Sometimes, I get the urge to do something. I get the feeling I know I'm in for heartache and pain, but I do it anyways.

Here is my story.

For some reason, I decided it would be fun to look online for a Datsun 1200. I figured, "hey! They're old and I doubt there's some kind of crazy black hole of the darn things. I bet I could find one for a couple hundred bucks. That'd be awesome!"

I was incredibly peeved to discover the absolute dearth of 1200s/B110s online. Almost a famine of 1200s. And this, ladies and gents, is when passing interest became outright obsession.

Allow me to explain why this is important.

My father, many the year ago, did cross-country rallies. His vehicle of choice? A Datsun 1200. I remember that car. I remember sneaking into the garage as a young boy and pretending to drive that car at high speed.

When my parents divorced, for some inexplicable reason, my mother got possession of the 1200. My older sister ended up driving it until it failed to start one day on the street out front of our apartment.

Neither my sister nor my mother bothered to move it to the parking lot or get it running. Anything. It got ticketed and impounded.

My father and my brother teamed up to try and buy the 1200 at auction. It was all in vain. They failed.

And thus, here I am. I have a damn itch I can't scratch. I've looked at every single listing on Craigslist, for every state and city in the US and some in Canada.
I have saved searches on Ebay US, UK, CA, and AUS. (I don't have the vaguest idea what I would do if I won an auction in the UK or AUS).

I have this site's classified section on RSS so I can know, within moments of a post on that forum.

And yet...I still have come up virtually 1200-less.

So I ask: Where the hell are they? Where do you find a 1200? Even one that may need work. I have to know. My new obsession will not leave me in peace unless I either succeed or can legitimately claim that success is unattainable.

I'd LOVE to hear from you.

They are getting rare but you will find one i assure you. Joining here is a good start and many U.S members often post cars for sale there. So welcome to the site its great.

Thanks for the support.

I feel a bit like I'm looking at an onrushing wave though. I'm totally out of my depth. I'm hoping my dad can help me if I can just get around to finding a car to start work on. I'd love to be able to rebuild a car with my father.

But, again. Where do i look? Should I maybe call local wrecker lots? Is there a better way to search craigslist so I can get notified of any new listings?

I saw a forum post from a guy that somehow found a 1200 shell in excellent condition for 250 bucks, but he didn't say how he found it.

Ahh, bit emotional all of this.....

Anyway here is a link to 1200's sold in the US of A.

http://datsun1200.com/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=1200s_For_Sale

It's a pretty massive list and there always some in the classifieds so I reckon you're not looking hard enough. And when you ask should I maybe call local wreckers? Well how much do you want the car? Enough to pick up the phone or to go for a drive and a look around?

Calling your wreckers would be a good start and a really good idea mate.

If your father was into the 1200 wouldn't he be the first person to ask about trying to find one? Surely he must have some old connections.

Yes, there are about 10 for sale every month in USA alone.

I have a Datsun 1200 2-door Sedan daily driver, $4500 and it's yours. You can find better bargains if you are patient, I'm in no hurry to sell as I love this little car.

WOW! thats cheap DD.

Well in USA the 2-dr sedans are less desirable than Coupe. Two years ago one like mine was $2500, while a coupe was $3500. But this year nice stock sedans have sold for $3500 and $4000.

I could trade for Aussie ute or 2-dr wagon ... in USA we are Now able to import any 1984 or older vehicle (yahoo!). Shipping via container unfortunately would be about $2000.

I would really like an XB Coupe but those are now double the price of 5 years ago. Or are they? I heard the AUD has lost value in the last six months, while USD has gained.

I reckon $2000 for an FCL is pretty good dd, considering you can fit two whole cars and several extra's in.

Keep in mind the Van, Wagon could be lodged as a commercial vehicle which may attract less duty (I don't know what the deal with duty is in the states).

For a price comparison I shipped my little B10 from Townsville (north queensland) to Rabaul. Which isn't THAT far really for over $2000 Australian dollars.......

So I think your options are definitely pretty good.

There are some good deals on Ebay from time to time for US 1200's... Even here in South Africa you have to really shop around to get a good deal, most of them are rusted beyond help...

Problem here is that most of the really poor people have used them till they have litteraly fallen/rusted apart, very very rare to find one in good or rebuildable condition, when I say rebuildable I mean not having to replace every single item.

I know he's still in contact with one of the main guys that worked at Nissan in CA, but I don't know how he would know where to find one.

The thing about wrecker yards though, is I don't want to go to the trouble if all I'm going to find is a pile of rust or nothing at all. My question about the salvage yards was more along the lines of "Is it worthwhile? Can I find anything useful" than "Should I pick up the phone."