Fishtails may be out but i guess you have never seen a rally car on tarmac like in a hill climb. We went to the classic hil climg at Noosa last year and it is very impressive to see
an Evo 4 Lancer four wheel spinning all the way around a 90 degree bend with the front of the car always facing the corner at about 45 degrees. The driver just lays it flat and steers
and looks straight ahead until that's where it goes. Would take good nerves until U got used to the style.

Ill add one of my dream cars...
a 1200 ute body, on a 4x4 chassis, like a suzuki sierra or something small. My other
fav vehicles are 4x4's.
just adding a new dimention to the 1200 scene.
linc
ps anyone else seen a 4x4 1200?

I saw a bumper sticker on a Suzuki that read, "IF YOU CAN READ THIS, TURN ME OVER." I personally do not even like to ride in vehicles that will turn over just by turning the steering wheel.
Almost all of the YUPPIE 4Xers will turn over in a panic situation, especially if they have big balloon tires on them. That is why the military quit using jeeps, they killed and maimed a lot
of people but idiots do not learn, they listen to other idiots. 4Xers have their purpose but that propose is not to be the everyday vehicle, SUVs are bigger sellers than cars now here in
America. My nephew, Roger, turned over his Toyota 4X4 by turning the steering wheel too quickly. He was wanting another one. I told him that if he wanted to kill himself that was OK with me
but I liked his wife, Tracy, (she was still in the hospital from the wreck) and I would kill him if he wrecked another 4X4 and hurt her again. I explained about big tires and 4xers and when
he turned the steering wheel, it took a bit of time before the tire tread on the ground turned and then it digs in and buckles under and the 4X4 turns over. He got a 280Z after that. Give me
something that handles any day over a piece of dangerous equiptment. Life is hard enough anyway without adding more danger into the situation.
Mareo

I dont wanna get into a debate about the pros and cons of 4x4's, but ill still respond..
they are like any other vehicle - treated and handled correctly, u should have no problems .
the car i had before my 1200 ute was a hilux 4x4, and i have never felt safer. it had been hit by 3 cars while i had it (all commodores actually lol), once i was pushed off the
road. all 3 times, it recieved no damage.
Obviously if i exceed a safe speed for the vehicle (taking into account tires, lift kits etc etc) then im asking for it, whether its a 1200 or 4x4.
BUT (and this may offend some people) if im going to be in a car crash/rollover/etc, id prefer the 4x4 than my 1200.
That said, if u wanna debate, im happy to, but do it via email, messenger etc etc cos this is THE HOUSE OF DATSUN!

cheers, linc.

lump_a_charcoal@yahoo.com

I agree, I think part of the attraction of driving a Datsun (certainly a 1200), is the death-defying feeling of driving one :) This could be 'the datsun difference'. Whatever it
is, I don't feel right driving anything else. I'm hoping my 1200 parts arrive soon from South Africa.

Chris.

Heavy 4x4's are great if you want to run into smaller lighter things. However when it comes to supporting their own mass during a rollover they don't do so well. Witness the carnage caused
by Explorers rolling in the US because of bad tyres.... and they are certainly heaps stronger than the Hilux. I have seen enough squashed-flat cabs in Hilux's in NZ to judge their safety -
the cab surface area is too small to support that weight. But I've also seen the results and heard a lot of stories from drivers and panel beaters about how well the 1200's hold up to a
good rolling. Their lighter mass and strong construction handle it surprisingly well.
If it's a head on then as a rule put me in the vehicle with the most mass.
And remember it's always best to avoid accidents - being hit 3 times and run off the road doesn't say much about your 4wd's manouverability - you should be glad to be out of that jinxed
ride!!

I've nearly rolled our works little Suzuki Sierra. Shat myself i tell ya. I was booting it pretty hard cause it was knockoff time and took a corner on a hill pretty fast and she
went up on 2 wheels but luckily landed back on 4. I havent driven it the same since! Now if a 1200 ute shell on a Suzuki 4wd would be cool, different and also gutless.

Scott
Davo

I have seen 1200's that were smashed all to hell but I never have known of anyone getting killed in an accident in one. The 1200 will fold up like an accordian. I have had three
very good friends killed in Jeeps that turned over but were not smashed up too badly. All three Jeeps turned over without hitting anything. I am sure that there have probably been
people killed in 1200's but I never have heard of any. My friend, Eddis Lowe was killed in a Subaru Brat accident but it didn't turn over, it was hit by a larger car.
Mareo

I'm not really sure why I'm beating this dead horse, sorry. The Subaru front axles are at an angle toward the front wheels. They don't stick straight out. I agree that there would be
a lot of weight in front of the wheels and it isn't a good idea, I just wanted to set that part of the record straight. I think if it could be done well, an AWD 1200 would be really
cool. What about a Porsche Carrera 4 setup? Move the engine to the rear! Okay, now I'm just trying to cause trouble. Tim

One tradeoff the 4WD conversion would bring to the table is WEIGHT. The 1200 is a VERY light car (the #1 reason I bought one!) at 1600lbs (744Kg). Adding all the 4WD goodies is
sure to add 3-400lbs (136-181Kg). With the time, effort and money, I'm not sure it's worthwhile - want 4wd? WRX I say .

Or you can build a AWD 1200 and have something very unique!

Dave Lum
'71 1200
'72 1600
'00 Maxima
www.datsuns.com