1975 Datsun 180B Estate (Read 948 times)

[reallyloud]

This up for grabs a few month ago after I received a tip off via the forums very own Al. I was told that the car had been standing in a garage for 23 years but was reportedly in good condition. I went to see the car, expecting a heap and something that would best be a spares car. I was somewhat surprised to see that it had no structural rust at all. The wheel arches are perfect, with a few scabs on a door and around the windscreen. The gentleman who owned had bought it off his brother in 1980 and took off the road in 1990, for no particular reason. I made a promise that I would get it back on the road! Should be at a few shows this summer.



There was a fuel blockage, the tyres were in a bad state, clutch and brake master cylinders where shot, brakes seized and the electrics were a bit strange (a result of some minor electrical add ons). The engine fired up when fuel was poured into the carb, so the fuel tank was removed and cleaned out. The brakes and clutch issues were sorted out and I grabbed the wheels and battery out the 510 to get it through an MOT. The body is in remarkable condition, with 45K on the clock, it has few scabs here and there and the bumpers need re-chroming but for a 38 year old car that's pretty good going. A respray and general refurbishment would make this one of the best 610 estates in the county - a testament to it apparently never been driven in the rain! Thanks to Al, Reece and Will for their help to get this back on the road.

[shahtz]

Looks fantastic !

Not seen these come up very often

[Al Ramone]

look forward to seeing this out and about.

[datsfun]

That's ace Darren. Nice find and well done in getting it back to the road...

[Eric]

Thats nice! Need to polish mine..

[reece]

It really is as good as it sounds, I had a good rummage underneath this at the mot station.

[geordie]

What a fantastic find. I'd love one of these one day.

[paranoid]

nice find.610's are so cool

[reallyloud]

Small update, as you can see from the early pictures, there was a worrying amount space in between the arch and wheel. Embarrassing almost. So with Alramone's skill and time, he used some coilovers, welded them on to the existing 610 struts and an escort lowering kit for the rear leaves, which almost fitted perfectly. This handiwork resulted in this.......







Drives so much better, and I've not scraped the underside yet.


More gratuitous pics.

[datsfun]

Looks a million dollars ! Wow bet you well chuffed with the end product ? Front lip spoiler in dark grey to complement the c pillar trim and rear boot lid trim and sorted

[Talking Hoarse]

A very smart and rare survivor, good find and well done Darren. Good to meet you and see the car @ Beaulieu. I am a bit of a fan of estate cars - easy to justify a "hobby car" when it can be so useful.
Ed

[Ricky180B]

Absolutely brilliant. Very rare in a wagon. I recall the last one leaving the uk to go to Europe. It was a white estate. Not sure if it was Eric

[paranoid]

much better darren

[reallyloud]

Cheers guys! Preet, the MK1 Golf front splitter would make the car appear even lower, so that's in my shopping basket. I'm going to rummage around my local breakers yard and try a few options for the rear. Subtle is the key I think. Ed, I've always preferred estate variants in older cars. Their proportions just look right. This 610 won't be seeing the tip or hauling cheap Swedish flat pack furniture though! I have lovely old Toyota to deal with that luckily.

I really like the chrome over rider look too, I'll try some 510 ones on the front and see whether it works. Shame UK spec 610's didn't have built in roof rails.

This is one of the main reasons I wanted the car.....



I don't want to copy it, but its an inspiration. My only regret is that the car isn't a mk1 like that honey above.

[Ricky180B]

Convert it to the mk1 that's what I was going to do with the saloon I use to own. They look the dogs