Futuristic Styling: 1977 Datsun 200SX S10
In 1977, this car looked like it was from the future. In 2019, it still looks like it’s from the future. There are some unique angles and trim that just make this car look quite different from other 1977 models. From the front, we can see that the bumper was intended to wrap up on the fenders, but due to American federal bumper impact laws, a straight bumper stood out from the body to prevent damage. This is a 1977 Datsun 200SX S10 2 door hardtop coupe for sale here on Craigslist in Medford, Oregon.
From the rear this car continues its space-age look with side rear windows that wrap up to the roof, forming a triangular C pillar, and trim on the roof that has no more purpose than a vinyl roof. The side of the car also has a unique styling crease that swoops from the headlight area at an angle to the top of the rear wheel opening, then abruptly curves up to fade into the rear between the bumper and taillights. The seller is the third owner of this car and has owned it for three years. This 200SX S10 has been in Oregon since new. There is no major rust, but you will find some on the doors sills under the plastic on both driver and passenger side. There is some weatherstripping around the rear windows that is needed as well.
The car features black vinyl bucket seats up front. There is a small tear on the bottom part of the passenger seat and some tears on the back seats as well. The futuristic theme continues with the instrument panel, but no cracks are found on the dash top. The carpeting looks discolored and could either use dyeing or replacing. The original radio, speakers, air conditioning, and heater are working.
This Datsun 200SX S10 has a 2.0 liter L20B 4 cylinder engine mated with a three-speed automatic transmission. It runs and drives well with its original 126,000 miles. The seller is asking $6,900. Are you looking for something with a little unusual styling, maybe something as futuristic as this?
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Comments
Looks like a mashup of a Gremlin and a Hornet with a little 97 Toyota Camry blended in. I like it..
Actually the Camry of that era stole the look of the taillights since it is a 20 year difference. The gremlin look yeah I can see it a little because of the grille. If you ever look at the 1975 (Nissan Silvia S10) Japanese counter part you will see it ain’t so.
I had a 1977 Datsun F10 in the early 1980s. Not a great car but fantastic on gas after owning a Plymouth Barracuda. I do not remember this model of Datsun and it sure looks cool.
Ah Datsun’s first front wheel drive car the good ol’ F10. Trusty little car thanks to is A-Series engine. Comparing Apple to Oranges I see.
I know where they got that roofline.
Actually the designer of the 200sx/Silvia was the same one who designed the Nissan Skyline C110 and you can see the resemblance in styling even the C pillar. This car was released in Japan in 1975 we didn’t see it here in the states until 2 years later.
It may look cool and different, but not $6900 cool and different enough.
I have to agree. $6900 for a Japanese car of this vintage seems a bit much. If I wanted a Japanese classic car, assuming everything on the car works like it should, I’d pay $4000 for the car. That way, I can afford to pay for any maintenance issues that need to be dealt with simply to make it safe to drive.
I’m the owner of the car and thanks for the feedback. The price isn’t set on stone, I will say finding many like this in the condition will be pretty hard. Its my daily driver with no issues other than needing a carburetor adjustment or a 32/36 weber carburetor swap, and minor suspension alignment which I plan to do.
I find this car more attractive than today’s Nissan cars. I remember the first time I saw this generation Datsun 200SX (Nissan Silvia). I was way too young to drive at the time, but I remember finding it hideous to look at. I didn’t know how to describe the look of the car. But I didn’t find it very attractive, at least not next to the Toyota Celica and Celica Supra of the same vintage.
“In 1977, this car looked like it was from the future. “In 2019, it still looks like it’s from the future”.
Regardless of year, it looks like a design a proud mom would have stuck to the fridge with a magnet.
Unique and ugly. I think it’s as cool as a production 1977 anything gets. I never knew the interiors were that good!
The late 1970’s most Japanese cars got stuck with these hideous bench bumpers that killed the lines. The grille is a USDM spec only. If you look at the 1975 and up Nissan Silvia it has the slick body bumpers that really compliment the body and lines.
OMG, I had one of these in High School. Mine was a ’77, and we bought in ’84 with around 80k miles on it. Mine was a 5 speed with a/c. I also had rear window louvers on mine. The biggest problem I had with mine was finding replacement parts, as even the Datsun dealer did not have many of the things I needed. Mine also had rust issues, especially the rear quarter panels. I wrecked mine in ’85, and although the damage was not terrible the replacement parts could not be found in decent enough condition to use. If I remember correctly I got somewhere around $2500 for it from my insurance company. Fun little car to drive actually, and with some weight in the trunk if actually did well in the snow. Thanks for a memory, as these cars are pretty rare to see now..
At one time there were lots of nice performance parts from the Datsun dealer for that engine. Shame about the automatic transmission.
Yeah unfortunately not all will be manual like all the Datsuns I’ve owned but at least it’s a complete car that can easily be manual swapped.
As the owner, Jorge, said, the JDM version has much more integrated styling (see photo).
Jorge, the Weber 32/36 conversion will liven up that L-20B. For those unfamiliar with Nissan’s SOHC-4, they’re pretty bulletproof and can be made to produce some decent HP out of what is a 1960s design.
Good luck with the sale, Hermano. Hope your car finds an appreciative home.
Thanks really appreciate your comment, you are right about the carburetor I just thought maybe someone would want it to be all original for purchase.
I had been itching to modify it a little but I just couldn’t come to do it.
I hope it finds a great home and is appreciated as much as I have since I bought it.
That girl is smokin’ hot! Wish I had room, she’d have a good home for sure 🥰
Thanks, with the right touches it can be a real beauty. If she doesn’t sell then I will be adding some nice touches to it and maybe try again in the future. I’d love to keep the car but with 5 other Datsuns its tough to give the rest attention.
That trim on the roof (C-pillar) is the air extractor vent.
These were cool…like a Capri done origami style. And the dashboard design is truly excellent.
I have to say that back when these were new I didn’t appreciate the design but this has aged really well! I think it’s cool now in that (already mentioned) retro-futuristic kind of way. If it were mine, I’d have Gary Numan on the box! Good Luck With The Sale, Jorge!
Thank you, I agree when I was younger I used to see a few driving around they would make me giggle how funky the car looked. The truth is these really need the Silvia slim body bumpers the beauty is just hidden away sadly.
Here’s a roller that I found at our local wrecking yard.
Troy Ermish bought it,& I hauled it to his shop.
That is so awesome glad that got saved!
And to think that I had successfully wiped that horrible (IMHO) design from my memory banks. Now I sadly find myself reminded of it again,… and an automatic as well. Delete, delete, delete!
You loved it that much to comment on it thank you lol.
I think the styling has actually come into its own. Looking at the crossovers of today, I think someone at datsun had a bad LSD trip and foresaw the 2nd decade of the 21st century. The dash (which was criticized endlessly), looks contemporary today. I hope this car is still available when I am ready. I think I would like to own it.
And then I have a friend that might be going to Japan maybe he can find me a front bumper. If not, I will have to make one from sheetmetal and fiberglass. At least the front bumper…lol.
The back bumper isnt too bad…that just needs to be tucked in a bit….and woth how people drive today you need a back bumper.
Love? Futuristic? I didn’t like these when new, I don’t like them now. Just too homely. The newer 200SX’s were really nice (late 1980’s?). But I’ve always said, it’s nice to see any survivor. While for me this is a bit too much $, I hope it finds a good home.
I had to have a starting point in the price, and it is or best offer the right amount would sell. My next step if it doesn’t sell then I’m going to contact a few people I know that would have buyers in japan that would love to own a 200sx.
It’s different, some will love it, some will hate it. We never got this model in the uk but i’d drive one. Fantastic looking machine.
Shouldn’t be any parts too unobtainable to put this in tip-top shape. Nissan has been an American manufacturer for decades. Headquartered in California and now Tennessee. Parts can be sourced directly by calling their customer service line. They also collect owner stories on Datsuns, Nissans and Infiniti that have reached 300k miles or more. There is a wall of fame in Franklin, Tennessee and one of these cars on display as part of the Nissan Heritage collection at the Lane Motor Museum. Y’all come over for a visit!
You would be surprised that most if not all Nissan dealerships have stopped selling old car parts off the shelf many years ago. If it isn’t selling constantly then it gets taken off the shelf. They barely even carry oil filters most of the time they have to order them and that’s about what you can get. Engine wise its super easy finding parts as most Datsuns had L-Series engines, rockauto sells replacement parts, other Datsun owners sell engines, trans, and such. There isn’t a dedicated website or store for these cars since its not a Z car or 510.
Jorge, I see a 620 pickup in your photos. So you are a Datsun fan! I invite you to make your way to Nashville some time. A tour in the basement of the Lane Motor Museum as well as their plant in Smyrna, TN will change your mind about availability. All the cars were restored with locally-sourced parts with the exception of the “first” Datsun from the 1930s whose carburetor was made of unobtainium. I agree about the Z and 510 fans, but there are a bunch of Fairlady and Cedric fans here too. Jay Leno profiled the collection and the person who joined him for a road test in a 59 Datsun was my good friend and quasi-business partner.
The 620 in the photo is from a Datsun car show that was in Canby, Oregon that had been going on for 15 years. I own 6 datsuns myself just trying to free up some room.
I’ve heard of them place I believe one of my friend’s 1983 Datsun Maxima made it over there. Also seen Jay Leno’s video on the 59 Datsun almost bought a 57 myself once.
Parts can be had if there are people local that are parting out vehicles that’s how I got a few parts I needed for mine.
I owned a ’78 200SX with the 5 speed and American Libre wheels. It was a fantastic car, cool, futuristic styling, very roomy for two up front, good size trunk and the awesomeness that is the L20B. Bought it and two weeks later drove to Road Atlanta for the SCCA Runoffs in 1985. Wonderful drive, loved the car.
On the way home, driving back roads through Dawsonville, GA a lady in a Mustang II ran a stop sign at a 4 way. Hit the driver’s side in the A-Pillar hard enough to push it all the way into and around the clutch pedal. Lucky for me I went for the brakes and steering and didn’t go down a gear. Poor car was a write off…but we brought it back to St. Louis as it was worth quite a lot in parts. In the end I parted it for about $2000 and having only paid $800 for it off the back lot of the dealer I worked at made it all come out ok.
If this were a 5 speed I might be having 3rd thoughts of reliving my youth minus the crash!
Nice story and sorry to hear about its demise, I wish my car was a 5 speed, but they hard to come by in this shape. I do have the brake and clutch pedal assembly to convert it easily to a 5 speed. One of my friends has the correct dogleg 5 speed that came off a 200sx. I been tempted to buy the transmission that my friend has. If it doesn’t sell then I will likely head the route of making it manual with some goodies in the engine and suspension, but will keep it mostly stock body and some nice vintage Japanese aftermarket wheels.
When I was in high school I was a big fan of the IMSA RS series. These cars had some success with Don Defendorf and Dick Starita behind the wheel. I can’t believe that info is still in my brain after 40 years
I think your CA friend and my TN friend have met. The west coast Maxima did indeed make it to Tennessee and into the Heritage Collection. I rode in it. The guys here are true gearheads that go out of their way to foster brand loyalty to Datsun/Nissan/Infiniti. My friend had a fleet of NV3500 vans vinyl-wrapped and souped up to transport vintage vehicles to races and car shows. They’ll be at Amelia Island and the Cincinnati Ault Park Concours.