The Datsun 120Y is a Super Rare Japanese Classic

[@GaryPresgrave]

My wife had one of these in the 80's, she said it was the best car she has ever had.

[@jeroenjansen2709]

Datsun were great cars in the 70's!

[@OGforlifebb]

yes in 1870's

[@TheDigger06]

​@@OGforlifebbwasnt many better normal family motors than these in the day, certainly not brit stuff

[@BTW...]

@@TheDigger06 The 120Y was NOT a family vehicle, unless that family was 2 impoverished individuals. Must have sucked being Brit in the 70's, suffering the UK auto industry offerings.

[@Edward-pu1wt]

I had two Datsuns. A 1973 610 and a 1971 240Z. Miss the Z!

[@nervo6321]

Really great to see a 120Y again as I passed my driving test in one in 1984 …fond memories.

[@joecongrain7477]

Me...1986 in a Datsun KE20

[@ilyasahmed2141]

Me too. In a Datsun Sunny in Aus, the same car and in 1987

[@goodsonlungu6785]

Kkkkkk me too

[@wseejattan]

Had one of those , utterly reliable and simple.

[@romemancer7905]

We had zillions of them in Australia they were as common as flies ...like its big brother the Datsun 180b...both hugely popular !

[@mebeasensei]

The 120 Y is the apple of your eye, Datsun 120Y! That was the song. But these cars were not as good as their predecessors the Datsun 1200 and 1600- which became the Datsun 180B. The earlier ones had independent suspension etc. Twin over head cam engines. These were old fashioned budget cars. The real shopping cart.

[@丘冬]

It was also as flies inTaiwan😃

[@TheGodParticle]

I had one of those bluebirds, very quick, had a nikkiwebber carb.

[@sonjavukoja4936]

Incredibly simple , reliable and dependable cars ... Cheap to own and not bad at all to drive . Compared to today's beeping christmas light show , laptops on four wheels , digital piles of junk plastics, it was a joy that reminds us on fantastic past that will never ever return any more

[@BTW...]

@@sonjavukoja4936 The "past" wasn't "fantastic" at all. The only thing better is that the comments of stupid people and their pretentiousness wasn't broadcast worldwide on the internet. These things attracted the same criticism you afford modern efficient vehicles of today - this Century. They were full of plastic crap and gadgets.

[@Harley-ir4er]

They were a very practical, reliable car for the masses. The dashboard and seats were ahead of it's time, great video and great presenting.

[@kurteiman9968]

These were without a doubt fantastic cars. Super reliable and very fuel efficient.

[@jkk244]

In the US this was called the Datsun B210 and you are absolutely correct that American public’s favorable opinion of Datsun was highly influenced by the wonderful 240Z (and the Datsun 510 and Lil’ Hustler pickup as well). In high school my math teacher drove a 240Z and therefore he was the coolest teacher ever!!! :).

[@Jan-iq5sm]

I was in the motor trade back in the 70 s . Sold cars in South Africa . These were indestructible. Very light controls and a super smooth gearbox . Streets ahead of the uk equivalents . Very quite and a delightful car . The Datsun blue bird of the 1960s was also superb .

[@mikew6840]

They were awesome, but didn’t like Durban salty humidity - rusted terribly.😂

[@danmyname]

What a beaut. This was my dream car. I had the 1200 coupe and got a chance to drive the 120Y, I fell in love with it straight away. They don't make them like they used to anymore. Those headlights will never fade. That ground clearance negates the need to have an SUV. In the old days an analog clock is all you get in the base model. Now, they will only put an analog clock on the top of the range, lol.

[@khalidhussain8584]

My dad took a Datsun 120Y and a Datsun 1200 to Pakistan by road to Pakistan in 1980, on the way there they had a accident while overtaking a lorry, my uncle was driving the 120y and to avoid a on coming vehicle he on the opposite side and rolled over into a ditch luckily everyone survived but the 120Y had a damaged windshield and some other dents which they eventually got repaired back in Pakistan, they drove all the way from turkey to Pakistan with a plastic windscreen.

[@macalacalan1175]

Great story. My sister, now 67, had this as her first car in the mid 1970's. It was indestructible and 'ran on the smell of a greasy rag'. However, she never needed to drive it with a plastic windscreen 🤣. 🦘

[@andrewstones2921]

It’s hard to explain to anyone who wasn’t around when these were on sale just how much of an impact these cars had. The quiet engine, the lovely gearchange , the comfortable and stylish interior, and the incredible reliability was groundbreaking. They did rust, but to be fair so did most cars sold in the 70s, I remember seeing the first Escorts and capris nearly all failing their first MOT on corrosion.

[@paulsz6194]

So you spent more time at the motor body repair shop than you did at the mechanic.

[@andrewstones2921]

@@paulsz6194 well yes, in fact fact in those days a lot of garages that did mechanical repairs would also do welding rust repairs.

[@briansaiditsoitmustbetrue4206]

I have seen comments saying "The car that broke British Leyland" ..NAH! British Leyland "Management" broke British Leyland. OK, that said... These Datsun 120Y cars came with zero rust protection... Here in the UK, They dissolved faster than an Alka Seltzer in water. The corrosion protection was not up to the standard to drive on our heavily salted roads in the Winter. This is why these cars disappeared off our roads here in the UK faster than a £20 note in a heroin addict's pocket.

[@andrewpreston4127]

Agree absolutely, you could almost see them rusting in front of your eyes. A couple of years ago I saw a photo of one of them in a scrapyard. The rear third of the car had basically dissolved away to a skeleton.

[@briansaiditsoitmustbetrue4206]

@@andrewpreston4127 100% Correct...They were indeed total rustbuckets. Back in the day, the MOT test was nowhere near as strict... You could drive cars that were rotten on stress points. And boy did these Datsun 120Y cars rust.

[@PJ-ml3yy]

The unions played their part in the demise of Leyland as well.

[@Wasengenyie]

Not exactly....it was the Soviet backed unions ..Red Robo was paid by commies to cause mayhem... Margaret thatcher was inevitable.

[@maitreya1906]

I bought this car when I worked in Zimbabwe 28 yrs ago, 120Y coupe 1976.....one owner an old lady so it was in great shape, added a new pearl sky blue paint finish, mag wheels a banana branch manifold an 10 disc CD changer Rockford Fosgate amp. Twas heaven!!!!!!!!

[@guyh9992]

In Australia back in 1974 no one would have predicted that a Datsun 120Y would one day be a valuable classic. They were everywhere at the time but considered a retrograde step over the Datsun 1200.

[@pgilb70]

And rusted after a year or so. Especially near the sea. Great cars tho.

[@pgilb70]

The coupe looks tons better

[@paulsz6194]

It’s ever rarest to see a 120Y wagon -or estate as you Brit’s call it.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Saw a green wagon a few years ago with a male driver who wouldn't have existed when these were declining in number.

[@railtrolley]

Saw a 4 door 120Y recently, in Brisbane. And few days later, a Renault Dauphine.

[@realjohnboxall]

We had a bazillion of them here in Australia. That and the 200B, classic little cars that were much better than anyone gave them credit for.

[@colrhodes377]

My sister had a 120Y and while some things were rubbish, other things were far better. She then bought a SSS Datsun which was great

[@kevinthacker8349]

Had The 120 Y coupe great car. Never let me down. It was the reson why I bought a Nissan sunny in 1984 brand-new.

[@scroggins100]

Newly married and our first car. Went everywhere in it. Splendid car.

[@alanriley9754]

Mr Dad bought a Datsun 120Y in 1977. It had a manual gearbox and ran like a swiss watch. He kept it until 1980 due to his left hip issues were too painful to change gears. It was light blue. 🦘

[@DEVILTAZ35]

Hi mate here in Australia in my family we grew up with one of these cars. My mum had a purple 120Y for about 16 to 18 years. Mostly it was a grea t little car and very reliable but it was possible for them to tip over if you took a corner too tightly due to very softly sprung suspension and very skinny wheels and tyres. My mum ended up replacing it with a Toyota Echo which was amazing And lasted well into the 2010’s. Sadly my mum passed in 2016 but thanks for that fun memory 😁

[@cliveprocter3698]

Your light and easy comments. In the mid 1980s I had a 6 year old VW Jetta. For a work trip I drove a work collegues old Datsun, think it was a 120Y. My over riding memory was how light the contorls were, I thought the clutch was broken it took that little effort to push the pedal

[@ahmedkadiri1127]

I remember this car from my childhood in the early 70's. I liked it even then.

[@bri77uk1]

I can atest that I too found them quite ugly as a kid in the early 80s, when they really did look old compared to the Maestro and Mk3 Escort, but about 10 years ago I found myself looking at a coupe, thinking how well designed it was. I'd happily have one now.

[@mickeyflynn5427]

YES! 😂. My grandma had a mustard yellow, B210 i remember. I thought that car looked stupid ugly! Lol. I remember her letting me shift the gear sometimes (I was like three or something). Looking at it now, it’s not so bad. Actually, the 2015 Nissan Versa called this car to mind when I first saw it.

[@mickeyflynn5427]

AND let me add that I really enjoyed this review! It brought up fond memories of my early childhood, especially when I saw that gauge cluster and heard the sound of that engine. I can recall the SMELL of that car.

[@garyferguson7996]

When they hit uk they came with top reliability top mpg , heated rear windows , headrest , radio , british cars didnt have any i remember the 120y with fondness , put £5 in it and could go anywhere

[@joeernest9627]

It was 4000.00 Cedis at Japan Motors in Ghana in 1972. A very versatile strong saloon. It enjoyed great patronage because of its low petrol consumption

[@MichaelMelder]

Though am not a fan of Japanese cars I love this one, it still looks nice 😊

[@phil4977]

We had the 120y in Australia. They were very popular. Can’t say I have seen one in the last two decades. My first car was a Datsun 240k and the second was a Datsun Skyline(both were late 1970’s built). Found memories of Datsun.

[@christophera556]

The biggest problem with the Datsun 120y was rust ,which is what really killed them off, also they were a bit of a oil burner.

[@christoplis1307]

Dad had an estate in 70s , super reliable 👏

[@davidhinkson8856]

These cars bring back so many memories! When I was a child my next door neighbor had a yellow estate, and another neighbor had a yellow saloon. Where I live in Barbados there are only about three left now, including an orange one that is completely standard with the original "pie dish" hubcaps.

[@frankjohn9533]

I feel like I'm in a time machine. Still can't believe I can see one in such pristine condition. Takes me back to 1982.

[@sunilphalakdhari3869]

Aaawww. My dad had one, bought brand new. 140Y...in chocolate brown and tan interior. And passed the car on to my elder brother, when he finished school. The engine never ever gave up. Car never broke down, in the about 7 years we had it....unfortunately the body wasn't up to standard. Even in our amazing climate in South Africa, rust was a disease and we lived about 20kms from the ocean. But car was used as a trade in for brother's purchase for his first own car. These cars were and still is sought after but with the rust, very very scarce to find one....possibly in the interior of our country far from the ocean but still very rare. I can personally say these cars are absolutely reliable, absolutely economical fuel wise and spares but you really required any mechanical parts....it just went on and on. Today's the new Datsun after they came back into our country around 2010, I think. The new Datsun "cheap" low specs introduced then, are unfortunately a let down. Unrealiable and very cheap parts by these days standard, don't make them last too long. Nissan who was always in our country, (Datsun takeover) still kept reliable good quality, low maintenance cars. I loved the 140Y we had...went so many places in my childhood with it❤

[@vernonmatthews181]

In New Zealand 🇳🇿 we had another model called the Datsun Violet, also 1400cc with quad headlamps and looked quite classy for the day 😮 Thanks for sharing ❤

[@GavwasInn]

10:35 You are correct - models fitted with the tacho (such as the 2 door coupe's) had a small clock where the D panel is in this car - at least in the ones I've seen in Australia in the past.

[@Tk-ou9ec]

The Datsun was super popular here in Australia also! I have fond memories I still own a Datsun! A 1965 Bluebird (on my channel). Datto’s are great cars. Mine has the e1 engine unlike the 120Y A series engine but it looks very similar.

[@paulsz6194]

Wasn’t the Bluebird known as the 1600 in Australia? It was internationally known as the 510. The Bluebird name didn’t one out until the 1980’s with the 910 series.

[@EVISEH]

@@paulsz6194 Internationally, the Bluebird name wasn't used until the 1980s with the 910 series. In Australia, the BLUEBIRD name was used for the 310 series [1963-64], the 410/411 series [1965 -1968]. The 510 series which followed the 410/411 series was sold as the Datsun 1600 in Australia. The 1600 was followed by the 180B which was a 1.8 litre version of the Japanese market 160B. The 180B was succeeded by the 200B which was largely designed by Nissan Australia. The 180B, and the 200B did not use the BLUEBIRD name. The BLUEBIRD name was revived for the model that followed the 200B and was the last time the name was used in Australia.

[@vernonmatthews181]

​@@EVISEHboth the 180b and 200b were both in New Zealand 🇳🇿 and were very popular 👌

[@Tk-ou9ec]

@@EVISEH the 410/411 was known as the bluebird here in Aus, not the 1600 as it only has a 1200 engine!

[@francis2811]

A quiet and reliable car which returned good economy on 2Star petrol. I remember driving one when they were ridiculed. I was amazed at the clutch, gearbox, and very efficient handbrake.

[@davidfleming6220]

The Datsun Violent is an absolute classic as well.

[@vernonmatthews181]

I remember the Datsun Violet, very classy car with quad headlamps which would be foot up into the US market ❤

[@bartsimpson8616]

wait is this Datsun Violet ? ! So why they dont named !? There is a guy offer me a Datsun Violet one owner since ew in his family , in my country they are realy rare , maybe 3 cars !? and that is ''Maybe '' So i try to find info about the car . cos he wont sell me cheap , ask 5,5 k euro, so i need to know what number models are under Violet , thanks at advance ,

[@Broomehall]

I sold these in their hundreds ...... put simply they were so far ahead of the British offerings, far from being old fashioned they were of a style that we simply couldn't match, and of course, they came with hazard warning flashers, Heated rear screen, an AM radio, all as standard ...... twin that with their sheer drivability and total reliability at a time when the British Motor Industry was in turmoil, and it is no surprise they gained such a foothold in the market place.

[@graemekeeley4497]

Daughter had one, she was never one to treat a car kindly, but the 120Y no matter what she threw at it never submitted It was truly a car you could call indestructible

[@zenbandit19]

Yes. Indestructible. Especially, the bulletproof engine. Drove a Datsun pickup with that engine in the harshest of environments of extreme heat, dust, rain and deep mud. Used it to tow out stuck Ford tractors from chassis deep mud.

[@nicnak4475]

Loved these cars, so relaible and nice to drive, sold them when I was in the used car market, they never came back under warranty, unlike other cars I could mention.

[@edmontontangobar4991]

Mum had one when I was 16, first car I drove, was fun.

[@Bmovie5000]

My first car! Banded the Datsun B-210 for North American markets, mine was Banana yellow with the 1.4 OHV engine.

[@scottbrady8374]

This was extremely informative and well made. Very professional. I like this car of its time.

[@ashleygordon3467]

My mother had a 120 Y Coupe in Australia. Economical, comfortable, very easy to drive and totally reliable plus it came with everything: carpets, bucket seats, radio, heater - all things that were optional on Australian and English cars available back then.

[@thefreedomguyuk]

Before we get sentimental.....the handling was abysmal, and the engine was underpowered. Which gave the wonderful whirring noise, when accelerating 0-60 in 28 seconds. There were no bucket seats. (I used to own one ❤)

[@markdavies5115]

Had a 120Y coupe in the same colour. Brilliant car.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Hairdresser's car.

[@PGPyramid1]

It's super rare because all the others disappeared in a cloud of rust overnight, leaving only the tyres on the driveway. This one looks fantastic!

[@gordonedgcumbe5427]

I had one, bought it from a dear old lady, fixed a few minor problems. Gave me good service.

[@TheZakariyya01]

My dad always swore by the Datsun 120Y and never bought any other make throughout the 70s and 80s so many memories !!!

[@tryarunm]

We had a 1972 Datsun 1200 station wagon that Daddy bought in 73 in Zambia. She was the predecessor to the 120Y so, not surprisingly, was this very shade of blue. We had her for 9 years and 60,000 km. The stock alternator on her and the early 120Ys would fail within the first 20,000 km, but the replacement was made of hardier stuff. Being of the same model year as she, all my childhood memories are of vacation trips in her, mostly esconsed with my brother on a couple of mattresses in the boot. We made quite a few visits to Lusaka, Mazabuka, Choma, Kariba Dam, Vic Falls, Bulawayo, Kazangula, Francis Town, and innumerable picnics with friends to Riverside Drive. We sold her only because we changed countries. I remember her fondly.

[@WeeShooey]

As a 16 year old in 1977 I worked as a pump attendant at a local petrol station with a Datsun sales showroom attached. On Saturdays I helped clean the brand new cars and prep them for the showroom. They arrived with a protective grease all over. It was a great job and I loved sitting in these brand new cars. The mechanics would alway take me along for a ride when they were out in them. Great memories. I also remember there was one painted in the same style as the Starsky & Hutch cop show car, all red with the white flash/stripe.

[@robharding5345]

I had a 120 y and it was ultra reliable, and never, ever let me down, the kids loved it. x

[@davidaustin2172]

I had a mustard yellow 120y. Brilliant car. Wish I had it now!

[@BTW...]

Baby Poo Yellow. And why don't you have it now? It didn't last.

[@davidaustin2172]

@ I sold it. All in perfect working order!

My Datsun 120Y had a problem with the gearstick locking up in traffic. I used to jack it up, remove the few bolts attaching the gearbox to the engine, seperating the 2 and freeing up the gearshift and putting it all together all within 15-20 minutes and continuing my journey! I dont think that could be done on any other car that easily and at that speed ever

[@SamLukie]

The rust got most of them. Brilliant mechanically.

[@grantshenton7079]

I had a 1979 140J as my first car .Banana yellow with a brown vinyl roof .Always started on the key and mechanically was bulletproof .Great spec as well 👍

[@laifadahunsi1659]

Datsun 120Y was the darling of Taxi drivers in Nigeria in the early 70's. Christened 'Naira Body' , because it was fuel efficient, reliable and easy to maintain. Drove out British cars out of Nigeria roads with a little help from Toyota Corrola, Peugeot and Lada. Nostalgia....

[@ojiuchechukwujamesnjoku5622]

This was the taxi car on the roads in University of Nigeria Nsukka in the early 80's.

[@Craig61-f2u]

I use to love working on the older type cars the Datsun's, cortinas,toranas you could easily repair them yourself, they were easy to work on, really didn't matter what the problem was, these modern cars so many sensors all over them, but yeah I would still give it a go, there is a lot of KZbin info sites that will show you, but EV stuff them one stick of dynamite will fix it lol

[@grayfool]

They just worked, and kept working. Somewhat overstyled but that had got a lot better by the late eighties. Just good at being a car.

[@davidperkins605]

Great review, i remember my 120Y very fondly, i kept turning the ignition key because i thought it had stalled. It was that quiet, happy memories.

[@cosmicsodared]

My uncle had one in 1977 P reg absolutely streets ahead of British and European cars.... So good. Very distinctive exhaust note too, so reliable.

[@OldhamSteve52]

Had a Datsun 100A in the 80’s. Put 60,000 mile on it in 4 years. Very reliable, minor issues, alternator, water hose. Body work built like a tank. Many happy days of motoring.

[@julianjunior3899]

Having got used to driving around my Dad's land crab, I eventually took my driving test in a 120Y in the late 70s. I just couldn't believe the difference between how different they were to drive. The Datsun was simple, easy to steer, change gear etc. The land crab was completely the opposite, where I wrestled with most of the controls just to go in a straight line. Thank God I passed my test.

[@davidmorris587]

My brother had one of these in Zambia as a company car when he was working on a mine about 30 miles outside Lusaka. It lasted considerably longer on the poor dirt road between Lusaka and his work than his personal Ford Cortina, the suspension on which had been almost totally wrecked after about six weeks. Oh, and the Datsun started every morning - unlike the Cortina, which was actually less good to drive than my tiny air-cooled twin cylinder Honda 360 cc Japanese K car.

[@SteveSmith-ky7tb]

I had one of these in the 80s, it was a saloon in Metallic Green. I went from a Mk 1 Escort to the Datsun, it felt luxurious compared to the Ford. Mine was an Auto so very under powered, but I still loved it. It only had rust along the top of one of the wings when I sold it.

[@laranaarana]

You could see this car everywhere in my home country (my Uncle had two of them). They were very fast and, very reliable.

[@katanagrrl]

They were never fast, NA 1.2L A12 engine. Trust me, I own one.

[@chrisrogerson177]

My dad had one of those - an "S" reg in red, having traded in a Morris Marina for it. Apparently the lads at work took the mickey out of him for buying it - that lasted until the end of the first winter nightshift at work. Every car in the car park was covered in a thick layer of frost at 6am - my dad's Datsun started first time, every time, unlike the Allegro's, Marina's and Cortina's all his work colleagues were driving!

[@pfa2000]

I owned one in South Africa from 1998. Great car. Probably still running.

[@nottooherbal]

Couldn’t even hear the engine warming up ; looks beautiful.

[@Brian-om2hh]

My neighbour used to have one of these. Incredibly tinny, but extremely reliable. The rusted away before they broke down... They also did an estate version...

[@minimaxi802]

The Datsun 120Y was very cheap and popular, in many colours, well equipped with a radio as standard. I was a passenger in one years ago and remember the funky blue light for the rear screen. Corrosion was a major issue, you could hear them rusting in the terrible winter snow of December 1981 but would have started first time being very reliable.

[@paulypilot]

Great to see you review a Datsun 120Y. As a new driver, I absolutely hammered my Mum's 1975 120y Estate back in the mid 1980s, and as you correctly say, despite its tiny engine, it was surprisingly nippy. Fantastic gearchange too. You pick out all the main points very well. They were dangerous in the wet, as the back end could violently slide sideways, so caution needed. Brakes were quite weak & often locked up in the front in the wet. So it needed a bit of respect in bad weather. Otherwise though, a remarkably reliable car, it never broke down, despite inadequate servicing! Rust wasn't too bad, they lasted about 10-12 years then got thrown away, like everything in that era.

[@thebanditsix]

My first car in 1985 was a red Datsun sunny coupe, paid £750 for it, great little car.

[@thefreedomguyuk]

Roughly the price of a set of wiper blades fir it back then 😅

[@vernonmatthews181]

I remember riding in one of those 120y's downunder in New Zealand 🇳🇿. They were everywhere, yes as stated it is a facelift model. Still has a hint of the "coke bottle" hip kink that the Viva Hb ( Envoy Epic ) had. A very comprehensive dash for the period and in dash push button stereo ❤ Thanks for sharing your mint car. 👍 Keep it out of the snow and salted roads please 😮😊

[@hunchanchoc8418]

The external styling was a bit peculiar, but from the driver's seat the dash looked quite futuristic - I loved it. And yes the engine was soooo quiet and smooth at tickover, and all the controls so very light and precise - one wondered why British and European cars didn't feel like this.

[@chrislee2221]

Passed my test in a S reg Datsun 120y 2 door. My driving instructor loved it as it was totally reliable, cheap to run and easy to drive. If i remember right they had a spring loaded gear change of 2nd to 3rd.

[@andrewcrowther1973]

My dad had a t plated face lift 120y back in 1981 and was a rolls royce compared to his old triumph toledo.

[@austinchia7306]

This generation of 120Y appeared in Hong Kong were between 1973-1978. I remembered they had sedan, hatchback coupe and wagon. Some of the driving tutors were love to use the 120Ysedan to train the learning drivers.

[@johnlucala1532]

Simple car but yet, very reliable ,on it's time ,right to now... It's was my dream car....

[@vincentchin88]

My late grandpa and my mom had this far. Thanks for the memories.

[@roberttaylor6295]

Still there the professionally thorough research, the clever scripting, the easy delivery, amid a new salesman style, and even a a sort of test drive of yore, but gone is the effervescent enthusiasm, the fun, pleasure and often engaging, bubbling joy we as fans felt through the ether of your former reviews, along with their believable independence opinions. We all have to work (said as a retired man in his 80th year!) so I understand and wish you every success, health and happiness while hoping that we may return to some Metro news and occasional truly independent reviews so you loyal fans can feel the excitement. Rob.

[@michaele7880]

These cars were so popular in Australia. Now few survive as they were driven daily and suffered from bad rust. My mum had a 180B.

[@paulsz6194]

My dad bought a orange 180B when we arrived to Australia, but within 2 years upgraded to the 200B, as he wanted a little more power & realised we really needed aircon ❄️ for the stinking hot summers!

[@michaele7880]

@@paulsz6194 yes. So hot. Mu mum’s 180b had a black vinyl roof which turned the car into an oven. So dumb to have a black roof in Australia.

[@russbetts1467]

I acquired a second-hand 120Y in 1980. It was a Mk1, with 12 inch wheels, not the later 13 inch wheels. It also had a Rev Meter, with a smaller clock to the left of the front panel. First registered in 1973, it was White, but the paintwork was faded and there was significant Rust in the Front Wings. The engine had done 88 thousand miles. I finally scrapped it in 1987, with 173 thousand miles on the clock. Working on the car was a doddle. The bloke who ran the Parts Department at my local dealership, said it was probably designed by a Mechanic, not an Engineer. You could get inside the Engine compartment, when working on the engine and everything was easily accessible for routine maintenance. When I replaced the Clutch at 100 Thousand miles, I did it all by myself, with the car jacked up on Axle stands. Dropped the Gearbox onto my body and just wriggled out from underneath. Ditto, when replacing the gearbox. I loved my 'Sunny' and was sad to scrap it, but by then, it was a Rust Bucket and not economically viable to repair, but the engine and gearbox were still in good condition and I got 50 quid for it, from my local Breakers Yard. The Standing Joke with Datsun's back then, was you parked the Bodywork by the side of the road and kept on driving. I would love another one. Finally, the Front of the car and the Radiator Grill and lights, are copied from the Ford Mustangs of the time.

[@MarkSullivan_xyz]

I had a 1.2 litre one of these in Australia in the late 1970s. At that time they were assembled in Australia, which in the era of tariffs, kept them very affordable. I loved it - so good seeing the very familiar dashboard again. Because they were designed for left hand side driving, they didn’t have the odd clunkiness of European cars (eg the indicators were on the correct side of the steering wheel.) I was so pleased that I later upsized to the Datsun 180B which was also an excellent car for its time. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

[@Smartychase]

My mother had one of these brings back comforting memories

[@Ronald-v3w]

My very first car in 1986. Stunning vehicle

[@prajath100]

I love this car. This one i had and one of my favorite car during eightees. Best reliable car and very economical. Comfort too.

[@zaneclone]

A wonderful driving car... Super slick... Still good looking, a smart interior and a super sweet engine... :)

[@DaveP668]

Grandfather had his first Datsun in about 1977, a Laurel 2.0 after his brand new Ford Cortina started rusting and falling apart after 18 months. He had a 120Y in the early 80s and its the first car I drove aged about 11. He then owned other Nissans, his last being a late 80s Bluebird 1.8 he owned until he stopped driving. That car did close to 150,000 miles, only problem a failed radiator.

[@MerkJacobus]

My dad bought a 120Y in 1975 with a 3 speed automatic which was nippy enough but embarrassingly slow up hills. It had uncomfortable vinyl seats but was smooth and quiet at town speeds. The boot was ridiculously small thanks to the fuel tank being situated behind the seats for safety yet there still being a high floor; I suspect the tank had been relocated at the last minute due to Ford being sued for its fuel tank location in the USA. It used to take ages to start on a cold morning, the cylinder head warped and had to be skimmed and it rusted rapidly but was reliable compared to British cars. The reason my dad bought it was that he'd ordered a Ford Escort XL in 1974 and Ford kept postponing delivery for about 9 months so he cancelled it, walked into the Datsun dealer and drove out straight away with his new car which had such luxuries as a radio, door mirror, reclining front seats and tinted glass which would have been options or unavailable on some British rivals.

[@thewraith4858]

It was my first car I had when I past my driving test in 1990..had so much fun in the car, 1 litre and going up hills in first gear most of the time.....fun times...

[@rross47]

In the 70s my Mum had a 120y and Dad an Escort Ghia. When I came home from overseas to borrow a car I always went for the Datsun. It was more fun for a 20 year old😀

[@MxoManga]

Lovely old Datsun wich I wished to buy during the 80's ❤

[@Htdobb458e]

As a car dealer in the 80s I had loads of these through my hands. Absolutely bullet proof little cars. Usually quite rusty so I'd fill and paint them and made a good living. I'd be surprised if there's many left, they did rust. 180b's were another good seller.

[@jagmarc]

I remember these, bright and shiny on the outside and underneath rotting away with rust. Incredibly reliable and robust just keeps going on even after bits fall off. My wife got one of these for free because could see the road through the floor and there was a river inside each time it rained.

[@ianstewartorr8455]

My dad had a 120Y estate WMS 101R in white it was a very good car it would take you to the moon and back but it dissolved greetings from Scotland 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Every car dissolved back then

[@Marty-hu7rw]

I learned to drive in the same one as the one featured here in 1978,it seemed so modern compared to my dada 1969 ford corsair ,so nice to see ot again all those years later

[@DMiddleton-bj5wc]

Our family had one in the 70s. Excellent car.

[@egotempest7782]

I was driven around in one of these as a kid. How cool!

[@donovanembden8737]

We had a bunch of them in Jamaica. My dad owned one. It was so reliable and very good on gas consumption. In Jamaica we also a bunch of vw bugs, Morris minors, fiat 124 and 125s, peugeot 504 and 404s, mini coopers, ladas. Austin cambridge, Morris oxford, mgb gt, citroens, triumphs. For fords there were ford escorts, anglia, capris , lotus and regular cortinas to mention a few. I ended up owning about half of these cars that i mentioned. The trucks in the 60s and 70 were mostly thames traders and British leylands. How times have changed. Today If i had a warehouse with half of these cars stored away, i would be a millionaire many times over. How times have changed. I wish i had the gift to look into the future !! Lol

[@dirkhuman760]

Thousands were sold in South Africa together with the 140y gx Coupe. Very reliable cars.

[@ZulLalji-wr1pf]

I had a 1972 Datsun 1200 and then this 120 Y. Fantastic cars for that time..Then followed by the Datsun 1600 SSS and the 160 J models

[@RaviniIgo-og6te]

I own a Datsun 120Y in PNG in the early 1980s, a lovely car to own.

[@O1Richard]

My dad had a bluebird 1.8 saloon in blue, it rusted by 18 months old but was reliable, he kept it for 12 years and only got rid when parts availability was scarce.

[@tomm487]

..my dad had 4 of these when i was a kid in the 80s and his brother the fifth in our family...they are bulletproof little buggers that don't quit no matter what where and when they were driven. They handled the worst roads in mountanous rural Kenya with aplomb.Love the fact that you could fix them with a string and a hammer anywhere😅 My uncle still drives his today

[@jonathanperry4189]

Really enjoyable and brought back many memories! My dad had Nissan's in 70's. The little 3 door, a cherry? Then a sunny KGR 515T, follow by a bluebird NAJ474W... As a kid it was introduction to waxoyling and servicing the car with him. They never broke down! Non of the Brit cars sound of the '70s, , the click and whir as you tried to start it !