Datsun B210
When I think about the Datsun B210, I like to think that, sometime before its introduction in 1973, various Nissan engineers were sitting there, staring at an unwieldy wedge-shaped piece of clay, and said to themselves, "Y'know, we could do that ... but we're going to need to paint it avocado green, burnt orange, turquoise, or pale white. Oh, and put on honeycomb hubcaps. It's the only way it'll come together." Then, they invited the marketing people out for drinks.
Unbeknownst to the marketing department, however, when the engineers were buying themselves drinks, they were just asking the bartender for glasses of water that only looked like sake. Once the marketing department was good and drunk, well, pictures were taken, and blackmail ws performed. The result was the fine piece of automotive history gracing our pages today, the Datsun B210. In an attempt to clear its inventory of this misbegotten son of drunken debauchery and engineering hubris, Nissan proceeded to grant it cut-rate pricing, with the seemingly vain and misguided hope that somebody somewhere might actually buy the danged thing.
Of course, as we all know, a funny thing happened on the way to production. I am, of course, referring to the 1973 Oil Crisis, which suddenly made previously irrelevant little cars like the B210 into sudden cult sensations. Since the oil crisis hit the exact same year Datsun introduced the B210, one could say that the outlook for this odd little car was surprisingly... Sunny. Yes, groan if you wish--in Japan, the Datsun B210 was sold as the Nissan Sunny.
In all seriousness, the B210 was the right car at the right time. Sold at about the same price, when adjusting for inflation, as the present-day Nissan Versa, and featuring a (laughably optimistic) EPA fuel rating of nearly 50 mpg, the B210 was the perfect car for those desperately seeking to escape their petrol-devouring automotive overlords. Consequently, sales were quite brisk.
This encouraged Nissan to perform what would eventually become a rather regular habit--only a year later, Nissan updated the engine range, ditching the A13 four-cylinder for various trims of Nissan's A14 engine. Depending on which carburetor Nissan felt like throwing in, the A14 produced anywhere from 50 to 85 horsepower.
The idea of a Datsun B210 and its 2,000-pound curb weight mated to an 85-horsepower engine leaves me strangely excited. To put that power into perspective, that engine/weight combination gave the B210 a power-to-weight ratio of 1 horsepower per 23.5 pounds, which was only slightly worse than the power-to-weight ratio of a V-6 powered Mustang II (1:22.1). Like the Mustang II, the B210 was rear wheel drive, which undoubtedly made it an absolute blast to drive in inclement weather. But unlike the Mustang II, even the hottest 85-horsepower B210 could exceed 25 mpg on the highway. If you ask me, the B210 even looked better than the Mustang II.
Of course, Nissan wasn't the only company releasing small cars into the American market during this pivotal time. Around this time, Honda released the Civic, a humble little hatchback that deserves a Car Lust of its own. Toyota brought the Corolla and the Starling, both of which helped establish Toyota's well-deserved reputation for reliability.
By 1978, the improved level of competition forced Nissan to retire the odd-looking little car. Unfortunately, instead of retiring the B210 and replacing it with a car that could compete on equal terms with the Civic and Corolla, Nissan simply replaced the outer shell with a more contemporary-looking one and called the new car a Datsun 210. Perhaps that's why, decades later, Toyota is now the biggest automaker in the world while Nissan reached the brink of insolvency before partnering with Renault.
The Datsuns pictured above are courtesy of cjacobs53 and brianthompsondesign.
-- David Colborne
J on April 14, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Needless to say, but my Volvo Cross Country would obliterate any Datsun B210 in any type of crash if, God forbid, that were to happen.
Ingram Powell on April 20, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Failure is always followed by a million ignorant diagnoses.
The Sunny/Sentra has usually been a better drive than its Toyota competition. Unfortunately it doesn't fare nearly as well in unkind ownership and an unforgiving environment!
But I'm convinced that the feature most responsible for Nissan's demise was instantly remedied by Renault - BORING styling. The cars are now no better to drive, and no more reliable, but have European flair.
Chrysler's woes are far more fundamental, and Fiat won't have it nearly as easy.
CJinSD on April 21, 2009 at 11:06 AM
Ingraham,
It is possible to disagree here without denigrating each other's opinions as being ignorant. Saying that something drove better than Toyotas of the '70s and '80s is saying almost nothing at all. That being said, Nissans were just as unrewarding to drive once the first 510 and 240Z were gone. At least Toyotas had better shifters. As for how they fair with unsympathetic owners, that is pretty much the reason for appliance cars to exist. Without this strength, Nissans are just ugly low quality cars that are a burden to drive. And for heaven's sake, French styling doesn't constitute flair! French cars only exist to make the Germans' latest efforts look less horrible.
Tim McGaha on May 19, 2009 at 01:49 PM
My first car was a '78 Datsun B210. It looked like ten kinds of hell, but it ran. Never had any trouble with the engine. Had the driveshaft fall out on me once ... it was rattling fit to die, then the rear joint siezed up, SPING! Relatively easy to fix, though. Had to replace the clutch plate once, a two-hour job for a man with the right skills and equipment, but a twelve-hour job for two fools with hand tools. My brother and I were the latter. But I must say that the shifter was smooth as glass. From that day to this I haven't driven one I've liked better.
Singh on June 02, 2009 at 02:17 PM
I bought my new B210 1978 in March of 1979 for $3495. It was a basic car - 2 door, no radio, no AC, no auto transmission. The gas mileage was excellent - about 31 miles around town and 41 miles on the freeway.
I drove it for the next almost 17 years and put around 140,000 miles on it before selling it. It was easy to drive and control. Even though it had only around 78 HP, considering its light weight, it had sufficient amount of power to accelerate relatively fast. Once I drove it to Seattle from San Jose (about 900 miles) with my family in a single day and it had no problems going over the mountains which go for almost 250 miles and some are pretty steep. The hatchback model was ugly. The sedan was good. I had to change the head gascut twice, about 50000 miles apart. Other than that it gave me no serious trouble. I maintained it myself. It was very reliable vehicle. I wish I had not sold it.
Tom McCarty on June 12, 2009 at 04:21 PM
I am looking for a 1979 - 1982 Datsun 210 5 speed manual trans.
Denis shem on July 02, 2009 at 08:12 AM
I just love the look on fellow drivers when i cruise past them.
payam allisonson on August 13, 2009 at 11:15 AM
i have already own a 1979datsun210 sedan with 413kmiles on clock and i owned that since 1997.its the best car i ever had.in all these years the only thing i have ever changed is waterpump.if you take agood care of those cars they will last for ever.my friend in melbourne australia owns one for 28 years with almost 750,000kilometers on the clock.
Rafael on September 06, 2009 at 06:25 PM
I have a 1981 Datsun 210 2door sedan, and i need some body parts. Front Bumper Filler, Cowl Grille Vent, Rear Bumper Filler. Someone hepl me please. ThankYou.
Danny Dela Montanye on November 07, 2009 at 12:16 PM
I had the best Dastun B210 in my time(1977) I was 17 yrs. old at the time, worked as a gas attendant for Mobil corp. @Mobil Adelup Guam. I was making over 10cents an hour over the current minimum wage wich was $2.35/hr. I just went into a Datsun dealer, put$5.00 down to hold this B210 on the display. It had 4 magwheels, rear window lubbers, c.b. radio, I latter installed 4 channel casseter radio, racing steering wheels, raised the back with shackel bars, put on 60 series formula tires, had it tinted silver, It was looking good with the girl at JFK SR. High school where I presumably attend but was barely enrolled. I was paying $142.00 on my monthly payment with bank of hawaii back then.
Then on 12/77 got into my friends 68 Camarro with 400 ci engine equiped with headers, mag-wheels,and other racing gears, it was a race car previously. We hit the 95 mph speedlimit on the speedometer, then bammm, knocked down a tel.pole, I flew out through the windshield landed 20ft away, I was found barely alive, got rushed to the only hospital in Guam, had an emergency trecheostomy, was in coma for about 3 months Dec.77-March78 Woke up with blank memeory, can't speak or walk due to fractured left leg.
My room at the hospital was lined up with people to visit me, mostly girls from my school(JFK)
buj on April 29, 2010 at 07:10 AM
i owned this b-210...but, in green... it was the worst car...with the a/c on it didn't have enough power to go up a hill... it was ok on the flats though... the a/c was crap... the build quality was good and it did last for about 80k miles...till i sold it... i don't remember exactly...but...the mpg wasn't all that great either...
Jason Hagey on May 05, 2010 at 09:49 PM
Yes, they're ugly. But there was at least one insanely fast, tube-frame 210 race car that used to do battle at Portland International Raceway.
http://www.ztherapy.com/bios/images/b210b.jpg
Steve on June 11, 2010 at 08:00 AM
I had a 1976 B210. Turquoise with a white vinyl roof.
Yes, this little rear wheel drive was a blast to drive in winter.
Rusted out badly though and I had to get rid of it in 1984
Danpaine on June 11, 2010 at 08:23 PM
Had a 78'. Got it in 84'. That worn brown color, and rust. Beat to crap.....but, after new engine, paint, brakes, lights and pretty much everything else (like maybe $1200 total), I Loved it. Then it got stolen from in front of my dorm room in 1987. A hard day, that was.
BILL J on September 01, 2010 at 11:40 PM
I JUST PURCHASED THE YELLOW ONE (HATCHBACK) WITH THE A14 ENGINE...IT'S VERY ORIGINAL AND THE ONLY THING IT DOES NOT HAVE ARE THE HUB CAPS...57,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE ODOMETER.. I WAS ABLE TO BUY IT FOR $400.00 DOLLARS.. I WILL PAINT IT BRIGHT YELLOW BUT KEEP EVERYTHING ELSE ORIGINAL...SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA HAS KEPT THIS VEHICLE FROM RUSTING... I LOVE MY 1977 DATSUN B-210....
payam boshehry on March 07, 2011 at 11:02 AM
i have a 1977 datsun b210 gx with 5 speed manuel and 400 plus kmiles on the clock and the engine still has not been touched these cars are amazingley mechanicaly solid
wineshine on June 11, 2011 at 03:58 AM
My first NEW car! Not sure how I ended up buying one, but it was 1976, I was living in West Palm Beach and had my first real good paying job. I remember the sticker being around $3600, which in retrospect, seems kind of expensive. Maybe it was the "upcharge" in light of the gas crunch. What I remember most about the car: Slow as molasses, took forever to get up to highway speed, tight fit for a 6'1" guy like me, tin can gauge metal body, and my CB radio of ocurse! But it was solid with no rattles or squeaks. I remember many trips from FL to NY, straight through, before I-95 was fully completed. The good old days.
CHOPPERGIRL on April 06, 2012 at 06:53 PM
B210 was the Japaense Volkwagen... solid, lightweight, with an engine that was a swiss watch. Very simple car, with lots of tool clearance, very roomy, and parts were cheap for it. A great Model T style car. You could get to everything under the dash and inside the engine bay, compared to garbage designed cars of today...
The body was lightweight, and the little 4 cyclinder was zippy, which gave it a power to weight ratio of 23pounds per hp, that of a Mustang II.
So much fun to drift in, the steering wheel was as light as a butterfly (no power steering).
Best looking B210 ever:
http://zero.peachcountry.com/photos/index.htm