The two-tone paint scheme and space age styling of this Datsun 810 saloon would stun any junkyarder into full stop. While the Datsun might look something like a regular Japanese car of the time, the trick stuff was all there in this mid-size sedan. Under the hood was a fuel injected version of the six-cylinder engine found in the 240-260-280Z-cars, tweaked to kick out a respectable 154 horsepower. Out back was an independent rear suspension. Inside was a sweet angled gauge pack and other racy bits that subtly suggested that the luxurious family sedan was packing sport engineering. Full page magazine advertisements from the time trumpeted these features, calling out the Datsun 810 as the world’s most underpriced luxury performance sedan. The Datsun 810 was sold in the United States from 1977-1980 in coupe, sedan, and station wagon form.
Editor’s note: this post was originally published on Junkyard Chronicle back in 2006. The car and/or parts in these images are long gone.
Mr Beck of Bums, I think it’s time you return to West for stroll in the Pick of Pulls and update your Chronicles.