Datsun 180B - What's the story?

[sw4rm]

On the lookout for a cheapish runaround is Sydney, Australia. Only real factors are: Manual, RWD, under $4000. Looking for something quite interesting and a bit different from what I owned back home. (mr2, 328i touring, ibiza cupra). Won't be doing too many miles, sorry, km's. and doesn't need to be quick.

A little 180B has popped up on gumtree and looks in reasonable condition.
Does anyone have any knowledge of these?

To be honest I've been hanging on for a decent manual volvo 240(seems to be a lot of autos around) but this has come up and looks quite cool in an uncool sort of way.

[Veeayt]

Rust? In Sydney?

[sw4rm]

No doubt rust will be an issue. It's currently in Sydney however I don't know if it's always lived so close to the seawater. If it's been inland for most of it's life it may still have intact pieces of metal attached.

Here's the ad link anyway in case anyone is interested.
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/sydney-city/cars-va...

[Wild Rumpus]

I sat (and passed) my driving test in a 1979 one of those. They were reasonably quick for the year (102mph, 12second 0-60), the engines and gearboxes go on for ever, they rust badly and the ride/handling isn't up to the standards set by European cars from the same time (excluding the Marina/Ital which was worse!).

[irocfan]

this'd be kinda (retro) cool

[Google [bot]]

I'd be adding air conditioning to my criteria.

[Reardy Mister]

bks. Look for a 200B.

Hilarious cars. If you can find a minter, it will give you legendary status. When I was 17 in Perth a mate a 180b and a 200b. We got the heads done and a cam put in it and used to rag it round our suburb and on spare blocks of land before we had our licenses.

4k should get you a half decent one, surely?

If you're really brave, see if you can find an orange 120Y!

[Biker's Nemesis]

4000 Dollars for a heap of st?

How much are new cars out there?

[dave stew]

When my parents first emigrated 25 years ago, my Mum had a white 180B which I used to drive when I visited. Felt very 1970s - slack steering, decent direct gear change and that patina and smell of an old interior! Go for it - they should be quite rare by now...

[sw4rm]

Biker's Nemesis said:

4000 Dollars for a heap of st?

How much are new cars out there?

There are no £500 e36's. The performance bargains are few and far between.

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep looking although may go see the 180 as it's not far away.

[Colonial]

Biker's Nemesis said:

4000 Dollars for a heap of st?

How much are new cars out there?

Let me put it this way.

For AU50K, about 32,000 quid, you can have a brand new Golf R, or a 2005 BMW M3.

It's not new cars as such. It's the price of used cars.

I sold a 1994 BMW 318i sedan in 09. 280,000kms on the clock, perished plastic etc etc. It sold for $4,600AU.

[Google [bot]]

But a new M3 is almost exactly double the UK cost. VW's are great value here and I haven't worked out why.

[Colonial]

Google [bot] said:

But a new M3 is almost exactly double the UK cost. VW's are great value here and I haven't worked out why.

True.

A S3 and a 135i are both around 20k more than the R as well.

But we are getting distracted.

What's the difference between a 180B and a 200B? About 20 mistakes.

[spadgm]

Nah go for the 200B, its like the 180B but with 20 more mistakes!

[Colonial]

sw4rm said:

On the lookout for a cheapish runaround is Sydney, Australia. Only real factors are: Manual, RWD, under $4000. Looking for something quite interesting and a bit different from what I owned back home. (mr2, 328i touring, ibiza cupra). Won't be doing too many miles, sorry, km's. and doesn't need to be quick.

A little 180B has popped up on gumtree and looks in reasonable condition.
Does anyone have any knowledge of these?

To be honest I've been hanging on for a decent manual volvo 240(seems to be a lot of autos around) but this has come up and looks quite cool in an uncool sort of way.

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/alfa-ro...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/mitsubi...

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/holden-c...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/toyota-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/ford-fa...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/datsun-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/ford-fa...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/holden-...

[Steff1965]

irocfan said:

this'd be kinda (retro) cool

That's quite nice even with the front bar in a funny sort of way.

[sw4rm]

Colonial said:

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/alfa-ro...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/mitsubi...

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/holden-c...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/toyota-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/ford-fa...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/datsun-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/ford-fa...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/holden-...

You're a star. Not a fan of the commys but that alfa is pretty!

[Reardy Mister]

Colonial said:

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/alfa-ro...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/mitsubi...

http://www.carsales.com.au/dealer/details/holden-c...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/nissan-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/toyota-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/ford-fa...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/datsun-...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/ford-fa...

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/details/holden-...

Some ok cars there! I would avoid the Alfa, if you think they're hard/epensive to fix here, try it there (I had one); the AU Falcons were remarkable only for being st, the Sigma was surprisingly good for a bitsash!tty, especially the 2.6l, but they sucked a lot of juice for the how much power you got in return (my best mate had one). Much like the VS 5.0l Commodore actually (I had one of them too). The VT will be a better car but it has the same engine (you can get this shape with a 5.7l Gen III). The EF Falcon was probably an old Taxi, though the miles vs engine rebuild don't quite stack up, unless it was clocked at the engine re-build. These shouldn't need a rebuild after only those kms unless they've been seriously abused. Sure, it was re-built for performance but that list of mods tells you its been abused since the re-build, for definite.

Of the lot, I would have the White VT V8 Commodore first, then the black Supra, then the white 300zx.

Check the two japs aren't grey imports, because while Australian cars of their type can be repaired fairly easily, the grey imports cant always. Sellers will tell you they're exactly the same, but often they're not. Different specs, slightly different parts used and even different mix of alloys used in the engine for Japanese conditions vs Australian ones on some vehicles.

Basically, you really cant go far wrong with the VT V8 Dunnydoor.

Except you'll look like a bogan.

Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 27th November 09:10

Edited by Reardy Mister on Tuesday 27th November 09:25

[Wild Rumpus]

Google [bot] said:

I'd be adding air conditioning to my criteria.

They come as standard with what an Australian colleague referred to as a "4-O-60" aircon system" - 4 windows open at 60kmh!