HORSEPOWER BATTLE! Datsun Vs Commodore

[@glensubtorq]

Had several Datsun 1600 back in the 1990's. Miss them dearly now, were such great cars, worth a lot more now than I realised back then, should have kept at least one. Raced in the NSW Supersprint series 2-3ltr class. Last one was an ex-Bates Group G car, such a beast!

[@Blbbbb]

In the 80s I recall they were very competitive rally cars.

[@stevesteele3312]

My mothers boyfriend had 4, a ute, a sedan, a wagon and a coupe. The sedan is still at my mothers house, it’s a shame it hasn’t moved in 20 years, rusted into the ground with weeds growing through it and basically unrepairable. I can’t even tell where the ground ends and car starts anymore. He passed and my mother won’t sell it so it’s just a ornament now.

[@BlendLineTV]

The Datsun 1600 is still a killer car. We had one as a paddock basher of all things when growing up 😂 Not sure you'd do that now!

[@wyatturner6934]

I know the Datsun scene here in Oregon is actually very big. Been to a few meets. I hear Datsuns are hard to find East of the Rockies that aren't eaten by rust. Is that true?

[@ClwnJuNkY]

Sooo many cars I wish I never Sold . I have a 1966 riley elf now . Loving driving it every day

[@couttsy222]

Who woulda thunk it -- the Datto is quicker on the straights and the V8 Commodore appears better through the corners!!

[@davidkeep6526]

Go the Datto ! Back in the day it only took a pair of Webers, extractors and a bit of head work to have them embarrassing V8s ! Add a rollcage ,a grands worth of suspension and tyres and you are having fun in the rally set. Lend themselves hugely to DIY and cheap used parts utilizing. Love the Datto !😎👍

[@badm.d]

exactly! why all model dattos are the best fun

[@randomdude4669]

You know this is motor swapped and has a turbo right?

[@123fourfive5]

@@randomdude4669 You realise the 1600 was in the 60s and 70s, right? V8s then had fuck all power and the Japanese perfected their small displacement efficiency then. Engine wise, both are from the same era

[@randomdude4669]

@@123fourfive5 "fuck all power" you can still build a small block to smash modern motors with a carb and even old v8s still had a ton more power, they raced old datsuns in production racing and got smashed by v8s and larger i6s

[@youngrody2386]

@@randomdude4669 I remember someone mentioned that Camaros l, Mustangs and Corvettes dog walking Porsches since the 60s, I can imagine how uncompetetive Rotary car were against those.

[@robmanueb.]

Looks like the Holden had better grip and brakes while the Datsun had the power to pull away on the straights. Nice set of racing rules that allows this kind of carry on :)

[@BlendLineTV]

Yup, racing like this is what we absolutely love.

[@Flying_GC]

Looked to me like the Datto just wasn't being pushed that hard where the Holden was 10/10

[@jasonfields2793]

@@Flying_GC the datto is at full tilt its just the way it's set up to do.its lap time makes it very hard to pass

[@washinours]

Discovered this channel and through it AUS motorsports with that rotary fiat battling V8s and now this? Got me by surprise Australia, good job good job!

[@BlendLineTV]

That's awesome Pierre. We're pumped you've decided to follow and support the racing that Grass Roots Motorsport in Australia has to offer. We hope you continue enjoying what we have coming!

[@bjorn1583]

never under estimate a datto. dont forget a bluebird still holds the pre caltex chase qualifying lap record at bathurst, it even beat brocky to pole

[@garrylawless6758]

Correct not many are aware

[@mga71]

George Fury drove it?

[@roytravers5955]

I think it had a big turbo hanging off the side too though didn't it??

[@techo61]

Nissan Bluebird, not exactly an Australian delivered family sedan though (IRS & 1800 turbo).

[@bjorn1583]

@@techo61 not australian delivered, just like 3/4 of the cars in the race

[@Sn0w1981]

Like watching a rabbit being chased by a pack of hounds!

[@carstenschroder7054]

😂Ok.But it is only a straight line rabbit.

[@Sn0w1981]

@@carstenschroder7054 Poor thing isn't a young sprite anymore! :D

[@AndrewKidd14145]

That Datsun is a rocket in the straights damn!

[@stephanengelbrecht4625]

And somehow it sucks in the corners. Very weird for the lighter car.

[@insanebilly]

That Datsun has some poke. When he gets it sorted to go around a Corner the Commodore will not see him again.

[@neilstephen2282]

You would expect the Datsun to be strong on the brakes and in the tight stuff. The big heavy Commodore is killing the light Datsun on brakes and handling

[@bjorn1583]

abs would be a big factor there if its allowed in the rules

[@FairladyS130]

@@bjorn1583 Depends on the driver.

[@onyxobsidianblackstone1957]

All on Power to Weight (KG/HP)

[@kerrytodd3901]

Yeaaaaa, go the 4 cylinder!!!

[@bigkeg9173]

How does the Commodore catch up under braking? 😎🤔😎 Doesn't matter, just saw the ending, the Datto had no brakes 😊

[@joaom3664]

Wider tyres

[@johnk5252]

Legit was thinking the same thing. It was like total opposite the whole race haha. Datto had the power

[@bigkeg9173]

@@johnk5252 right at the end at turn 2, the Datto ran outta brakes, ran wide and the two Commodores got past. But that SR20 had some grunt 👍

[@Iunio92]

It's fun that the horsepower battle isn't being dominated by the usual suspects in this instance

[@BlendLineTV]

It's great to see cars of different varieties and abilities racing hard on track. We love it.

[@slicingsasquatch]

The little "Datto" that could. It's got some punch on the straight aways👍. Would love to know the specs on the SR20.

[@johnathancommodore9642]

What's amazing about the race is that on the straights you would think the Commodore which is my surname would just ring past the sr20 Datsun but it never happens but seems the Commodore is faster in the corners☺

[@MORC]

That Datsun is fast, I was expecting David Vs Goliath but it was like David never skipped leg day. The Commodore kept tucking into the slipstream on the straights. That’s a mighty SR20!

[@TRDKhanbrothers]

That Datsun is giving the V8 a hard time all round Lovely setup there as the v8 cars are also packing some good HP under the hood

[@misegades]

This has got to be the greatest class of racing there is. Where else are you going to see this mix of vehicles racing against each other?

[@BlendLineTV]

Oh yeah, it's why we love Sports Sedans! Every event there are battles like this which we just love!

[@Thunder-cx4yq]

How is the Datto quicker in a straight and the Commy better under brakes?

[@conradsealy9603]

Little SR20 powered Datsun has got some good straight line speed. 👌

[@davidlong6840]

Go the 510

[@Indicant]

It might not go round a corner but damn that datsun is quick in a straight line!

[@maniac6666]

This makes me miss my old sr20de Primera eGT p10. Such a fun first car, and they sound sick 💯

[@BlendLineTV]

OOOOOOhhhh What a Tasty combo! We can only imagine the noise!

[@A_Cowboy_called_JackRabbit]

Torque from the corners... Just not enough to bag that little Japanese brick! I LOVE a good "David n Goliath"!

[@andre3823]

Used to drive the Datsun Stanza SSS and it was an amazing car. 💪

[@BlendLineTV]

They are a cool piece of kit arn't they. Would have loved driving that!

[@kevinjekyll1521]

You can see the Nissan has a clear acceleration advantage, those nissans can fly when set up properly, like this one clearly is. But there is no getting away from a car with an engine with higher capacity if it is highly modifed like these. In the real world I prefer a smaller light car with the biggest engine you can have, rather than a tank with an even bigger engine. I had a 300zx twin turbo manual at one point... Loved thev race, a mouse playing with lions...

[@raceyrache8463]

Now just imagine George Fury driving. 🤔

[@marceloaugusto8008]

Show de batalha !! 👏👏👏👏👏

[@johnnumbat9782]

Oh that’s such a memory teaser for me - I rallied my Datsun 1200 coupe back in the mid 70’s as well as on the circuit and she never broke - the power to weight ratio made it easy to keep ahead of the Holden and Ford boganmobiles due to far superior engine technology and more efficient cooling systems and my Godzilla would leave the Commodores standing especially in the rain - which is why the two-brand bogan crowd hated them in the early 90’s - I’m sorry but there’s no argument for superior Japanese technology over US-based ‘she’ll be right’ attitude- John in SA

[@andy2906]

Nice one well said

[@johnnumbat9782]

@@andy2906 thanks Doug - I remember back when ‘blokes’ would break their v8 ‘aussie’ gearbox and advising them to retrofit a Datsun 1600 gearbox to them - they were amazed how strong the Japanese components were and I actually won a few converts to Nissan Skylines and never went back to GM/Ford - at least those chappies were smart enough to try something new

[@motogpfever620]

Dustin serious acceleration also handling

[@Jprincemassey]

Would it be better if it had a 1.6liter v8 twin turbo making same bhp as the 5liter v8

[@brandonjames8771]

The datto would only have 400hp aswell it’s a little rocket nothing like power to weight 👌

[@strokerace427ace5]

Please help me on this. The Datsun is leaving the v8 on a straight away?! But the commodores taking the curves faster??!!

[@andrewtavendale4529]

Not to be negative but I would have thought more of a walk away for the dato..the heavyweight drive well to keep the gap close ...player of the day was definately the commodore driver

[@roscius6204]

Yeah, the dynamics of the race seem arse about

[@wahyurahardjo9301]

Awesome !

[@derekhobbs1102]

Is that an old NASCAR chasing them around?

[@BlendLineTV]

It's a Pontiac Grand prix GTA stock car that usually runs with Stock Cars Australia. We're not 100% sure of the heritage be it AUSCAR or NASCAR import. We'll no doubt see it again in 2022 and see if we can chase up some info!

[@adsconlabouring]

Love that dato so cool

[@BlendLineTV]

Isn't it. Absolutely brilliant.

[@danielclark5170]

Small high revving engine that doesn't weigh much in the datsun. Big heavy v8 in the commodore, the heavier car has to contend with a smaller, light weight car with a smaller more power to weight ratio datsun. Fun to watch

[@_____7704]

0:39 - David VS Goliath(s).

[@jameswilson8820]

Brilliant 👍😁😎

[@Muzix2daEarz]

When you think your Holden is fast 😂😂😂

[@bigharrykochenbauls4567]

I have both and enjoy them equally..

[@BlendLineTV]

There's more than one way to approach getting speed on a circuit. It's why we love Grass Roots Motorsport!

[@andy2906]

Love it when a turbo 2L "milk" container beats the pants off a testosterone V8 knuckle-dragger

[@Joshua_N-A]

The Japanese car is compact and light, so power to weight ratio may be its only best option here.

[@andy2906]

@@Joshua_N-A Add lightness, better for cornering and less wear on components. Overall a better car

[@datn8]

@@andy2906 dude the Datto was getting owned on braking and cornering! Just the boost saving the day. Good battle but the opposite of what youd expect

[@randomdude4669]

@@andy2906 vy is a better car if you had to drive one

[@andy2906]

@@randomdude4669 driven plenty of them, they are a vs with a 150kg Weight problem lol

[@Patient_Lion_BS]

One thing I can never wrap my head around is how the driver's can be an inch away from the car in front?!

[@Joshua_N-A]

Footwork perhaps?

[@parrhesiapodcast3421]

Wait. The lighter low power car is winning on the straights, And the more powerful but heavier car is winning in the corners? "It's evolving, just backwards"

[@MrHardtime21]

That driver is making the little datsun 5 cars wide

[@Dico6]

This race is as upside down as the world is right now. The Commodore catches the Datto in the corners and the Datto smokes the Commodore down the straight!

[@AsinineComment]

Surely it's a _power-to-weight battle_ , not a "HORSEPOWER BATTLE"...? 🤨

[@shanevonharten3100]

Where was the horsepower battle?

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

Cat & Mouse race! XD

[@drdubberruckie2346]

The Datto had a LS1 in it😂😂

[@miketejero]

at some point the V8 will give up on the smaller SR20'd Datsun, weight and turbo has its advantages on this race...

[@m.b.82]

Ironic that the little car had the power and the bug car had the corner speed and brakes in this battle

[@Ricky-nq7lu]

Bring them back to equal power to weight and go again as that would be a good race.

[@sammuir5875]

Go the datto 👍

[@nyiranggih6322]

Datto...yea man...

[@dattdrift]

the commodore is not better in the corners, he's braking too late trying to keep up with the datsun and leaving himself in a terrible spot on the exit of the corner.. Fast in usually means slow out.. slow in fast out is what you want, it's easier to shed speed than to gain it ;)

[@jannahjohnymuhammad9172]

DATSUN SSS 1600CC WAS THE KING AT THEIR TIMES

[@jrburkhead4188]

Sr20 baby . . Wonder if it's a vvl head

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

It's GODZILLA!!!!!! 😱🙀 🦎

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

It's GODZILLA!!!!!! 😱🙀

[@holdenbrougham7768]

Just imagine the difference the holden would have with its wheels hanging out twice normal and it was turbo too , with an extra .4 litre bigger motor than its body was designed for, bigger track bye bye datto, like me datsuns no doubt they were a very good car maker in the day and had the toughest engines to out right blow to bits , strong bottoms almost every enginge in petrol but diesels well nah

[@1982daverogers]

the SR20 was built by Nissan not Datsun and the Datsun had the legs on the straights over the Holden so no it wouldnnt have made a difference on a bigger track.

[@holdenbrougham7768]

@@1982daverogers maybe not in 5 10 laps but think over long tracks v8 last longer , then again maybe not , NISSAN was making its name on parts but not the car in the period so i thought thats why datsun utes still existed long after 1600 days , 1st blue bird was a datsun badged , 200b was datsun badged tiny nissan logo under it all made after your 1600,s so i am i right calling it a datsun 1600 yes/no but if they were nissan why make datsun name on finished product , decade after 1600

[@holdenbrougham7768]

@@1982daverogers and i loved my 200B what a comfy car it was to sit in , and drive long distance Brisbane to sale victoria regular trips , sniffed the petrol hummed its guts out at 125 kmh all the way in middle of summer too , never missed a bet never best car ive ever know yet for robust strength and she was a work horse , carted well over 200 tonnes of rocks for my garden inside the car boot until prop shaft grinding hump in the floor ,, she did trip after trip , probably 1.5 tonne each trip , well you think how much weight to crush all 4 springs flat on a car an keep it flat , takes lots of weight , moment rocks removed the car sprung back up and said More

[@1982daverogers]

@@holdenbrougham7768 The SR20DET is a Nissan built engine, it wasnt available back in the Datsun days. Sorry I wasnt clear on that specifically. And agreed on longevity of the V8 for sure.

[@chrisonuttah7546]

Go tha datto. car 525 must have been pulling his hair out such a little car owning the track

[@peterhall6656]

You could feel the Commodore frustration!!

[@paulmcmahon6875]

A MIGHTY 1600! Disguised in M3 colour's. How appropriate. Half the cylinder's. Twice the fight. At battle. Against the All Mighty V8.

[@5yri5]

I felt so bad for the guy in third.

[@michaelkarlson1074]

Sr... Gods motor

[@rm6330]

💯

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

Are we going to ignore the fact that there's a NASCAR on the track?

[@lesflynn4455]

Datto 1600's are such basic, pretty little cars. I'm not surprised they're now fetching the once unfathomable sums.

[@DatAdz73]

the little car DAT could

[@AdamEwart]

There is no substitute for cubic inche-what the chicken schnitty was that??? 😲😲

[@BlendLineTV]

😂😂

[@r33skylineprojects59]

What’s in it ? Bet it’a an SR 20 turbo

[@rm6330]

SR powa

[@timdingleakajacksparrow2748]

I’ve had one of those Datsuns & Now I have aVY V8 , and there’s no way that would beat the V8 Unless it had a turbo or forced injection! 🤔🤔👎🏼

[@andy2906]

SR20 from a 180sx

[@darrentylor5473]

Uh it is a SR20DET which is a 4cyl turbo, tunable to 600+HP... It will give a V8 a run for its money all day and night, and it weighs less...

[@littlediablo]

Understandably lots of love for the Datto, including from me, but lets be honest if it wasn't for the sorted SR20 under the bonnet, it would've got smoked. Not that I'm biased or anything..........(cough, cough)

[@BlendLineTV]

I suppose it's woulda coulda shouda. If the Commodore was a V6 variant it might not have been as fast either.

[@deanbritt8713]

Something seriously wrong with this. Commodore handling much better than Nissan, and Nissan our powering commodore. It’s all backwards

[@busybee6889]

rice rocket vs Aussie muscle

[@njrra5033]

510s RULE

[@lesgaal4017]

Such great clean skillfull racing luv it shits all over stupid cars.

[@BlendLineTV]

Definitely, it's battles like this with different cars creating different strengths that really make enjoyable viewing for us.

[@llewvirtue861]

Commodores brakes and tyres won't last long

[@Eduardo_Espinoza]

Pussycat VF Chases Ratson!!! lol

[@38skippers]

BRE colours

[@crunchytheclown9694]

Know your place dunnydoors lol

[@igvtec]

I'm not a fan of the SR20 I don't think they're that great of motor that people make them out to be, but I always love seeing a overrated V8 truck motor family saloon getting it's ass handed to it.

[@terrybagatella3898]

Dato needs more driving practice.