As Promised - My New (But Rather Old) Car

[Negative Creep]

If you followed my thread the other day about buying a 32 year old car on ebay without looking at it, well I went to collect it today. Car in question is a 1976 Datsun 120Y 4 door saloon in turquoise. Once very common and derided, they've become very rare (well under 100 on the road so I've been told) and all of a sudden, rather cool. So without further ado:




Check out the dealer option luggage rack as well!






Both of mine. Sadly I can only keep one so the MX must go


The sleer said is was clean and he wasn't kidding. Had it up on the ramps and the underneath is mint, having been undersealed from new. I checked everywhere on the floor, arches and boot and could not find any rust at all. The only bit is on top of the passenger wing (of which I have a replacement for.) Paintwork isn't 100% perfect, as you can see the driver's door has a poor paintmatch, even though it is the original. Overall though, it is pretty damn good for a 32 year old car. Mechanicals are spot on as well, everything has been taken care of and it made the 200 mile journey home without missing a beat. It is also staying original with only a few minor touches, a steel front plate and a discreetly mounted modern stereo are top of the list. Can't really drive around with the 1 speaker LW/MW standard radio I'm afraid. Furry dice have already gone and a PH smilie is on the way.

I've only had it since this lunchtime but I've already had 2 people asking if I'll sell it. The reaction it gets is amazing, drive down the street and people just stop in their tracks to look. It also goes very well with my best mates 1981 Corrola.

All in all, I am really pleased. It cost me a mere £700 which is about £400 less than the price guides suggest. No it's not fast and it goes round corners like a shopping trolley full of logs, but who cares? You don't need mega hp to have fun.

[Xaero]

Looks sweet I bought some tubing for my engine from a supercharged converted 120Y in Oz, good fun

[clarkmagpie]

i like it
off to scour the classifieds!!

[Glassman]

Fantastic.

Reminds me of my dad's yellow 140J

[sawman]

my aunt had one exactly like that - she lived by the sea and it slowly turned brown and fell apart - always worked though!

[absolutely]

That last pic looks positively Japanese, shame there is a British Corsa in the background. The foilage and the ambience it could be Japan.

[OllieBirmingham]

Fantastic, absolutely love it. Just been scouring ebay for something similar. I want one!! Let us know how you get on with it, running costs etc....

[Alex]

My first car was a 1981 Corolla 1.6DX Liftback. What model is your mate's?

[Nurburgsingh]

My dad had one of those.. same colour.. same P reg too, it was the first brand new car he bought

[OllieBirmingham]

That car park in the last piccie looks like it could be, er, fun.

[Gold]

absolutely said:

That last pic looks positively Japanese, shame there is a British Corsa in the background. The foilage and the ambience it could be Japan.

HTH

[pdV6]

Nice! There's one of those parked on my route into work most days; obviously still up to the daily grind.

I used to have the even rarer big brother: a Violet 160J (in SSS coupé trim). Fond memories of that car.

[cozzmik]

nice classic motor,so right hp and speed arent everything

[bob1179]

Very cool motor!

I'm actually quite jealous. I turned down a 1977 Mitsubishi Lancer a few years back due to lack of space to park the damn thing. It was a one owner car with 45,000 on the clock. I really regret not taking the guy up on his offer now.

[UNCLE SILVIA]

Nice work mate and it will look ace parked next to my 81 corolla outside work!!

We had a good day picking the car up and heres some nice pics I took of it on the way home...........

When we got there..........






The rusty wing............. but thats it!!!!!!!










We checked it on a ramp and it was spot on!!






And a few arty ones I took.............















MORE
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34370&l=...

[clonmult]

120Y ... mmmmm.

My first car was a 77 120Y in blue and brown. Tops of the wings were rotten. Whilst waiting for an MOT, the garage had a tuned one in - was it the SS, or 140Y? Looked pretty good!

It wasn't a bad car, pretty reliable overall, but hampered by disastrously bad tail happy handling - it'd just let go in a heartbeat.

Happy memories though of heading into sixth form and getting out for a drive at lunch with all the guys there - some good cars were in the student car park :

Brown Allegro
Brown Mini
White Alfa Sud (which the owner wouldn't let ANYONE near!)
2CV
Triumph Spitfire (still want one, loved the way it went!)
Triumph Dolomite
Morris Marina
Yellow Mk1 2 liter Cavalier with a tiller on the steering wheel (find a car park in the middle of nowhere and slide it around)

[AndyBe]

UNCLE SILVIA said:

Nice work mate and it will look ace parked next to my 81 corolla outside work!!

Neg Creep blanked out his number plate (though I never really understand why people do this), and then you go and publish it on the net ?

Pretty cool car - learnt to drive in one of those.

[aww999]

That thing needs a lexus V8 in it! Awesome cars, I once worked on one that had a CA18DET swap into it, it would wheelspin in fifth gear

[charnock]

wow cool! im guessing its pretty light too?

[Negative Creep]

AndyBe said:

UNCLE SILVIA said:

Nice work mate and it will look ace parked next to my 81 corolla outside work!!

Neg Creep blanked out his number plate (though I never really understand why people do this), and then you go and publish it on the net ?

Pretty cool car - learnt to drive in one of those.

It's not a problem, I only do it out of habit. Doubt anyone will want to clone this one!

Cheers for all the comments, the reaction you get when driving down the street is amazing. Already had people waving and giving the thumbs up and whats more, everyone lets me out of junctions! First on the list is a passenger mirror; driving with one just doesn't feel safe