The Datsun B-210 - "Nifty-Fifty"

[Cheap!]

I still miss my 1991 Geo metro three cylinder that got 61 mpg even before I knew about coasting to the red light.

[brucem5755]

Laugh! Mine had a big ol rust hole in the floor board under my feet also! Wouldn't stop running though!

Bruce

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ibcs @ Nov 30 2006, 05:34 PM) [snapback]355952[/snapback]</div>

Had air conditioning through the floor board and the dust was free.
[/b]

[hobbit]

My second car was a 710, which was more or less a 210 with a bigger
engine. Rear-wheel drive, tin death trap, no weight over the back
tires, grabby clutch -- an absolute blast in the snow! I have no
idea what the MPG was, though.
.
_H*

[mmoncur]

My second car was a B210 sedan handed down from my parents... I have no idea what its mileage was, gas was affordable back then!

[Pinto Girl]

I'm always a sucker for those goofy 1960's-70's option packages...

How about the B210 Honeybee...?!?

[attachmentid=8408]

Still looking for a Mint Sprint Pinto.
[smile]

[Tempus]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Nov 30 2006, 04:57 PM) [snapback]355891[/snapback]</div>

My wife tells me about the VW diesel Rabbit her father used to drive during his traveling sales back in the day...it go over 50mpg...but the emissions, noise, etc compared to the modern vehicles of today must've been attrocious.
[/b]

Yeah, I had one.

48 HP, no A/C, and 0-60 on flat ground was in the 17 second range.

Going uphill was definitely a zen patience exercise.

However, it was tailgate-proof. No matter how annoyed the guy behind you got, all you had to do was downshift and floor it. It didn't actually go any faster but it laid down a Dark Black Smoke-Screen that would have had James Bond peeing his pants in envy.

And yes, it could easily get 50 MPG+ under the right circumstances.

It's funny. Those were in such demand during the gas crisis that they were being stolen and shipped to Mexico by the truckload. I came out one day and found only a pile of glass and one of my door speaker covers left.

[blownb310]

Originally Posted by Beryl Octet

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JasonCon @ Nov 30 2006, 02:51 PM) [snapback]355847[/snapback]</div>

That seems like incredible mileage for one of those, by '77 it would have had catalytic converters and other fun stuff that some companies hadn't quite figured out.

Hi all, I am enjoying this thread, despite its age. I am a former Datsun master technician and would like to clarify the catalytic converter comment above. Actually, only the California market B210's had catalytic converters in '77. The other 49 state cars [right up through the '79 Datsun 210] did not get cats until 1980. I know because I worked at a Datsun dealer back then and had a '79 210 that still was a regular gas car [no inlet restrictor in the fuel filler either]. The NJ state inspection station tried to fail me for removing the unleaded gas inlet restrictor. Of course this was not true, so I told them to look it up in their book. I was right and they passed me on the spot.

For what it's worth, I am entering an Economy Run event this Sunday with my '77 B210 and am expecting to surpass the 50 mpg mark. Stay tuned.

Mike

[Spectra]

Who knew that anyone would grow nostalgic over those old Datsuns?!
Mine pre-dated the B-210.

It was a '72 Datsun 1200 -- the boxy sedan body, as opposed to the fastback. With an automatic. A real chick magnet!

Living in western NC, my AM commute started with a steep grade up the mt. I'd floor that baby & creep up the hill at 25 mph. Allowing it to shift into 2nd lost me any negligible momentum that had developed, and I'd be back in 1st again.

But, life was simpler: It was the late 70's, and Ahmedinijad (sp?) was still practicing his hostage-taking techniques.

[tochatihu]

I was looking for a Datsun wagon of that era, but somehow ended up instead with a 1966 Mercedes sedan with the top half of the engine conveniently located in the trunk. Some assembly required

[bazineta]

Originally Posted by efusco

My wife tells me about the VW diesel Rabbit her father used to drive during his traveling sales back in the day...it go over 50mpg...but the emissions, noise, etc compared to the modern vehicles of today must've been attrocious.

My brother had one of those. Fantastic mileage. Great car in the summer. In the winter, blocked grill, engine block heater, battery blanket, synthetic oil, park it with the hood in the sun.....and even then, you had one shot -- if it didn't start on the first try, you were walking.