While the Miata is the go-to Japanese distillation of the traditional British roadster, today’s Nice Price or No Dice Datsun proves it wasn’t the first. Let’s see if this handsome droptop comes with a price that instills some interest.
The 1999 Land Rover Discovery II we looked at yesterday offered both impressively high and remarkably low mileage. The high was in the form of its 213,000-mile odometer reading, and the low is by way of the 13 to 17 mpg the truck gets making those miles. Another low was the $7,500 asking, which many of you felt was an OK price, but could be better spent elsewhere. The result was a narrow 52 percent No Dice loss.
That Disco drew the curtain to a close on 2024, and now that we are in the uncertain future of 2025, we should ease our communal perturbation by looking back on simpler times and a comparably simple car—maybe something like this 1966 Datsun 1600 ‘Fairlady’ Roadster.
It’s a common misconception that the Datsun Roadster is a carbon copy of Britain’s MGB. The fact of the matter is that the Japanese marque introduced the SP310 Fairlady in 1961, a few months prior to the MGB’s debut. Both cars were, for the time, a modern take on the traditional two-seat open-top sports car, with roll-up windows, a fairly easy-to-erect convertible top, and reasonably sporty handling. Initially, Datsun gave its car a 1500 cc OHV inline-four, borrowed from the Cedric saloon and making 85 horsepower in dual-carb form.
For 1966, Datsun bumped the displacement by 100 ccs and rebadged the model as the 1600 to denote the larger motor. That increase in displacement nudged the power up to 96 horses, which is one more than the contemporary MGB could muster from its 1800 cc B-Series four. A 2.0-liter Roadster hit the market a year later, offering even more power. Both 1600 and 2000 models continued production until early 1970 when the S30 240Z superseded them.
This 1600 is advertised as a “Clean, rust-free, California garaged car.” It’s claimed to be mostly all original, although there are some notable exceptions. The paint is an older respray and, as evidenced by the massive overspray on the boot lid weather seal, it was an Earl of Scheib-quality job. Other issues include failing rubber scrapers on the door tops and some janky-looking speakers that have been mounted through holes cut in the front wall of the boot.
On the flip side, the car looks to be solid, has all its trim, and features what look like new tires, save for the spare. Most importantly, the engine is said to be 1000K fresh. A new clutch, brakes, and shocks come with that rebuilt motor.
The interior looks perfectly habitable, although the Pep Boys steering wheel cover might need a re-thought. Everything else appears to be in decent condition, and it all comes under a convertible top that, while not shown in the ad, is claimed to be in “good shape.” All wrapped up, it comes with a clean title and just 64K on the clock.
That all makes this a perfect turn-key classic for someone on a budget. It does, that is, if said budget can swing the seller’s $11,500 asking price. Five or ten years ago that would have been crazy money to ask for a 1600 Roadster. Heck, it would have been a stretch for the later 2000s, too. Times have changed, however, and the Fairlady has gained a sizable following, perhaps pulled along by the crazy increase in popularity the Z cars have seen. That means we must consider this 1600’s perceived value with fresh eyes.
With that in mind, what’s your take on this 1600 Roadster and that $11,500 asking? Does that seem fair, given the rebuilt mill and overall decent presentation? Or does that make this one unfair lady?
You decide!
San Francisco Bay Area, California, Craigslist, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to Paul Brenden for the hookup!
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