Tuesday 25th March 2014

Datsun 120Y sleeper: Time For Tea?

A GTI-engined AX is very cool but an old Datsun capable of 11-second quarter miles? Now then...

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The Australians can always be relied on for a good laugh. So in the spirit of the GTI-engined AX Chris wrote about, here's what appears to be a rather sweet and standard old Datsun 120Y. With a 300ZX engine in. And a bigger turbo.

There aren't any power figures disclosed in the video but, given its clocking sub-12 quarter miles, we would have to assume there's Quite A Lot. They aren't easy runs either by the looks of it, the car squirming and wriggling the entire way down. Of course there are gear changes to fit in too, making the process look really rather intimidating indeed.

The attention to detail in keeping this car looking as unaltered as possible is fabulous. There are bowls left on the parcel shelf, a beautifully beige original interior and unmodified bodywork. The LPG conversion maintains the illusion of this being an economical runaround.

The start of this vid is probably a bit too long, but it's worth it for seeing this magnificent motoring mongrel get to 120mph in 400m. Alright, the huge slicks give the game away once on the strip but this Datsun remains a very cool car. Top work lads!

Watch it here.

[threespires]

I sold these as new cars, not seen one for ages.

[Steamer]

Balls exposed on the back shelf?! I Say madam - thats a bit dangerous.

[Smitters]

That looks, um, wayward. I think this should probably pictured as the definition of sleeper, next time that old argument erupts.

[AC43]

I remember those in turquoise.

Meanwhile, that looks mental shifting into third and fourth. Plenty of oppo....

[Mermaid]

Bet it's reliable.

[greggy50]

That car looks really quite dangerous on the strip it would be fked at santa pod weaving around that much...

[Yiliterate]

My uncle had a 120Y and my dad a 120A. Both cars were the embodiment of the Colin Chapman philosophy of 'added lightness'; although in this case it was achieved through the process of oxidation and disintegration!

[Liquid Tuna]

Looks a right handful LOL

[bencollins]

Steamer said:

Balls exposed on the back shelf?! I Say madam - thats a bit dangerous.

Brake hard or frontal crash and these could kill the driver. Secure your luggage people!

[northwest monkey]

threespires said:

I sold these as new cars, not seen one for ages.

You have a lot to answer for

For some bizarre reason, back in the early 80s my father had one of these, my Grandad also had one and then my mother got what was definitely a Datsun, but was a 2-door hatchback version of one of these things. A bit like the BMW M Coupe, but st. I have no good memories of any of these cars whatsoever.

My grandads was turquoise, my fathers was white and my mothers was the colour of a baked bean.

Quite where I get my love of cars from is a bloody mystery to be honest.

[Dave Hedgehog]

so no traction issues then

[Chris Stott]

That looks mental... wheelspin in 4th gear... on slicks

[Ex Boy Racer]

Love the anti-static strip on the back!

[Pixelpeep]

Proper handful

love it!

[Jarama79]

'Dorothy loves lawn bowls'

Each to their own, but the transvestism seems a bit unnecessary. Or is 'drag racing' more literal in Australia?

Crazy car though, a proper dingo in sheep's clothing.

[Oddball RS]

Jarama79 said:

'Dorothy loves lawn bowls'

Each to their own, but the transvestism seems a bit unnecessary. Or is 'drag racing' more literal in Australia?

Crazy car though, a proper dingo in sheep's clothing.

Got to agree is the cross dressing related or just another hobby?

[Bill]

I wonder how good anytime it'd run if it went as the crow flies

[Planter]

Id love to see that thing try on standard tyres and not slicks, just to see it squirm!!

[carinaman]

Jarama79 said:

Crazy car though, a proper dingo in sheep's clothing.

Rabid and rapid.

[rohrl]

I didn't think a single 120Y survived. These things used to rot like a discarded banana skin.