Me & My Car: ’81 Datsun comes from intriguing company
Bill and Karla Munkacsy and their one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX. (Photo by David Krumboltz)
Interior of the one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX. (Photo by David Krumboltz)
The one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX. (Photo by David Krumboltz)
The one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX is powered by a single-overhead-cam turbo charged inline six-cylinder engine rated at one hundred eighty horsepower. (Photo by David Krumboltz)
Interior of the one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX. (Photo by David Krumboltz)
The dashboard in the one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX. (Photo by David Krumboltz)
The one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun two hundred eighty ZX features a “T-Top.” (Photo by David Krumboltz)
The one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun 280ZX in this edition’s column is still a great-looking and stylish two-seater car. The car and the company have an interesting history. The Datsun name is possessed by Nissan, but there actually was a company called Dat Motorcar Co. that built a car called the Dat. When they determined to make a smaller car, it was called Datson (son of Dat). When Nissan took over Dat Motorcar, the name was switched to Datsun because «son» means «loss» in Japanese, plus it also demonstrated some nationalism by including in the name «sun,» which is featured in Japan`s flag.
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In 1958, when Nissan wished to export their cars to America, they didn`t use the Nissan name. During World War II, Nissan was a very big manufacturer of military trucks, which could have led to some negative feelings about that company. Also, Nissan was using the Datsun name for petite cars they were successfully promoting in Japan. It was believed it would be more acceptable to use that successful name than the Nissan name which had been associated with large, rugged trucks. There was also concern that if the U.S. venture failed, they didn`t want the Nissan name bruised.
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Obviously, Datsun was successful in the United States, and in the fall of 1981, it was announced that the Datsun brand would be phased out in favor of the Nissan name. The process took three years, one thousand nine hundred eighty two to one thousand nine hundred eighty four with the various vehicles identified from Datsun, to Datsun by Nissan, then eventually just Nissan, but the name switch didn`t come cheap. It is estimated the switch including dealer signs and advertising cost about $730 million, almost $Two billion in today`s dollars.
The very first cars exported to America in one thousand nine hundred fifty eight were the Datsun 310, a puny economical sedan, and the Nissan Patrol, a Jeep-like utility vehicle. And not remarkably, they commenced in California. By one thousand nine hundred fifty nine the U.S. Datsun dealer network was coast-to-coast. Nissan built some sporty roadsters called the Fairlady 1500. They were attractive and looked very much like the MG, but were only marginally successful. Top management dreamed better.
A team of engineers, stylists and designers worked together for about five years. The result was the Datsun 240Z. The «Z» cars were very successful, selling about 50,000 cars each of the very first three years, 1969-1971. As the model years passed, the very first models switched from the 240Z to the 260Z and eventually to the 280Z and 280ZX. But in Japan, it was labeled the Nissan Fairlady Z.
Bill Munkacsy and his wifey, Karla, have wielded their one thousand nine hundred eighty one Datsun 280ZX about six months. I have known Munkacsy for at least as long as I have been writing this column, about ten years. Bill is a retired medical doctor and has transformed his hobby of growing exotic cactus plants into a thriving business. During these last ten years, he always drove a basic Chevrolet pickup truck that literally has never been washed. I had never even heard him make any automotive comments, so I was very astonished when he told me he had purchased this car.
«This car was a compromise,» Munkacsy stated. «I like convertibles, but Karla doesn`t. We desired something acute, sporty and not real expensive. I also dreamed a car that was original and in good form. I found this car on Craig`s List. I had seen this car listed for about two weeks, and I told Karla I desired to go and look at this car.» The duo agreed that they wouldn`t buy the car that day, just look.
«We went to Livermore and looked at the car. He was the 2nd proprietor and had had it for ten to twelve years. He only put Two,000 miles on it, but he liked it. He was moving to Italy, so he had to part with the car.» Karla drove the car and told Bill she loved it. «We asked how much, he said $Ten,000 and Karla said, ‘We`ll take it.` » (Bill thinks he could have bought it for $8,000.)
It is a beautiful car with only 61,000 original miles. When fresh, this car had a list price of $16,999, or about $44,000 in today`s dollars. It is powered by a single-overhead-cam turbo-charged inline six-cylinder engine rated at one hundred eighty HP. The Munkacsy car has a three-speed automatic transmission, but a five-speed manual was also available. The two-seater car is painted a rich, medium metallic brown and has a suntan leather interior. The rear-wheel-drive car has power steering, brakes and windows, but no air conditioning. This is a convertible compromise (neither Bill nor Karla were entirely sated) as this 280ZX is tooled with a «T-Top,» two lightly removable glass panels in the roof.
Could I now call Bill a «car nut?» No, but he promises he will wash it.