Ben Martin's '81 Datsun 810 Diesel PARTS CAR

[83_maxima]

Browsing Craigslist this evening waiting for the thundershower to stop, I come across the ONLY OTHER diesel maxima I have ever seen in Colorado. Runs around my neighborhood and lived around the corner! In Denver For Sale for $400 OBO. Hit and run in right rear, 209,xxx miles, but runs out just fine and is complete. Got the whole bit for $300. The body is tweaked around the rear door frame, and the body is pretty rusted, but the impact broke no glass - complete wagon greenhouse!

It's got a working glow system (which my car does not have) too, so I think that will be the first thing I take a look at - try to find out what is different, etc.

I think I'll just keep it a mobile parts bin until I have some room and time to strip it.

Pics coming...

[asavage]

You owe me pics of the instrument cluster and the dual mirror controls, and anything else you find that is unique to 1981!

[philip]

You owe me pics of the instrument cluster and the dual mirror controls, and anything else you find that is unique to 1981!

The original speedo on my truck. The buyer wanted to have one with a "trip-odometer" which took some months to get ... back in 1982. That's why there's 12k miles shown. The other 180k is on the "trip-odo" replacement.

[83_maxima]

A few pics...

And Al, I've got your pics now, so I will send them to you. Tried to find all of the unique bits to the 81.

My car came off the assembly line first. 254th unit built in 4/81. The "Parts Bin" (PB) rolled off the next month (5/81) being the 867th unit produced.

The PB



The Damage



Nice engine bay. It's got a huge exhaust leak, and starts up in seconds. My car requires three cycles of the glow plugs...Will be looking into this further. So, it runs out like a champ. The body is rotting away around it, but it is still going strong! And NO SMOKE. NO KIDDING. I am tempted to license it so I can run a tank of fuel through it and document the mileage. My car smokes quite a bit, and I get a consistent 24.5/27mpg city/hwy.



Damage from the inside, pass. doors are pushed together, body is buckled in the middle from the impact (and probably the rust too).

[asavage]

Would one of you 1981 owners see if the your hood ornament looks like the '82?

[83_maxima]

Yes it does.

[74260Z]

Have you sold the engine out of that car yet? I'm looking for a diesel crank. I'd understand if you weren't willing to sell just that part. On the other hand if you were that would be great. However, I am still willing to deal either way.

Thanks

Mike

[83_maxima]

The engine has been gone for a long time...but I would have never sold it for the crank anyway...

[Dr. Jones]

Way to keep another LD 28 from being molested.