New Zealand Datsun Club

Wow- after a bit of digging about through her old photos my mum finally found some of our old 120y wagon from back in the late 70s/early 80s. What I was after was confirmation that the car for sale on the oldschool forum. Mum phoned me this morning with good news. Yes!!! it is indeed our old car.

Damn this is cool news!!! I have spoken to Dave's (avenger tiger) boss and its still up for grabs so I have said I'll take it away Mum and Dad are very excited about the prospect of getting their old car back. Mum has been talking about getting a Morris Minor Traveller like they had before the Datsun but they are too expensive. Getting their Datsun on the road for them would be awesome.

Luckily it sounds like I might be able to get the old original engine back as well. Its currently in a Suzuki 4wd but the owner wants something else to power it. So this will be good if I can secure its original heart.

Anyway- Im so excited. I should be in the workshop right now welding my Viva wagon but I couldn't help but start a thread even though I don't yet have the car. I am under no illusions that it will be an easy resto. It will be rusty like Ive not seen before. But I don't mind that. Hopefully if I need any parts there should be enough bits floating in Nz or on this forum. I'm sure Bart, Brendon, Andy and Chris will give me a big cuddle if I save it?

Another choice thing is that because mum has photos of it with the plates visible hopefully I can apply to reuse the old plates when it come to the re-vinning process.

So here are some cool photos. All taken in the late 70s or early 80s.

This is up the Westbank road when we used to go visit this mad old farmer/recluse fella. He would hang weird things about in trees if I remember correctly and thats what we are looking at.



This is me and my brothers and sister in the boot along with Bella the smelly old Lab and Pipi the cat (who lived to be 19 years old!). I'm the little fella sitting on the back seat on the right in the white collared top.



Here's the two family wagons. My Dad was very proud of his Mk4 Zodiac wag that he brought over with him from the UK. It was always giving troubles whilst the Datsun just purred through life. Dad never bought another english car again and we ended up with two more Datsuns after the 120Y. Mum and Dad did buy my first Triumph off me when I left for me 10 year OE and they loved that old car. But that's because Triumphs are bloody awesome too.

The Zodiac still lives and I think might be in Canterbury somewhere? If anyone knows please let me know.



Finally here is a photo of a Family reunion at Woodend. It was my Mums family and this was the mens beauty contest. The little Hillman Superminx wagon next to the 120y was my cousins and that was a cool car too. I think my cousin Helen ended up crashing it



Here it sits in its current condition..

Great score man, all the best to you. I had been tracking our old Sunny coupe and 2 weeks ago the trail went cold, very disappointing but can hear the enthusiasm in your words and get it. All power to you.
Cool car.

Good on you mate.glad its in your hands.

Cheers guys. Pretty cool that my first datsun is to be the datsun my parents owned.

Im sure I'll be asking plenty of questions here in the future.

Alex

That's what we're here for!
Gotta keep em alive! (And sideways)
Knowing you as I do Alex, And knowing your mad skills, I'm reeeeeealy looking forward to seeing your handy work on this beast!

very nice story and happy you are saving it!!!!!!!!!!

Was about to buy this car and bring in to the Wairarapa! Lack or dry storage changed my mind..
Very glad its gone to the right home and will be restored. Didnt want to see it go to a ministocker

Sing out if you need any parts!
Cole

Yeah I'll definitely be asking for bits soon I think! Cheers Cole.

And yeah Bart- you know I'll save it!

Tonight I got to sit in a little car that I've not been in for over 30 years...



I popped open the door and it the 120y actually smelled like I remembered. Maybe its just a standard old Japanese car smell but it immediately brought back memories! Sitting inside it all looked so familiar. I was so happy.





We had a good look all over for rust and overall its way less rusty than I was expecting. In fact for a old Datsun of this era its actually really solid! That will be having spent most of its life in good old dry Blenheim/Nelson then.

The sills on both side need replacing.



One chassis rail is rusty right at the end. The inner wing behind the steering box has a big hole.





Im sure there is more but overall it makes my Viva Rustwagon look.. well decidedly rusty. The floorpan has very loose old underseal coming off easily and whats under it appears good. The bonnet is good too. The badly dented wing is from when it spent two days in a paddock and the cows were rubbing against it. It'll pull out ok and yeah it wont look perfect but I think this car is a long way off from ever looking great..



The tailgate is solid but huge dents that had been poorly filled in at some point.



The boot floor is solid which is amazing given the amount of trips this car saw to Rarangi beach and smelly seawater wet Labrador trips back. The headlining is pretty good too. Quite amazed.





The grill is intact and front end looks straight. Both bumpers are good too.



The boot seems smaller than I remembered. Maybe I may well have grown a little taller since I was ten.



I have found a few bits of paper work in the car including a invoice from Murchison motors for collection of stranded car, radiator repair and water pump replacement.

I also scored some KFC coupons!!!! Plus two spoons to take with me when I claim my 15 pieces of chicken for $19.95

I have a STA Isis card form filled out with the same details as found on a letter from Dunedin university.

Some previous owner was into golf..although not that good at it given the score.

Oh and one hacky sack. Sweet.



So probably next week I will get it out to our place and then start removing rust as and when I can.

Awesome score

Mate i am so excited to see you reunited with the old family car. I had one exactly the same i bought as a my first car. If i can sort it out, (probably with the help of Cole my son) i'll send a picture of it. I wish i had it still. Remember the day i traded it in for a modern '82 pulsar Yuk, thinking this must be better because it is newer and has a 5 speed. Wrong. Well done you,ve got a great one and i am looking forward to seeing the progress. Cheers Darrell