say, I'm so excited to have a wonderful gas saver! My 15 year old daughter is embarrassed to be in it, but now I can take her anywhere without it costing 20 to 30 bucks to get there (one way). Actually it's about 135.00 to fill the tank. Ouch that car is killing us. Now I'm in search of a good cheap paint job, and sheep skin seat covers. Very excited about this car. I read everyones comments on them and they sound like great cars to have. Thanks Grandma!!

Best friend and I drove a B210 cross country, leaving 6/24/74, the day after HS graduation. That car took us cross country and back for <$200...including a side trip to Mexico. Gas was $.54 a gallon, and that was during the 'gas crisis'!

Glad to see this car has been memorialized and revered, at least by a few. At 40mpg, perhaps she should be re-introduced? Except that everyone wants more lux, and no one drives a 5-speed anymore.

Gas crisis? Maybe we're all way too spoiled. It's about transportation, isn't it?

Im giving up, but it doesn't hurt my wifes feelings.I've got a 1978 b210GX hatch 3sp auto. This thing runs like singer but the gas mileage just isn't cutting it. On a good tank I get about 26-28 mpg and that's quite a bit of hwy. I know a 5sp trans will help, but not 20 more miles to the gallon. Anyways im parting this baby out because I know how hard parts are to find. If anyone needs any let me know. My email is krowebmf@yahoo.com.

Looking for B210 5spd trans to install in Morris minor. Can anyone help, suggestions welcome. Richard Watson 1 604 823 0011.

I'm George from Orlando, Florida.

I'm looking for a B210 (76-78) if anyone knows or have one for sale. I used to have 3 of them while back in the late 80' early 90's, and back them, you find them everywhere, but not now. I want it to have one back, I love those Datsuns and I don't mind restored, but at least the car has to be drivable.

Please contact me at anakin1961@hotmail.com

Thanks.

Datsun B210's are as near as your local craigslist auto and truck section.

Just don't expect to find one for $500. Or $1500. Or even, um $2000. In fact, just get ready to have to pay as much, or more, than what they cost new, for a decent to less than decent used example, now. Apparently the passage of time has made these econoboxes, crude and cheap when new, now supposed collectors items, at least as far as those who are selling them seem to think.

They're still crude, but they are not cheap anymore. Frankly there are a lot of other cars out there for the same price that would be more enjoyable to drive and would not get you laughed at.

I bought a 1978 B210 sedan new from the dealer. While some say the engine performance is poor that is for the automatic. The 4 speed manual ran through the gears just fine, plus it averaged ten more miles to the gallon. This car was rated 39 MPG on the highway and I got 40 mpg. It had something I was told was rare, factory air. I heard that AC was installed by the dealer under the dash, this had an in the dash unit shipped from the factory.

The fastback models came with a 5 speed manual and got 50 mpg on the highway. I understand the engine was the same and the 5th gear was really like an overdrive.

I guess the seats were for the average Japanese male and my 5' 9' 180 lb frame bottomed out the seat springs. I added extra cushions for the seat bottom and back and solved that problem. Made long distance driving very comfortable.

The seats also reclined back all the way down. For a long drive I would park an hour before dawn and let the seat back and nap until the sun woke me.

The rear trunk held more than I expected though nothing like a Lincoln would. Still it held everything I needed.

If I had a garage I would get a sedan from that era, '76 or before because of no emissions testing requirements. Ad a 5 speed manual. I also wonder how that little engine would perform if converted to electronic fuel injection, ought to be nice pick up, smooth running and good mpg.

Everything old becomes rare, and thus more expensive and collectible. Even economy cars.

My B210 hatchback was my first car. I purchased it brand new in 1977 from the Datsun dealer in Sioux Falls, SD. The car had a 5-speed manual transmission and was called a “California Car” by the salesman since it had all the emission control equipment required by that state at the time, including a catalytic converter, which meant it required unleaded gas (a negative in the eyes of the salesman as he anticipated it would reduce gas mileage).

The car did not have A/C, so I had an under dash unit installed. I was surprised at how well the A/C unit fit and really surprised at how well it cooled… even on the hottest days in the summer it could easily make the car’s interior so cold I had to switch it off.

This car was great! I am 6’2” I drove it all over Iowa, SD, and Minnesota and I was always comfortable (of course I was in my early 20’s at the time).

It wasn’t a COOL car, but I never considered it ugly. It was painted what the manufacturer called, Cocoa Brown Metallic, so it looked like a sporty economy car, and not a toy car like some of its brethren… think the bright yellow Honey Bee.

My B210 averaged 36-39mpg and never broke down; I was taking flying lessons at the time and I wanted to spend my money on airplane rental rather than gasoline and car repairs. In 1979 a college friend and I drove it to Daytona, Florida for spring break and we hit 50+mpg on the highway between Atlanta and Jacksonville! Think about that, a “California Car” with all the emission controls and unleaded gasoline, two 180lb passengers and luggage for a week… AND the A/C was on part of the time!! I don’t understand how this car routinely managed far better mileage using a carburetor than cars today with electronic fuel control… including those ridiculous, golf cart sized, Smart Cars!!! Even in my 20’s I wouldn’t have considered driving from MN to FL in a Smart Car.

In the summer of 1982 my sister spun the car on a wet curve and smashed the right rear quarter panel against the guard rail (she was not injured) and the car was still drivable. I never had the body damage repaired; so much the better, as four years later, in the spring of 1986, my soon to be wife and I were on our way to OUR wedding at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA when the driver of another car “failed to yield” and pulled out in front of us. We hit him at 55mph and the B210’s “collapsing frame” did what it was designed to do…absorb the impact! The driver of the other car was not injured, but the B210 was totaled, its front end was crushed, its windshield completely crackled (but intact) and the wedding cake (originally in the back) was now in the dash. My “wife” and I were taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital where we had the best dressed bunch of visitors the hospital had ever seen. We were treated and released (we were wearing seat belts) and lived to get married a month later. That was 25 years and several cars ago, but we still consider that B210 the best car we ever had… we drive a Lexus RX330 today.

I purchased a new 1974 B210 hatchback while stationed at the Naval Training Center in Millington, TN (near Memphis). It was my first 'brand new' car. I think it cost around $2800 or so. The mileage was great and the car was surprisingly quick 'off the line' with the manual tranny. I beat on it pretty good and it took everything I dished out. Very rugged and reliable.

Being young and stupid at the time, a guy in my barracks with a Trans Am dared to race me on the road that surrounded the base. In the corners I could pace him, but on the straightaway he walked away from me. We didn't crash, didn't kill anyone else, and didn't get caught. Afterwards, he said he was surprised and a bit impressed at how quick it was off the line and through the corners.

The car travelled with me from Tennessee to Virginia (NAS Oceana), then home to Wisconsin. The car did surprisingly well in snow, likely due to the small, thin tires. However, Nissan apparently didn't realize how much salt we use in Wisconsin (my home state) in the wintertime, and the floorboards rusted out. My dad and I bolted in some metal plates he brought home from the machine shop where he worked. I also remember going through distributor caps like crazy. The car either wouldn't start, or sometimes would just 'die' when putting the clutch in. Moisture in the cap. The only other problem I had was that the heater core went out and had to be replaced.

After teaching my wife how to drive a stick using the B210 as a test platform, we finally traded it off for a 1978 Chevy Nova.