Hpw much would an old, beat up Dodson cost?

Question

Not the dog kind, the car.

Hold on, I just heard that they don't make them anymore... is this true?

Answer 1

Datsun? I can get them for $100 all day long.

Answer 2

Datsun became Nissan.

Old, beat-up Datsuns (and Nissans) are a dime a dozen. Unless it is the Datsun 2000, it has a certain cult following.

You might want to find a parts source, however. I made the mistake of buying a Renault years ago, just to find out they "obsoleted" it, (a polite way of saying they don't support the car with the parts needed to keep it running).

If you're going to buy an old beater, buy one with a parts network for it. Old falcons can still be found, and there's a growing cult following and parts sources.

I've got a '66 Nova, a '55 Chevy Belaire, a couple old Volkswagens, some old British and German motorcycles and an old Studebaker truck. I've never had difficulty finding parts sources.

Buy smart.

Answer 3

If it's a two seater "Z" car, it has collectors value. Otherwise, it's probably a $200-$500 "work car" Any car that's old enough to be originally labeled a Datsun is a risky proposition. Good for daily commute and off to the junkyard if the engine or transmission fails.
As far as the name, I believe Nissan orignally feared their car sales in the U.S. would fail. So the marketed their vehicles as Datsuns. Once established, they changed the mark back to Nissan. They were a pretty potent Japanese brand in the late 70's. They lost their way and a bit of their quality image in the 90's. They now seem to be pulling out of this.