It’s old Datsun time today, with this find uploaded at the CC Cohort by car_spots_aus. And it’s one of those you don’t see anymore, a 1974-1977 Datsun 180B wagon, or 610 in the US; a true curbside classic survivor with its fixed rust patches and faded paint, but from what it seems, still going strong.
These are rare. Unlike the early Datsun Roadsters, 510, or 240Z, not much of a fan base grew for these. The previous models had a certain, let’s say, “feel” that these new Datsuns of the early 1970s lacked. Still, they sold decently back in their day and served well enough, even if they rusted to oblivion in quick 1970s fashion.
Today’s 180B is the Australian version of the Bluebird, part of a line of vehicles that had been Nissan’s mainstay in their native land. However, by the early 1970s, a respositioning of the Bluebird line was needed, partly as a response to Toyota’s new Corona Mark II, and partly to create a new identity for the model in Nissan’s sprawling roster. Launched in 1971 as the Bluebird U, this generation was pushed toward “luxury,” or “economy luxury”, more precisely. A concept that I find funny, but heck, time and time again, it’s proven to work.
Softer in feel, slightly larger, and filled with more amenities, plus carrying Nissan’s newfound fondness for swoopy MoPar influenced styling, they were quite a break from what had come before. Emissions requirements also took quite a bit out of the previous generation pep, but with the cars aimed at “luxury”, perhaps not so out of step with the model’s new mission.
Mechanically, they carried much from the previous Bluebird (510), and in the case of today’s find, that means there’s a Nissan 1.8 SOHC L18 engine under the hood, mated to a 4-speed manual or 3-speed auto.
Australian production went from 1972 to 1977, and the large turn signals up front make this one a post-1974 model. As is, this old 180B is a 1970s time capsule from a period in Datsun’s history that we hardly see around anymore.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1974 Datsun 610 – Datsun Takes A Bold New Direction: Down
Quite a rarity, and not often seen here back in the day. Off the top of my head, the wagon wasn’t part of the original range Down Under as launched, but got added into the mix later – possibly in response to Toyota’s Corona RT104 wagon. Mitsubishi had a Galant wagon, but it seemed smaller. Ford had been selling a Cortina wagon for a few years, but it was noticably wider and roomier. Holden didn’t bother with a small or mid-size wagon yet.
Very common in California at one point, though my memories may be a bit influenced by having a colleague who drove a yellow 610 wagon, and another who had a 710 sedan, that I saw every day. But i haven’t seen one in many years. Compared to the 510, the 610/710 certainly seemed like step backwards, styling-wise but it doesn’t look so bad now.
Old Datsuns, serious collector cars now .
-Nate