bumpsmac

I appreciate everyone's input on this. And I'm happy to say that my insurance company, State Farm, did right by me. They did declare it a total loss -- but because they couldn't find replacement parts, not necessarily because the repair cost (in the hypothetical world where a replacement hatchback door could be found) was too high relative to the car's value. To determine the value, they used NADA, rather than Blue Book or Edmunds. As others in this thread already noted, NADA gives the average retail for that year/model as $4800. But because my car was in good shape, State Farm actually valued it at six grand! And they're letting me buy it back for $800, which I could probably double if I wanted to part it out (I don't). So I guess I'm in the market for a new old car. And I'll put my 510 in the garage until I can find a rear door for it. I can't promise that everyone would have the same experience. It might have worked to my benefit that Datsuns are so rare in the midwest. And I also think that it helped that the body shop estimator was a big Nissan/Datsun fan. He put in a lot of effort to try to locate parts and I think that helped convince State Farm that the car had some real value.

Joel -- Yeah, I guess that's my question, whether anyone has any experience demonstrating that the value is greatly in excess of KBB value.

I got rear-ended yesterday in my 1970 510 wagon. The rear bumper and hatch are badly dented, but I think those are the only parts of the body itself that will have to be replaced. There is at least one cracked taillight lens. I think the frame might have skated by undamaged, but I'm not equipped to say for sure. Anyone have any experience or tips for dealing with an insurance company? I suspect that State Farm will want to declare the car totaled, even before bothering to figure out how hard it will be to get the parts. (I'm in Missouri -- there are approximately zero Datsuns around here. Also, as an added wrinkle, my 510 has the vinyl top.) I will not let them scrap it; it's too good of a car. But I also don't want to accept a payment that won't get the car back to where it was. So if anyone has any thoughts, I'd welcome them. And if anyone has a line on a hatch door (preferably with white vinyl top) and/or a rear bumper, let me know. Thanks.

KING RAT: Thanks, this is very helpful. The gas gauge still works, by the way, so it sounds like the temp sender is the likely problem.

Thanks! It's the same one that used to belong to uieluck! Light blue w/white vinyl top. I'll post a current pic shortly. As far as engine/transmission/suspension/brakes, I'm not aware of any problemts. But the speedometer/odometer/engine temp gauge are dead, and the hose from the fuel filler tube to the gas tank leaks. I am no mechanic, but I can probably handle replacing the hose. Not sure where to start with the odometer/speedometer. I'm hopeful that this will be the car I actually learn to work on, but I'm eager to get it to pass the state inspection so I can start driving it.

I just bought a 1970 510 wagon and drove it back to Kansas City from western Illinois. It'll be my daily driver once I get a couple things fixed and shoulder belts installed. If anyone can recommend a mechanic or mechanics in town who are good with these cars, please share.

uieluck -- Forgive my ignorance, but do you mind telling me what you meant by "semi needs work" and "brakes are hammered"?