So I found a 1980 Datsun 210 (120y B-310 ) 4 door at a garadge sale for 150$ US, and I'm madly in love with it, It's clean, 1 previous owner, decent paint, interior is dry but seats are cracked. I'd like to restore it as much as possible and/or try to get more power out of it. I've never been a classic car person before, and don't really know what the Do's and Don't are for this kind of thing. One of the front fenders has been repainted at some point and the pinstriping is gone there. It also has all of it's smog gear.

So my question is:

What can be done to get more power out of it? Are these types of mods frowned uppon by classic car enthusiasts?

Can a full replacement of the pinstriping be done without losing value?

What's more important in your opinion, A powerful fast car with less stock parts or a unmodified car with no power and alot of cosmetic restoration?


I'd like this to be my project car, but I don't know which way to go here...

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nice buy dude,alot of potential in the 310 and easy car to work on,me id lower it to ground and leave it ha,but seriously should think about getting an a15(1500cc) motor with some simple mods for bit more power and torque,do you know what size engine its got?(will till u on plates)u can do alot to these cars on a small budget if u put the hard yards in,and you could easily spend a small fortune aswell,the thing is i dont think spare parts are as easy to come across over there compared to aus,you prbably find if you give her a good tune and spend money rebuilding your carby and fixing exhuast leaks and stuff it will go alot better.when u modify one things going to lead to another so think before u start spending,
1.depends how much power,alot of custom machine work and expensive parts needed for some decent power,and wont be very street happy.but a almost stock engine with small cam elect ign and twin carbies will push it along still,which can be done on small budget and be very reliable still.thats why most people take the conversion path, may cost you 10k aus to make an engine that makes less power than ca18det and they sell for round 1-2k,
2.some people dont like seeing good original dattos bought then cut up to fit big heavy engines in.but its your car and as long as it stays on the road any true classic guru should respect.
3.depends how good u are at replacing i spose
4.how LOW the car is to ground and how reliable main priority

A 310 is a fwd vehicle. That mates is a B310, look at the ID plate in the engine compartment, it will say B310 (A12A engine) HB310 (A14 engine) or PB310 (A15 engine).

You can do whatever you want to it. It has no value as a "classic" -- it's not old enough yet to be a classic.

Nice, so where are you located?

B310 is one of the best Datsuns ever. More roomy than the 1200.

If it has an automatic, the best thing you can do for POWER is to swap in a manual transmission. Difference is night and day, faster accleration.

You can do whatever you want to it. It has no value as a "classic"


bite your tongue mister! to me they are classic and an awesome car, much can be done with them with the right moola. all i would do is either get an a14 or a15, 5 speed manual, paint job and lower. That is all! hahaha

I like them, I had one once it was a piece of unroadworthy crap. Somebody had bogged up the rust in the chassis, didn't know until it fell out.
Still was a fun car.

you should sell the 1200's levey and get the upgrade...the b310 woohoo!

Haha, that's funny, gotta keep the true classic ( and live without the extra features damn it)