Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Negative Creep · Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Plymouth

First of I should say that don't be expecting bare metal resprays or nut and bolt restorations. I know I won't be keeping the car as I'm off to New Zealand in November so am trying to save up for that. If I weren't going I'd keep this car forever and get it into show condition, but as it is I'm focusing on keeping it running and in good condition. So it hasn't and won't change much from the original pictures.

Anyway: the story. I was bored one night and browsing ebay when I noticed it at £700 with one bid and about to end. It looked good and the seller had decent feedback (although I'm sure we all know that's no indication of a car being good) so I took a chance and bided a grand, it ending at £720. Not entirely sure why, I already had an MX5 which was an awesome car and I knew very little about the 120 beyond loving the crazy rear styling and it appearing in my Worst Cars Ever Sold in Britain. So I went up to collect a 34 year old car I hadn't looked at and knew little about. The seller turned out to be an incredibly nice bloke who showed me round the car and even put it up on a ramp for me to prove how solid it was underneath. This is what it looked like just after purchase

Coming from an MX5 to a steering box, strap belts, vinal seats and leaf springs was a bit of a shock and performance can euphemistically be described as 'leisurely'. First thing I had to sort was the stereo as I could not drive around with a 1 speaker mw/lw radio! So I fitted a Pioneer ipod stereo, 4 speakers and an underseat sub. I've fitted it all in the tray so is rather subtle, doesn't involve modifying the dash and can be removed if needed. Plus a handsfree as I use my phone a lot for work and would rather be safe and legal than 100% period

Next change was the mirrors. Having just one wasn't very safe and plus I hate anything asymmetrical. So I bought some wing mirrors from a classic car shop; again not 100% accurate but I think they suit the car quite well

Aside from service items the only things that have broken are the water pump and radiator, which both looked like the original items. The local garage do most of the work for me and they can't believe how good a condition it is inside and out and are certain the 40k on the clock is genuine. I'm going to try to find the money to respray that door and I do have a replacement passenger wing as the exiting one is scabby on top. If you look closely there is a dent in the bonnet where someone walked (yes, walked) across it one evening. Other than that it's going strong, the only broken bit is the clock.

Still haven't got tired of the attention it gets either as everyone from little kids to old people come up to ask about it. As far as I'm aware it's the only one in Devon, I've been told there are less than 20 saloons left on the roads but don't know if that's true. Also had more than one person tell me how much they like my Escort

Oh and I also got it in Classic Car Weekly, the editor contacted me as he loved the colour so much he had to use it!

So that's it for the last 6 months, but a big change is coming soon, so watch this space..........
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1975 Datsun 120Y
1986 Golf GTI 16v

Keith D · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:33 pm Post subject:

The condition of that baby Datsun is incredible. They were always very good mechanically, but they were dreadful rust buckets. The rust was very quickly terminal, even in the Australian climate.

Keep that one as nice and rust free as it is, because it is one extremely rare motor car! It is certainly a credit to the old owner(s).

Keith

47p2 · Joined: 24 Nov 2007 Posts: 2009 Location: Glasgow

It's nice to see an unmolested car
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

RotaryBri · Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 465 Location: Warwick

Negative Creep · Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Plymouth

As promised!

I now have some new wheels - some 14 inch chrome Wellers. If I don't say so myself they are brilliant, suit the car perfectly and sit at just the right distance in the arch. Talk about an instant transformation, I'm so chuffed you wouldn't believe. I got them on last night and have already had 2 people offer to buy the car straight off! Here are some rather awesome pictures as taken by my mate as well as one with his ke70 Corolla.

I'd like to think it's made the car look far better but also in keeping with the original style. They required no mods to fit and I still have the originals, but they always looked too dumpy and didn't sit properly. It also came with Yokohama Advan 032 road legal track tyres, which must rank as one of the most overkill tyre to power ratios in history!
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1975 Datsun 120Y
1986 Golf GTI 16v

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

Nice original car, about 15 mins ago have just seen a very nice 120Y light van, had never seen one before and it was really in very good condition and belove it or not with the same aftermarket wheels as yours!!
Was a sort of orangey mustard colour (a very 70s colour)!!

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22780 Location: UK

does it also have a big exhaust now too, or is that a bit of Photoshoppery?

R
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Rick - Admin
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bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

Thats not an exhaust rick look closer and then take a look at the pic before last!!! Razz

Negative Creep · Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Plymouth

It's still got the standard pea shooter exhaust but it's on the n/s of the car (you can see it in the low down shot.) You're probably seeing the boosoku ring, they fit them on cars in Japan. It's a grab handle off the Tokyo underground and we thought it would be a fun little addition to our cars
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1975 Datsun 120Y
1986 Golf GTI 16v

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22780 Location: UK

aha all becomes clear(ish)!! Smile

R
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

bob2 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 1728 Location: Malta

already had seen them fitted to other jap cars but why do you fit them, just for decoration I presume!!

Negative Creep · Joined: 08 Feb 2009 Posts: 10 Location: Plymouth

Some more updated daytime pictures, taken at the RAF museum. I love old planes so was chuffed to bits to get them both in the same shot!

I've got at least 3 shows lined up this year and have begun making it look as clean as possible. Sadly I'll have to sell it in a couple of months so will get as much packed in as possible
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1975 Datsun 120Y
1986 Golf GTI 16v

Keith D · Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:08 pm Post subject:

Very nice photos. That looks like the RAF museum in Hendon. If so, you're a fair way from home!!

Back in the days of the Hurricane and Spitfire, they would have actually been shooting at your Datsun!!

Keith

Ghost · Joined: 20 Apr 2009 Posts: 75

That is one very nice car. I like early Japanese stuff, both cars and motorcycles. The 1970's styling is confidant and non-conformist, if you see what I mean. Now all cars look the same, even Japanese ones.
If there are only 20 examples of the 120Y left, and those aeroplanes on sticks in the background are real and not fibreglass, then it could be your car is rarer than a Spitfire!

XL391 · Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject: