1969 Datsun 1600: Reader Ride

By: Tony Green, Photography by: Steve Nally

Date: 10.03.2015

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600...

Tony Green's 1969 Datsun 1600

1969 Datsun 1600

I’ve had Datsun 1600s since ’79 when I was a young fella – I’m 58 now – and I’ve currently got four in various stages. I’ve had this car for about 17 years. I built and painted it about 13 years ago and it’s stayed like that since. It’s been a faithful servant, I race it at Winton and Calder regularly and over the years it’s had many changes and I’ve got a cupboard full of things that didn’t work. It’s an Australian-delivered car but not an SSS; I sourced that badge from NZ.

It’s got a 2.0-litre 200B engine with flat-top pistons, modified 180B SSS cylinder head, DCOE Webber sidedraughts, Datrally high-lift cam, lightened flywheel, and it revs to 7500. I managed to source a 260Z gearbox and it runs a very low 4.8:1 diff.

I like ‘em to pull, but that equates to about 3600rpm at 100km/h! It’s fun on the Great Ocean Road, though.

Suspension-wise, it runs coil-overs at the front with King springs and Koni inserts, 900lb rear springs with Konis, and it has Magna discs at the
front with R31 Skyline discs on the rear.

It only weighs 1030kgs and, Tony Green’s 1969 Datsun 1600 with around 128 kW at the rear wheels, it’s an engaging car to drive. I’ve got a Skyline R32 GTR, which I love, but the Datto is more fun. I buy them with my heart, not my head, and it was love at first sight from that first moment in ‘79.

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