Prices for pristine Datsun 510 sedans are through the roof. Meanwhile, this under-appreciated vintage Datsun 710 wagon—which has been collecting dust—was listed on the eBay marketplace with a starting price of $710.
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From the Folks Who Created the Z
Nissan imported the Datsun 710 to America for just four years, between 1974 and 1977. The range included a two-door coupe, two-door sedan, four-door sedan, and five-door wagon. The barn-find 1977 Datsun 710 wagon is an unrestored example of the breed.
The company touted the 710 as a “race-bred car with stamina” in a Road & Track advertisement. The tagline was not an empty boast. The 710 landed SCCA B-Sedan national championships in 1974 and 1975. A Datsun brochure called it a “frisky family car.”
The 1977 710’s 1.8-liter overhead cam inline-four produced a factory-rated 97 SAE NET horsepower at 5,600 RPM. That might seem meager these days, but in the emissions-focuses mid-1970s, it was pretty decent.
AutoWeek - opens in new window or tab. notes - opens in new window or tab. that the 1974 Datsun 710 was “both lighter and more powerful than the 1974 BMW 2002,” as well as faster and more fuel-efficient than the 100-horsepower straight-six Chevrolet Camaro.
Of course, fuel economy was all-important in the 1970s. So while the 710 was significantly thirstier than the penny-pinching 50-mpg highway 1977 B-210 Plus, it did not disappoint. The EPA rated the 49-state Datsun 710 wagon at 23 miles per gallon in the city and 29 highway—when equipped with the three-speed automatic transmission. Four-speed manual 710 wagons delivered 23 city/33 highway.
Restore, Restomod or Race?
The barn-find 1977 Datsun 710 no-reserve auction started at $710. Derek Durst, the seller, has been an active member of the eBay community for more than 20 years and maintains a stellar seller record. Durst, whose eBay account is MrBadger - opens in new window or tab., purchased the 710 from a collector’s estate with the intent to restore the car. He told us:
The 710 is solid, and very little heavy-duty welding or bodywork is required for restoration.
Most of the car is intact and unmolested. The front bucket seats are handsome but not original. There’s surface rust - opens in new window or tab., but you’d expect that, given the vintage. Dry storage in a southwest barn preserved this puppy. It’s a good candidate for restoration. It could even become a spectacular LeMons race car - opens in new window or tab..
A can supplies clean gasoline, avoiding old fuel from fouling the system.
The 710 is running on a gas can. Using an external can with fresh gasoline prevents any bad fuel or sediment (that may be sitting in the tank or lines) from entering the carburetor or fuel injection system. Durst explains:
I had assumed that the original fuel system should be cleaned out before attempting to use it.
This gas-can tactic is a smart way to proceed when bringing a car out of long-time storage.
Durst added:
I think this 710 would be an exciting project and a fun little car to buzz around in. But I’m just a year short of 80 and decided that I should let someone younger have some of the fun.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.