Welcome back! Today we’re spending a few more imaginary dollars, but I think you’ll agree that it’s worth it. I’ve got two very cool classic Japanese imports to show you. Neither one is perfect, but either one could be the perfect fun car for the right buyer.
I didn’t know what to expect yesterday; I thought maybe the BMW would run away with it despite its weird paint job and soul-sucking automatic. But as it turns out, the vote was nearly a tie. The Infinifi M30 took the win by a mere three votes. Clearly, you all had a tough time deciding between these two.
I would have a tough time, too. The Infinti would be the nicer car to own, true, but it doesn’t really do anything for me. It’s interesting because it’s rare, but otherwise it’s dull. Also, I cut my automotive teeth on old German cars, but I haven’t owned one in about thirty years. I get the itch for another one every so often. That particular BMW is probably not what I would choose, but it appeals to me more.
All right, let’s up the ante a bit. These two are both around seven grand, which is still pretty cheap for a good-running fun car these days. And they’re not the same stuff you see all the time. You’ll also be happy to know that after yesterday’s slushboxes, I took pity on you and chose two manuals. Let’s check them out.
1965 Datsun 1500 Sports – $7,000
Engine/drivetrain: 1.5-liter overhead valve inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Rafael, CA
Odometer reading: 29,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well, but needs a little brake work
If you’re looking at this car and thinking, “Datsun? Surely not; that’s an MGB if I ever saw one,” you could be forgiven. British sports cars were at the top of their game in the 1960s, and Nissan had a long history with British engineering already. It had been building Austin engines under license since the 1930s. I’m certain that the MGB was a benchmark when designing this car, the second-generation Datsun roadster.
Its 1.5 liter engine is not a direct copy of the BMC-Austin B-series, but it certainly is a similar design, right down to its twin SU-style carburetors. It makes 85 horsepower, plenty for a lightweight little roadster like this, at least back in the 1960s. This car has only 29,000 original miles on it, and the seller says it runs and drives “wonderfully.” It has recently developed a leaky rear brake wheel cylinder, but the seller includes a rebuild kit, so if you’re handy, you can have it sorted out in no time.
Inside, it has one modification, but I’m sure it’s an improvement: the original seats have been replaced by Recaro seats from a Volkswagen GTI. The original seats are included, but it sounds like you’d have to have them redone if you wanted to put them back in. The rest of the interior looks a little sun-beaten, and the dash has some cracks, but it’s all functional. It also includes a tonneau cover, which probably doesn’t fit over the VW seats, and a factory hard top, which might.
It’s all original outside, and obviously has been well cared-for. Old paint that has been waxed dozens of times has a luster to it that you can’t get any other way. Sure, it has some chips and scrapes, but it would be a sin to have it repainted. If it were me, though, I might remove the road-rally decal. If it were on the door, it would be cool, but it looks weird on the front fender.
1979 Mazda RX-7 – $6,500
Engine/drivetrain: 1.2-liter two-rotor Wankel rotary, five-speed manual, RWD
Location: San Leandro, CA
Odometer reading: 21,000 miles (might have rolled over)
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Once upon a time, the Wankel rotary engine was going to be the engine of the future. NSU produced a version for its RO-80 sedan, General Motors was developing one, and AMC had plans to power its Pacer with one. But only one company really picked up the idea of a rotary engine and ran with it: Mazda. Everything from luxury coupes to pickup trucks to a passenger bus (yes, really) were powered by Mazda’s magical spinning triangles at one time. But by the late 1970s, Mazda had figured out that the high-revving, low-torque Wankel was really best suited for sports cars, like its new RX-7.
This early RX-7 is powered by a 12A rotary engine, displacing 1146 cubic centimeters. It’s fed by an aftermarket Weber side-draft carburetor, and has a Racing Beat performance exhaust. I’m guessing that its characteristic rotary “braaaaap” noise is a bit louder than stock. It also has been upgraded to disc brakes in the rear, and has a limited-slip rear differential. The seller says it runs and drives well, though the carb “could use a cleaning.” I have heard that these Weber carbs can be a little fussy to tune; there’s a chance it’s just out of adjustment. Then again, it’s on non-op registration, so maybe it just needs a little exercise.
The odometer reads only 21,000 miles, but I have a feeling it has rolled over, looking at the interior. It’s not badly worn, but that driver’s seat has seen more than 21,000 miles. Overall, though, it looks good. I wish we had more than this one photo of the inside, but I have come to expect disappointment from the photos in online ads. They’ll show you everything you don’t care about, and nothing you want to see.
Outside, it’s got shiny paint and a nice set of Panasport wheels with new tires. It looks like there might be a little discoloration in the paint, but it might just be a reflection. You’d have to see it in person to find out.
Cheap cars are a lot of fun, but there is something to be said for spending a little bit more and getting something that’s really nice. Both of these still need a little tinkering, so it’s not like there’s nothing to do, but you’re not starting with a barn find or a basket case. These two, you could show off the first weekend you get them, and feel good about it. Which one suits you better?
I wanted this to be a “why not both?” deal. I really like the first-gen RX7 and I think it’s a beautiful car. However, I live in California and there’s no way on God’s green earth I’m going to try and smog an exhaust-belching rotary.
As long as I can actually fit in the Datsun I’d be ready to go. The roof would NEVER go up! I’m not so sure about the seats but that can be changed fairly cheaply.
A bit off topic, but recently the polls have stopped working on Firefox for me. The thing for voting is completely absent both on Mac and mobile, sadly.
The Datsun came out the same year as the (uglier) MGB and IIRC, even beat it to market by a couple months, though the design was surely finalized well before, either way. It’s just a case of convergent design. This claim that it’s a “Japanese MGB”, while they do look very similar is some old Eurocentric thing that won’t die, like the (much worse) one that the 240Z or 2000GT is somehow a “Japanese E-Type” when they’re no more like it than any other long hood sports car or GT of the time and none of those similar European contemporaries get accused of being copies (plus, the 2000GT is MASSIVELY better looking than the E-Type, especially in person).
Rotaries are torqueless, gas-sucking, short-lived, polluting garbage and the original RX7 is not worth the effort to swap in a proper engine, so I’m going Datsun. Can’t recall the last time I saw one that wasn’t in pristine, restored condition, but it has to have been decades. It looks like a low-worries summer runabout (other than the general worry about all the idiots approximately operating their mobile mountains while staring at their phones) that can be fixed up on the fly (like reupholstering the original seats for reinstallation).
I’ve always fancied a Datsun roadster, and while the 1500 is not my favorite model, this one looks great and I like the wheels/hubcaps. Would definitely fix up the original seats and swap them in though. Those modern seats ruin the look.
Someone in the comments here was just talking about transplanting a Miata drivetrain into a Datsun roadster. Don’t know how to look them up though…
I’d bet a good chunk of change that the Mazda is titled “inop” because there’s no way to smog it – rotaries without cats(or thermal reactors, for us oldsters) are unbelievably good at polluting. My old RX-2 with a similar motor setup(48 IDA downdraft Weber, Racing Beat header) would max out the smog machine for HC at the place I worked.
Finding “a guy” who will do bogus smogs is not easy like it used to be. And there’s such a rat’s nest of vacuum devices and the world’s most complex carburetor on RX7’s of that vintage, if you don’t have every bit of it, you’re screwed. On the upside, that era of 12A were quite reliable, the apex seals were usually good for over 100K miles. Downside is, many parts to rebuild them are NLA including, I believe the aluminum housings.
I’ve driven one of these early RX-7’s. My uncle is the one and only owner of his meticulously mainatined silver over black model.
If maintained, and running well, they are a ***damn delight.
I know nothing about the older car, but if this red RX-7 is running and has no major issues, and I had room for it, I’d call the owner, buy a plane ticket, and buy it right now.
With a hard choice between two cars from my past today’s a day for “both”.
My brother bought a year-old ’81 RX-7 as his first grown-up car after graduating high school, getting angry and rejecting college, and getting a job in a mobile home factory. He never let me take it out, but he doesn’t let his wife drive his Grand Cherokee L, either, so that s just a thing.
I had a ’68 Datsun 1600 as my daily when I had to take a year off from college. It was a blast to drive once I got used to the signal stalk being on the wrong side for LHD, and it never left me stranded for very long (it had a hot start issue and a bump idle, so there was the occasional waiting after the occasional stall.) A 2000 with a fifth gear would have been better, I guess, but it was plenty fun as it was.
Maybe I should pick mystery over history, and I might if I knew the RX had an air conditioner (closed cars don’t seem right without one), but despite the absence of a chrome luggage rack and a vertically-oriented radio (made up for by the “Fairlady” badge my 1600 lacked), spring’s here and the Datsun has my vote.
I do feel like the Mazda is pretty clean for what it is, I am somewhat unsure what and Inop Title means, especially if I am getting it transferred out of Cali. but i am sure it is still not a huge deal. I even like the styling better, but the Datsun is something I have never had the chance to drive. Honestly I am not sure a 6 foot man can fit in either, but likely the Datsun is worse in this regard. Still i would want to try, and I think I could detail it enough to flip it for a bit more if I truly hated it.
The RX-7 because it seems like the path of least resistance, and it would be a hoot to drive.
I’ve never had a Wankel, and this RX-7 at least looks nice. The dash on the Datsun would just sap my soul constantly. Make mine the Mazda.
Than buy this car.
I don’t need another car at this time. I just voted what I would choose if I were to pick between these two.
The only thing scarier then an angry dorito is an ancient angry dorito
Honestly, I like both. I really like the first gen RX-7s and I really like the 1500s. I went with the Mazda since it appears to need less of an investment.
I like RX-7s, and I voted for this one even if it’s not a car that I’d keep around. The Datsun is interesting, but the body style isn’t appealing to me. I prefer the 2000’s proportions.
Both is the answer, but if I have to choose, I’ll go flying Dorito for the win.
I’ve got a 13B sitting in the shed… I wonder if it would fit in the Datsun?
This RX-7 has been for sale for quite awhile. Makes you wonder what’s not being said, as it looks like a pretty good deal.
It’s in the Bay Area, so I’d strongly wager that it won’t pass the required smog inspection.
RX7 for me… better support and more knowledge out there for it. And I simply like it more.
All it needs is to have the air filter box stuck back on.
I hate when I see open carbs like that RX has. Would an air filter really affect performance that much? Like a rotary needs another reason to eat its apex seals….
Back in ’69-70 one of the teachers in my high school drove a red Datsun 1500. I never had her as a teacher but I imagine she would’ve been more fun than the ones who drove sedans.
I’d be for the Datsun if it was a 2000 Roadster. Though you could always swap in something else, like a high-revving version of the SR20DE, or even a bridgeported rotary if you wanted to, given its age, it doesn’t need to be smogged in CA. So I changed my vote to the Datsun in this case.
I had an ’81 RX-7 GSL and was thoroughly underwhelmed by that car’s performance. Sure, the rotary is cool as hell and makes fun noises, but my Miatas were better “sports” cars IMHO. I also hate the taillights on the ’79s.
The Datsun seems like it would be more fun, but they are both pricey for what they are.
I’m a Mazda fanboy but I’m going to have to go Datsun on this one. The little roadster isn’t something that pops up often and would make a great weekend cruiser. Although the first project would be to swap out the ridiculous looking seats. The second would be removing the Autocross sticker.
The RX is almost certainly the better car in pretty much all regards (except apex-seal repair) but I’ll have to pass on this time.
I really want a rotary car in my life, just not THAT rotary car. The Datsun is really cool and I am going to have to choose it this time.