22nd Dec 2006, 12:04

I used to enter my B210 in SCCA Solo II races, and was pretty successful with it. The B210 is still a pretty common race car in autocrossing. I could get the stock car up to about 110mph, and with the right tires and stiffer shocks, it handled well too. I got rid of it with 225,000 miles on it.

25th Dec 2006, 19:35

I had a '75 B-210 4-speed from 1982 to 1986. The 1400cc push-rod engine had 80,000 miles on it and was pretty tired when I bought it. Before long it was being followed by a cloud of blue smoke wherever it went. I imagine the previous owners weren't aware that oil had to be changed from time to time. Top speed on the straight and level was around 85 mph.

I swapped in a used 1300cc engine that had been shipped in from Japan, and had none of the emissions junk on it that the previous engine had. What a difference. Top speed was now 113 mph (I was young and stupid back then), but to reach that speed I needed Nebraska.

The transmission was a gem, very smooth and easy to shift. The heater was useless on cold winter days, but not bad when temperatures were above say, minus ten Celsius. I found the seats comfortable, the controls laid out efficiently and the handling not bad. There was some body roll, but not nearly as much as that of the domestic land yachts of the day.

Visibility to the rear was not very good, since this car was not the hatchback version, but rather, had a trunk and very wide B-pillars.

I was using it to commute long distances in south-eastern Alberta while working on drilling rigs, and on those long, straight and low-traffic density routes, this car was driven at the upper end of its velocity range quite routinely.

But eventually this habit caught up to me and I managed to break the rings on one of the pistons, and given the car's overall condition and value, as well as my large pay cheques, I elected to sell it (for very cheap in light of the required engine work) to an interested individual.

10th Apr 2007, 08:26

I purchased a used, 1976 B210 in 1984 with 99,000 miles on it. It was a two door coupe with an automatic transmission. Originally orange in color, the previous owner had it repainted silver.

I owned this car for five years. It was odd-looking and slow, but it was the toughest little car I have ever owned and it was the car that convinced me that Japanese cars offered superior quality when compared to domestic cars.

My B210 had one major breakdown - a water pump seized and the head was damaged. I repaired the car myself and drove it for two more years. Aside from an un-repairable carburetor and some rust issues, I cannot find any mechanical fault to complain about.

Because of my experience with this car, I have purchased five Nissan and four Toyota cars since I sold the B210 in 1989. In my opinion, the B210 may have been ugly, but it is one of the best built cars ever produced.

1st Jun 2007, 06:25

Had a 77 B210, my first new car. I lived in Chicago and the little car would start right up in -20 degree cold, however due to a fuel filter problem which I could never fix in my 3 years owning the car it would stall out when the weather was 80 degrees or above. I loved it though and ran it hard, great gas mileage and yes you could hit 100 mph on the highway, just never kept it there for long. I've had many cars since then, but I think back often to my little red B210 with fond memories.

2nd Jun 2007, 19:59

I just picked up a 1976 B210 from the junk yard. I have no idea why it was there. The thing starts right up, has original paint and interior. Very little body rust. This seems to be a great car, but unfortunately, I do not believe it will last long. You see, I race demolition derby cars, and this little B210 is about to see some head on collisions. I have never run a Datsun before, but my years of derby racing has taught me what to look for, and this car has it all. I am considering finding one with a title to buy and use as a commuter car. Please wish the little B210 the best of luck and the longest life possible.

29th Nov 2007, 15:52

I bought a 1974 Datsun B210 Hatchback back when I was in college in 1985-87. I remember that when I folded down the back seat I had TONS of room for what I took to college. I was able to put everything in one trip by using the passengers seat as well. When heading to Montreat going up the mountain I would have to down shift often to keep going up, but with the gas mileage I was getting I couldn't complain. The car handled well in the snow and it was a joy to drive. I made some additions to it, truck horns, cb/pa, additional windshield washers that shot water straight ahead and to the left and right. My college friends referred to it as my James Bond car. I had a blast with that car and am trying to get one now, some 20 years later. If anyone has one for sale send me an e mail Markster725@gmail.com Looking for the hatchback manual version.

Hey, it's now 25 April 2011, and I have 2 77 B210 Hatchbacks. I found one on craigslist and went up to Nebraska to pick it up. About a 5 hour trip from where I live. It cost me 700.00, and I took it for a spin and it was fine; just somebody had started restoring it and got upset I guess.

After I had that back home, I started to fiddle with it and I saw another one at work at a different building. I left a note and told the owner if he ever wanted to sell it, let me know. He called one day, and for 200.00 I got that one. I plan to make one good one out of these two. I take turns driving my 2002 VW and one of the 77 Datsuns. It's so funny when driving the Datsun; I have actually seen people's jaws drop because they have never seen such a strange looking car.

3rd Dec 2007, 19:50

I just bought a 1974 B-210 Hatchback with original teal paint and dents 360 degrees around. For $150 I could not be happier!

It's a little rocket ship on wheels... contrary to other reports this baby moves out fast and fits my 6'5 frame with comfort! The ceiling is a bit low so I plan to take the hatch window and put it up front where the roof is, slant it up a bit and square off the back end. It's a joy to drive and even though it was moments away from the junkyard the gas mileage is still in the upper 30's. Some laugh and say it's an eye sore, but, this car has the spirit of a Sea Biscuit and I believe more guts than any plastic out there today.