Datsun 260C Reviews

Earlier this month, Audi unveiled a retro-inspired small electric vehicle that is a homage to a car that failed a quarter of a century ago. Spectacularly.Chances are the timely and handsome new A2 will succeed where the overpriced and oddly styled original from 2001 could not, but referencing a flop seems risky.It’s like Ford reviving the AU Falcon (though to be fair it is having a moment), or General Motors exhuming Holden with an ode to the ZB Commodore. Or Epica.Which has us thinking: this isn’t the first time that nostalgia, perhaps served with a side plate of delusion, has led to some confounding decisions.Whether they sold or were received poorly, we outline five resurrections that flopped.And if you disagree, let us know why in the comments below.How the millennial Monaro came about requires context.Holden enjoyed two golden eras: the early years, and for half a decade from 1997, after the then-new VT Commodore became a runaway smash hit.And the next year’s Australian International Motor Show in Sydney was pivotal.Codenamed Monica, the 1998 Holden Coupe Concept – essentially a VT with two doors, a slightly more-rakish windscreen and four (lower) seats – stole the show like no other car ever had before or since.At the time, Holden wasn’t even planning to build it. After all, coupe shelf lives are notoriously short. The original HK Monaro of 1968 proved popular initially, but its HQ-HX successors from 1971 struggled.The Coupe Concept utterly overshadowed Ford’s debuting AU Falcon at the Sydney show, made national news and created a buzz that helped bolster the brand. It was nothing short of sensational. Journalists immediately dubbed it Monaro, something Holden was understandably wary of.Despite what some articles today state, the resulting V2 Monaro failed to meet internal sales expectations when it arrived far later than scheduled, in November, 2001.Priced beyond most buyers’ reach from nearly $95,000 adjusted for inflation today, it went on to account for only a fraction of Commodore volume, at 4274 versus 88,478 units, putting it at 47 spot.From there, sales never improved, and the US-market Pontiac GTO export version of 2004 also failed to find a large-enough audience.By then, GM was floundering as the world moved away from sedans and coupes, in favour of SUVs, with the planned next-generation VE Monaro promptly canned, save for the 2008 Coupe 60 Concept to celebrate Holden’s 60 Anniversary.The Datsun 1600 is regarded as one of Japan’s earliest greats.Launched in 1967, it combined elegant styling with European-style chassis sophistication, to create a brilliant little sedan that dominated world rallying as effortlessly as it won over owners’ hearts.However, the larger and heavier 180B and 200B replacements of 1972 and 1976 respectively completely lacked the 1600’s sporty charm.Stung by widespread criticism, Datsun attempted to recreate the magic with the Stanza in 1978.But, built down to a price, it sorely lacked the fun and finesse that endeared so many owners to the old 1600. Critics were ruthless in their reviews. And though relatively popular and successful in motorsport, the Stanza couldn’t replicate the old 1600’s greatness and lasted only a single generation in Australia.By all objective means, any NSX is a masterpiece.Be it the exquisite 1990 NA1 original that became the first mid-engined supercar in history to love you back, or the NC1 tri-electric motor petrol/hybrid AWD successor of 2016 that was a breathtaking technological showcase, the name signifies engineering mastery.However, while neither generation achieved the sales volumes Honda required, the original has enjoyed a glorious afterlife as one of the all-time sports car greats.But the latter? Sadly, the second – or American – NSX remains misunderstood as being too advanced, and not “analogue” enough for drivers to truly connect with. That Honda cancelled it early (except in Japan) has not helped.Maybe the NC1 was just a decade before its time. Still an amazing achievement.One of Japan’s earliest Volkswagen Golf clones, the Pulsar became a beloved small-car staple in Australia over 25 years and six generations from 1980.That was until Nissan was forced to switch to a smaller replacement with awkward styling, ambitious pricing and a silly name.Inevitably, the 2006 Tiida tanked, even as Australians were clamouring towards smaller cars in the wake of soaring fuel prices. This was the era where the Mazda 3 and Toyota Corolla were king, but Nissan missed the party completely.The reason why the Pulsar ended was that it never properly challenged the Golf, so instead Nissan devised the Qashqai crossover, which immediately became a sales phenomenon.Somehow, Nissan Australia convinced a reluctant Japan to allow the redesigned Tiida hatch of 2012 to be rebadged Pulsar, along with the Thai market Sylphy sedan.Hopes were high of a sales revival but neither interloper possessed the required sophistication or appeal to lure local consumers back. Both Pulsar iterations never saw out their model cycle.The rear-engined air-cooled Beetle, which changed comparatively little between 1937 and 2003, remains the world’s best-selling vehicle of all time, at 21.5 million units.In contrast, the Toyota Corolla regenerated 12 times to date for it to find 50 million buyers.The re-imagined New Beetle, released globally in 1997 and 2000 in Australia, based on the versatile Golf IV architecture and built inexpensively in Mexico, sold strongly at first.But demand tapered off markedly as per most fashion statements, especially when BMW’s Mini reset the bar for retro remakes from 2001.However, after nearly 1.2 million units, VW’s third attempt, officially known as the “The Beetle”, struggled from the outset in 2012, despite featuring significantly more sophisticated drivetrains.Gone by 2019, barely 550,000 units were produced worldwide.

Here are two facts. For over 60 years Nissan has been on a rollercoaster. And for the remaining six years of this decade, Nissan is set to be on a roll. Not that you’d know it with the Japanese brand’s long-term shrinking market share and – until late last year – a worthy but dull and dated core model range.

The on-again, off-again Datsun 1600 is back on! We think.

The Nissan Freeflow and Nismo IDx concepts were a star turn at the recent Tokyo motor show, and it looks like the positive reaction has the carmaker thinking about production versions Nissan bosses have said "there is already a plan" to develop the concepts into a production vehicles, UK website Autocar is reporting. While the comment source was not cited, the carmaker couldn't have failed to notice the acclaim given to the two concepts -- and particularly to the Nismo IDx that salutes the legendary Datsun 1600 (although it's said the resemblance was not intentional). The cars were designed through a crowdsourcing project in Nissan's UK design studios with about 100 young people in their 20s collaborating on the designs. The results starred in Tokyo in two forms: the retro-themed Freeflow IDx car and the sports-focused Nismo IDx with echoes of the early Datsun 1600 rally heroes. The name IDx comes from a mash-up of the acronym for "identification" and the "x" standing for new ideas seeded through communication. Nissan says the collaborative approach with 'digital natives' (those born post-1990) sparked new insights and creative potential -- and plans to continue the practice for future projects and product development. Watch the IDx concepts official video on our desktop site.  This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

And it is not the baby boomer generation who are driving the growth. It is a much younger demographic, those in their 20s and 30s, who are into Mazdas, Datsuns and Toyotas of the sixties and seventies.Brett Montague has owned his 1972 Datsun 1600 for four years. He and his father, Jim, found it on a Victorian property after a long nationwide search for a one. "It was being used as a paddock basher car" says Brett.What appealed to Brett was that despite the dents and scrapes the car was mostly rust free. He is a toolmaker by trade so the restoration was no hassle for him. Whilst Brett wanted to keep the car as stock as possible, the desire to use car daily in 21st century traffic changed his minds about the direction of the rebuild.Jim takes up the story: "We wanted to keep it as stock as possible, however it soon became obvious that to make it easy to drive in today's traffic a few modifications were needed to ensure reliability and tractability." Brett says that the original 1.6 litre engine has been replaced by the 2 litre version out of a Datsun 200B. A couple of Weber carburettors have been strapped to its side to improve the power output."The disc brakes are slightly larger than original and the front seats are ex-Skyline. The gearbox is also an ex-Skyline 5 speed. It is a little beefed-up all round, except for the radio. That's still the original AM unit" says Brett.The attention to detail on the Datsun is compelling. The car looks brand new and whenever it is taken to 'show and shines' it draws admiring comments.The 1600 was the car that really put the Japanese maker onto the world stage. First released in 1968, it was marketed as the Bluebird in Japan, the 510 in the USA and the 1600 elsewhere.What set it apart was its independent rear suspension and standard front disc brakes in a world where solid rear axles with leaf springs and drum brakes were still foisted onto consumers. Datsun made no secret that they used BMW and the benchmark and inspiration. The good bit was they sold the 1600 at half the BMW price.The 1600's sophisticated suspension made them agile race and rally cars. They won their class at Bathurst in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 and the rally successes earned them a 'must have' status in that arena.David Burrell is the editor of www.retroautos.com.au 

This year's Tokyo motor show included some real gems but nothing that comes close to Nissan's IDx concepts. The IDx Nismo and IDx Freeflow get our award for the most magnetic exhibit at the 43rd annual show, a pair of cars that drew people like bees to honey -- proof positive that the design experiment was worthwhile. We watched as people stopped and looked and wondered, as their eyes travelled over the enticing, almost retro lines of the cars with roots in the muscle car phenomenon as well as links to some classics from Nissan's glory box like the esteemed Datsun 1600. Perhaps it's because these particular cars weren't just the work of designers, but were produced with input from the public, especially young people with whom the company is trying to reconnect - the Gen Ys or digital natives or whatever the bloody hell you call them. It's a brave step and one that might just pay off, if Nissan has the fortitude to build the cars and the natives come running to buy them - build it and they will come we can hear Kevin Costner saying. You see the data shows that young people are more interested in internet access than they are in getting their licence and buying a car like mum and dad these days - once regarded as a rite of passage. From the point of view of the car makers, it's a disaster waiting to happen. But Nissan at least has decided to try something different, or we might suggest to get back to basics and build the kind of cars that people aspire to buy - good looking things that fill an emotional need not just a practical one. The IDx Nismo and Freeflow, are two models cast from the same mold, designed to meet the needs of younger customers in a process that Nissan describes as co-creation - in effect cars designed by young people for young people. The name IDx is taken from the acronym for "identification" while the "x" part represents new values and dreams born through communication. Nissan says engaging with members of the digital generation in the design process created an opportunity to learn a slew of new insights and creative possibilities. It says the co-creation dialogue reached far and wide, from the basic framework right through to the finishing touches. Two versions of the car were created, one relaxed and casual, the other more overt and aggressive - because they are the result of two different conversations with two separate co-creation communities. What Nissan said it derived from this communication was a desire for a basic, authentic configuration. That is, a car without influences, based on the ideal proportions and straight stance of a timeless three-box design. Both the interior and exterior share the same simple design strategy, with just the right number of functions and accessories to give the cars a sense of solid reliability. The simple round steering wheel, contrasts with a large analog clock, prominently displayed above the central function monitors, with faded denim selected for the seat trim. The "floating roof" accentuates the simple box design of the body, painted as it is in a combination of white and flax brown, with stylish 18-inch chrome wheels. Believe it or not the cars are rear wheel drive too, just like the 'real' thing. It all sounds a little too good to be true, until you get to the mechanicals that is. Nissan reckons the quest for authenticity can be interpreted as a demand for economy and efficiency which just happens to take the form of an of-the-shelf 1.2 or 1.5-litre four cylinder petrol engine - or in the case of the racier Nismo its new 1.6-litre turbo. Where did that come from? Sorry but there's nothing in the slightest authentic about that. If you're going to do it, then do it properly - don't do a half baked job. This reporter is on Twitter: @IamChrisRiley   _______________________________________  

The IDx concepts unveiled by Nissan at this week's Tokyo motor show are a clear throwback to the iconic Datsun 1600 of the late 60s. The road-spec IDx Freeflow features several design details that echo the standard 1600, while the IDx Nismo reflects the classic model's rich racing heritage.  With a turbo 1.6-litre engine driving the rear wheels, a production IDx could be an ideal Nissan answer to the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ.    Watch the desktop version of the official Nissan IDx concepts video here.   _______________________________________  

Datsun 1600Ok, so it’s officially known as the Nismo IDx concept but Nissan isn’t fooling anyone. Fans are going to call this the Datsun 1600 regardless of what badge is fitted. It even has a 1.6-litre engine (albeit turbocharged). It was designed by a team of 100 youngsters who grew up getting to know the Datsun 1600 -- a car that has been around since before they were born -- on video games. Here’s hoping the rear-drive Toyota 86 rival comes to market quicker than the Nissan GT-R, which took seven years to become a showroom reality.Nissan GT-R NismoYou could be forgiven for dismissing the latest Nissan GT-R as just another special edition, but that would be a big mistake. This one is the fastest and most powerful (441kW and 652Nm) version of “Godzilla” yet. The 0 to 100km/h times are yet to be published but there are rumours it’s as low as 2.5 seconds. Powered by massive, oversized turbochargers and with chassis input from the Wiliams F1 team, the GT-R Nismo can lap the Nurburgring is a staggeringly quick 7 minutes and 8 seconds.Honda FCEVIt’s 1997 all over again. Back then, Honda and Toyota were in a race to bring petrol-electric hybrid technology to the masses. Honda pipped Toyota to market but Toyota ended up producing a more successful hybrid system. Toyota has sold more than 5 million hybrid cars since. Now both brands are in a race to introduce hydrogen power to the masses, with a target of 2015. Honda has had a small number of hand-built Clarity fuel cell vehicles in customer hands since 2010, but this FCEV concept is a pointer to its replacement.Toyota FCVThis oddly shaped Toyota FCV sedan concept with its gaping mouth is the company’s play for the world’s first hydrogen car for the masses. Toyota says a production version of this concept will be in showrooms in 2015. Here’s hoping Toyota follows its tradition of toning down its concept cars by the time it makes full production.Daihatsu FC DeckIn Tokyo, small is big and big is small. That’s the case with the Daihatsu FC Deck, by far the coolest concept from the pint-sized car-makers. It looks like a shrunk semi trailer, or a candidate for a new show that could be called “Ice Rink Truckers”. It is, in fact, a cute way for Daihatsu to get customers familiar with the new design theme for its next generation of flat-nose vans. Which is a shame. Daihatsu should build it as is.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling _______________________________________ 

The iconic Datsun 1600 could be revived as a budget-priced rear-drive sports-coupe, if this Nissan concept car from the Tokyo motor show is a guide. The IDx Nismo concept took centre stage on the Nissan stand -- ahead of the updated GT-R -- with two models: a retro-themed lime green standard car and a sports model with hints of rally versions of early Datsun 1600s.The concept car is powered by a 1.6-litre turbo four-cylinder engine which drives the rear wheels. Company insiders say it could fill the void left by the exit of the Nissan 200SX and be a cheaper alternative to the Nissan 370Z.Nissan says many of the designers of the IDx were people who "grew up playing racing simulation games" and fell in love with the iconic Datsun 1600, which is older than many of the people who designed the IDx.The original Datsun 1600 was a favourite among professional and amateur rally drivers because of its nimble frame, powerful engine and rear-drive chassis.Nissan has not confirmed the IDx will go into production but if early reaction to the car at the show is a guide, the Japanese company will be buoyed by the positive response.Here’s hoping the modern Datsun 1600 gets a green light faster than the Nissan GT-R did. Nissan showed the concept GT-R in 2001 but the production version wasn’t released until late 2007. Watch the desktop version of the Nissan IDx concepts video here.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling_______________________________________ 

Can the Nissan Leaf compete with the legendary Datsun 240Z in a drag race?