I had 4 datsuns/nissans various models and they were awesome. Low in power but durability and simplicity and maneuverability in the snow was unmatched.
We had a '74 Datsun B210 (Little Vitamin) and paid for it with the money we saved by not driving our '74 Oldsmobile convertible with a 350! Loved it. Bought a '77 280Z (Bullet), also loved, obviously, since we still have it. They were both wonderful cars, very attractive, reliable, economical, and a tremendous value for the money. I remember my dismay when they phased out the Datsun name, and recall reading something about "Datsun" meaning "son of rabbit." There are worse things for a car to be associated with than a speedy little critter. Ask VW! I appreciate your clearing that up for me so I can call BS all these years later.
You got me curious and some quick google searches suggest that with some very creative translating you might end up with "son of rabbit", although it looks like "Mr shedding rabbit" might be closer (Dato-San?). If I have any Japanese speaking viewers that see this I would like to know their take on it.
Excellent summary. I owned a ‘79 280ZX in the special addition “Dallas Cowboys” colors. It was a great combination of sports car and grand touring and one of the first cars that incorporated cruise control with a five-speed manual transmission. On a decent highway, it tracked straight ahead with only minor and infrequent steering wheel adjustments, unlike anything I had ever experienced. The only negative? Thin steel panels that easily rusted.
I have a friend who's first car was a 280Z, and he still had it. The fuel injection has been problematic but the body doesn't seem as thin as some other models. The 620 pickup beds that tend to dimple where they are spot welded to the support bar for example. When I was a teen and these trucks were common we used to joke that if you sanded the paint off you could find the label of whatever beer can it was made out of. Still like those trucks though.
Amazing as always. I had a friend who bought a B210. It was ugly, cramped and unbelievably slow, as in when we were on an interstate entry ramp, I was sure we were going to die. In the 70's I was a young man at Lime Rock watching BRE Datsun 510s. Fast, cool, boxy, roomy cars. Why that didn't continue is beyond me!
In 1980 we bought a B-210 to deal with the gas crisis. Two yrs later I night a used ‘78 280 Z It did every well except carry 2 small kids. It is my all time favorite.
Back in 1972, I worked with a guy who drove a little green Datsun sedan. It was really comical at the time. Cheap, tinny and tiny. "Made in Japan" was a punchline. Today, they are world-class. It has been amazing to behold.
I didn’t know the history before 1970 or so. Thanks for that. Nissan \ Datsun got a number of cars right. They were hitting consistently across the board until perhaps 2000 or so when they seemed to be making copies of better vehicles. I always liked the “Z” cars. I always thought the 280z was top of its hill at the time and is one of the few Asian cars I’d think about restoring. I remember being confused by the name change, but I got over it. Even the later 240z while a little less sporty, I thought was better rounded as a solid example of “any car ever”. Every year the Z cars looked sharp but at some point they started to be more show than go. I’m not sure who could both afford and want the late model Z’s. By the time they committed to the variable transmission on most cars, I figured they were kind of “Done”. It was a distracting gimmick. My in-laws always had Nissans. They had the big truck, maxima, several altamas and an SUV I’m sure I could not remember the name of. They leased a new one nearly every other year. The big truck had enough power to rip chunks of asphalt out of the road, but the Toyota and domestics were better overall. They have since switched over to amorphous Kia SUV-ish transportation appliances. I could blame the Goshen episode, but I think the problem is really all Nissan. Goshen was a symptom, not a cause. Nissan dropped the ball at some point. I can’t put my finger on when it happened. Renault? Too confusing. I stopped paying attention to them at some point. I think it is salvageable. I would like to see them do a small sporty car. Its what put them on the map. Not a swing and a miss for a super-car wannabe. Maybe I just miss the idea of quality small sedan that nobody wants to make. But if there is one to be made, Nissan could probably do it. I would like to know more about Japanese automotive laws. What I know is they are strict with a focus on stimulating domestic production. I want to understand how it affects the models we get. Nissan’s problems are probably linked to that in some way.
nice to know your aware of the cherry being the most underrated out of there lineup in my opinion i'm suprised we even got the second gen f-10 in america
@@thehopelesscarguy yeah even in euroupe or even japana actually there is one JDM model x1-r in florida right now and i'm going to import one of these someday ill be the second person to own one of these in the states
I didnt know about the history of Prince before it was Prince. Though if you want a super rare Nissan related product, Prince sold a few Skylines stateside in the 1950s, they look kind of like a shrunken Chevy 210 with a Ford inspired grille:)
Back in the late 90s I went to a hyundai dealer and she claimed the sonata was same quality as a honda. After touching the back window material it was crap quality. I laughed at the sales lady. Nowadays I think the hyundais may be better quality but Japanese quality could not be comparable.
I had 4 datsuns/nissans various models and they were awesome. Low in power but durability and simplicity and maneuverability in the snow was unmatched.
We had a '74 Datsun B210 (Little Vitamin) and paid for it with the money we saved by not driving our '74 Oldsmobile convertible with a 350! Loved it. Bought a '77 280Z (Bullet), also loved, obviously, since we still have it. They were both wonderful cars, very attractive, reliable, economical, and a tremendous value for the money. I remember my dismay when they phased out the Datsun name, and recall reading something about "Datsun" meaning "son of rabbit." There are worse things for a car to be associated with than a speedy little critter. Ask VW! I appreciate your clearing that up for me so I can call BS all these years later.
You got me curious and some quick google searches suggest that with some very creative translating you might end up with "son of rabbit", although it looks like "Mr shedding rabbit" might be closer (Dato-San?). If I have any Japanese speaking viewers that see this I would like to know their take on it.
Excellent summary. I owned a ‘79 280ZX in the special addition “Dallas Cowboys” colors. It was a great combination of sports car and grand touring and one of the first cars that incorporated cruise control with a five-speed manual transmission. On a decent highway, it tracked straight ahead with only minor and infrequent steering wheel adjustments, unlike anything I had ever experienced. The only negative? Thin steel panels that easily rusted.
I have a friend who's first car was a 280Z, and he still had it. The fuel injection has been problematic but the body doesn't seem as thin as some other models. The 620 pickup beds that tend to dimple where they are spot welded to the support bar for example. When I was a teen and these trucks were common we used to joke that if you sanded the paint off you could find the label of whatever beer can it was made out of. Still like those trucks though.
@@thehopelesscarguy Hilarious story! 😂
Amazing as always. I had a friend who bought a B210. It was ugly, cramped and unbelievably slow, as in when we were on an interstate entry ramp, I was sure we were going to die. In the 70's I was a young man at Lime Rock watching BRE Datsun 510s. Fast, cool, boxy, roomy cars. Why that didn't continue is beyond me!
Changes in leadership.
My high school car was a 1978 510 hatchback in blue with black louvers over the rear window, chrome wheels, and a 5 speed. I loved it! ❤
I always liked the 510.
Out of all the cars I miss the most, it was my Datsun 280ZX. I loved that car, and it was always reliable.
And they are quite collectable now.
In 1980 we bought a B-210 to deal with the gas crisis. Two yrs later I night a used ‘78 280 Z It did every well except carry 2 small kids. It is my all time favorite.
Perhaps not the better family car, but certainly an upgrade.
Back in 1972, I worked with a guy who drove a little green Datsun sedan. It was really comical at the time. Cheap, tinny and tiny. "Made in Japan" was a punchline. Today, they are world-class. It has been amazing to behold.
What a long, strange trip its been.
I didn’t know the history before 1970 or so. Thanks for that. Nissan \ Datsun got a number of cars right. They were hitting consistently across the board until perhaps 2000 or so when they seemed to be making copies of better vehicles. I always liked the “Z” cars. I always thought the 280z was top of its hill at the time and is one of the few Asian cars I’d think about restoring. I remember being confused by the name change, but I got over it. Even the later 240z while a little less sporty, I thought was better rounded as a solid example of “any car ever”. Every year the Z cars looked sharp but at some point they started to be more show than go. I’m not sure who could both afford and want the late model Z’s. By the time they committed to the variable transmission on most cars, I figured they were kind of “Done”. It was a distracting gimmick. My in-laws always had Nissans. They had the big truck, maxima, several altamas and an SUV I’m sure I could not remember the name of. They leased a new one nearly every other year. The big truck had enough power to rip chunks of asphalt out of the road, but the Toyota and domestics were better overall. They have since switched over to amorphous Kia SUV-ish transportation appliances. I could blame the Goshen episode, but I think the problem is really all Nissan. Goshen was a symptom, not a cause. Nissan dropped the ball at some point. I can’t put my finger on when it happened. Renault? Too confusing. I stopped paying attention to them at some point. I think it is salvageable. I would like to see them do a small sporty car. Its what put them on the map. Not a swing and a miss for a super-car wannabe. Maybe I just miss the idea of quality small sedan that nobody wants to make. But if there is one to be made, Nissan could probably do it. I would like to know more about Japanese automotive laws. What I know is they are strict with a focus on stimulating domestic production. I want to understand how it affects the models we get. Nissan’s problems are probably linked to that in some way.
I've liked my Datsuns/Nissans, but I can't think of anything they currently offer I would consider buying.
nice to know your aware of the cherry being the most underrated out of there lineup in my opinion i'm suprised we even got the second gen f-10 in america
Not that you're likely to run across one.
@@thehopelesscarguy yeah even in euroupe or even japana actually there is one JDM model x1-r in florida right now and i'm going to import one of these someday ill be the second person to own one of these in the states
@@Rusty-the-datsun That'll be cool
I didnt know about the history of Prince before it was Prince.
Though if you want a super rare Nissan related product, Prince sold a few Skylines stateside in the 1950s, they look kind of like a shrunken Chevy 210 with a Ford inspired grille:)
looks like the prince skyline is the poormans studbaker hawk they look alike
Keep in mind that until recently, GT-Rs were Skylines and the later skylines were sold as Infinitis in the U.S. .
@7:23 every 16 yo boy wanted one
And many did. In fact that was our oldest boys first vehicle.
4:59 SATSUMAAAAAAAAAAAA
Cool stuff
Thanks.
Datsun and Toyota ruled the world, and the Koean companies like KIA and Hyundai are not far behind.
Nissan isn't looking too good these days.
@@thehopelesscarguy True. I was thinking Datsun, but that must've been nostalgia overriding teality.
@@michaelb.42112 Been there.
Back in the late 90s I went to a hyundai dealer and she claimed the sonata was same quality as a honda. After touching the back window material it was crap quality. I laughed at the sales lady. Nowadays I think the hyundais may be better quality but Japanese quality could not be comparable.