The Car That Made Me Want To Explore

"ethan drives dumb cars" (helloroad)
10/05/2017 at 15:15 • Filed to: datsun, datsun b210, datsun 120y, datsun sunny, exploring, ratsun, classic car, vintage car, hooptie, road trip

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had a fascination with inexpensive econoboxes. Now that I’m in the elite “over 40” club, nostalgia for the low-end vehicles from my 1980s childhood is through the roof. I can be commonly found at 3am, half-asleep, hunched over a glowing laptop displaying 100+ open craigslist tabs of clapped-out junkers I want to buy.

My perpetual car search led me to a sweet brown 1974 Datsun B210 that reminded me of the many old Japanese economy cars I used to see buzzing around during my youth. After a short test drive that tugged at my heartstrings, I proceeded to purchase this 43 year old vehicle for the reasonable sum of $1500.

By today’s standards, the B210 not a particularly great car. Even by 1974 standards it was considered a crummy low-grade car. It’s slow. It’s weird looking. Almost all of them outside California rusted to pieces—but they were incredibly reliable. Back in ’74, this was one of the least expensive, most fuel efficient cars you could buy. That was a big deal during the oil crisis, and Datsun sold tons of these.

I’ve always loved the unusual styling of this car. From the strange elongated hatchback shape to the incredibly odd taillights. I even adore those bizarro honeycomb hubcaps that look like someone beat each one with a ball peen hammer. Though I suppose it is possible my favorable view of the design is severely clouded by nostalgia.

Let’s get to driving dynamics. There are none, there is no time for that. The B210 car is slow—glacially slow. Under the hood of the ’74 is a tiny 1.3l pushrod motor that only cranked out 75hp when new. Most people have never had to experience a car as slow as a B210. Driving it is just a few steps above riding a bicycle.

But for a 43 year old car, the diminutive Datsun engine runs great. Even with so little power, it’s still somehow fun to drive. Out of all the cars I’ve owned in my lifetime, this one gets the most stares, approving waves, and looks of bewilderment. “What is that? A B 2 what?” “Oh it’s a Datsun!” “I love it!” “My dad used to have one of those!”

So there you have it. I bought the car that I loved so much as a young boy. I acted on my overflowing nostalgia and purchased an object that seemingly brought back so many good memories and emotions. There can be something very comforting about looking backwards. The road trips in the family van, head pressed against the window, watching the landscape floating by, dad and mom listening to Creedence, catching a glimpse of a weird brown Datsun passing by, disappearing into the distance.

But after a day, my stupid monkey brain finally became conscious of the fact that these feelings were fleeting. Did I really think this car would magically bring me back to the summer vacations of my childhood? For a while, maybe I really did.

What was I really looking for with my incessant craigslist automobile searches? On a recent back road drive, staring past the brown B210 hood at the empty winding road ahead of me, I came to realize I didn’t really want all of these craigslist cars. I wanted what the cars represented. I wanted the stories that the cars evoked. A great memory. An old friend. Having free time to spend driving aimlessly. Meeting new people while traveling.

This little brown Datsun didn’t magically transport me back to my childhood. But what it did was far more powerful. It served as a symbol—and a reminder—to get off my ass and start exploring. To not rely on objects for happiness. To try new things. To take risks. To go out and create brand new memories that get absorbed into a pile of metal, oil, and gasoline.

So I did just that. Earlier this year I made a commitment to myself to go on adventures, discover new things, travel to extraordinary places, make new friends, and of course, justify my countless questionable automotive purchases. Every few weeks I will be posting a video about my travels in unique cars. Here is the first vid that got me started on this quest.

If you’d like to join me on my journey of learning how to not suck at making videos, you can follow me here: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . :)

DISCUSSION (27)

My citroen won't start > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:34

I like your photos.

Tell us more? Specs?

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:34

Yes. This.

ethan drives dumb cars > My citroen won't start
10/05/2017 at 15:43

Thanks! Specs on the car or the photos? :) :)

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:45

Wow, a survivor! I had to abandon my 1975 210 in Idaho when the engine blew up. Those little 4cy are not designed to run full throttle all the time.

ethan drives dumb cars > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:46

I would like to get the car dyno’d. I would guess it maybe ~40hp today. Rear wheel drive which you’d think might translate to fun but it does not in this car! Mine has a 4-speed manual, I have talked to a B210 owner that owns an auto and he says it’s even slower than mine. The ‘74 has a 1.3L, but I believe ‘75+ used a 1.4L which apparently can also be found in Nissan forklifts up until very recently!

ethan drives dumb cars > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/05/2017 at 15:49

Ha! I occasionally see a few beat up B210s on craigslist, but I have not seen another one on the road in over 20 years.

Full throttle is required in so many scenarios with this car. On mine, pedal to the metal causes some fun backfires in 3rd gear!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:54

In the Jon Krakauer book Into the Wild , a 210 or a B210 figures with some prominence. Do you know the book?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/05/2017 at 15:54

Were you diligent about oil changes?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:56

If I had the dough, I’d buy used cars and fix ‘em up and drive them awhile and then sell ‘em cheap. I’d try out lots of cars that way. But I don’t, so there ya’ have it.

fintail > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 15:58

Love it. I know I replied on another post, I too had a thing for these when I was a little kid. The fastback styling and honeycomb hubcaps seemed kind of racy to me, and I had sporty associations with the Datsun brand. I remember I found out a family friend had one, and I got a ride in it. I was underwhelmed. Almost all survivors must now be on the west coast, and even in the PNW, they are very rare. Around 20 years ago, it seems the remaining survivors all just vanished overnight.

Speaking of Datsun, early in the last decade, my dad bought a Datsun 610 from an estate for I think $90. Put a battery in it, and it fired right up. He used it as an around-town car for several years (to me, it was mildly uneasy above 60 or so, such thin metal compared to the MB tanks I am used to), but it always started up and ran like a sewing machine. He passed away about 10 years ago, and lacking time and space, I didn’t try to get any of his cars. The next owner of the 610 crashed it and destroyed it, but I have a pic:

Kinja'd!!!

My citroen won't start > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 16:05

Photos but

Kinja'd!!!

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/05/2017 at 16:14

I drove it at WOT for 2 years. I am good about oil changes etc... it dropped a valve seat.

WilliamsSW > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 16:15

What was I really looking for with my incessant craigslist automobile searches? On a recent back road drive, staring past the brown B210 hood at the empty winding road ahead of me, I came to realize I didn’t really want all of these craigslist cars. I wanted what the cars represented. I wanted the stories that the cars evoked. A great memory. An old friend. Having free time to spend driving aimlessly. Meeting new people while traveling.

So much this - in my case, it’s leading me to constantly searching Autotrader Classics, Ebay, etc. for ‘60s American iron, but it’s the exact same logic. Maybe it’s a part of being on the other side of 40?

Great write up - I’m having issues with the volume here at work, so I’ll try the video again later (issue is on my end).

ethan drives dumb cars > My citroen won't start
10/05/2017 at 16:19

Best gif evar.

I’m using a Canon 5D MkII with the cheapo 50mm Canon lens. I’m a big fan of that lens, only $125 new. I was at f/1.8, f/2, or f/2.2 for most of the shots for shallow depth of field. ISO 100, shutter between 1/1600 and 1/4000 depending on where the sun was. Then for fun I used an Instagram-ish Photoshop action called ‘Saha’ which adjusts the exposure, color balance, and curves to give it a bit more of a faded, washed out look.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 16:39

!!! You love cheap simplistic econoboxes too? Same here! Give me an old French or Italian economy car (saved up and waiting for a better job / living situation to import a FIAT 126p as we speak!) or a classic Japanese Kei car and I will be pleased as punch - great video! :D

ethan drives dumb cars > fintail
10/05/2017 at 16:58

It’s always fascinating to hear other stories and memories of the cars from our past. And wow, I don’t think I’ve ever see a 610 in person!

I suppose many of these 70s and 80s econoboxes were considered just too cheap to bother fixing when something major went wrong. Too utilitarian to be loved.

ethan drives dumb cars > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
10/05/2017 at 17:02

Thanks!! :) Next purchase will likely be some other low-grade 80s car, and I’ll be grinning ear to ear. We’ll see.

Back when I was a kid, I had a photo of an Escort EXP on my wall. Also had a Lamborghini Countach on my wall (as did everyone in the 80s) but I was more excited about the EXP. Yes I am weird.

ethan drives dumb cars > WilliamsSW
10/05/2017 at 17:05

Thanks! :) :) Yeah I think maybe age has a bit to do with it. Not quite as much to be nostalgic about when you’re only 18.

ethan drives dumb cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/05/2017 at 17:05

I haven’t read it. But that is something that I will have to look into now! Thx

ethan drives dumb cars > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/05/2017 at 17:07

This is what I am trying to do now! Though I am currently only focusing on cars in the $1500 range! :) :)

ethan drives dumb cars > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo
10/05/2017 at 17:07

:) :)

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
10/05/2017 at 18:18

What is WOT?

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 18:19

To have any fun at it, I’d need to have an $8-10k budget per project, which is pretty small in the scheme of automotive things.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
10/05/2017 at 18:19

Wide open throttle. The car has so little power you have to drive it floored 90% of the time.

Monkey B > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 18:55

cool write up...my first car was a 79 B210 just like that one but green.

Jonee > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 21:05

This is great. Excellent work. I love those cars for the same reason. They’re the ones you saw everywhere back when we were kids. I had a B210 that I bought for $350 once. It was so so slow as you say. But, it ran like a top. There was no killing it. The guy I got it from weighed like 500 pounds, so the car leaned to the left and the seat was all screwed up, but it kept plugging along. A year later I sold it for 400 and, based on how little fuel it used, I bet I came out ahead on the whole deal.

fintail > ethan drives dumb cars
10/05/2017 at 21:27

I haven’t seen another 610 since. When I was in high school, I knew a girl who had a 710 hardtop coupe! It was a little worn, but reclaimable. This was in the mid 90s, so it was rare even then.

Yep, unloved when new guarantees they will be abused and thrown away, unless owned by a little old lady or someone out in the country.