Wagon

[Dave Dennis]

This is probably going to sound silly, I am brand new to this site and forum, but here goes,I am looking for a station wagon, roughly from70 to 78, don’t care if it’s a 210-510 - 710.My name is Dave, thanks in advance

[datzenmike]

Well I have a wagon and I don't think it's silly to want one. The B-210 didn't have a wagon option but there are the 510, 610, 710 in those years and if willing to go newer, the '78- 810, '79- A10 HL510 and the '79- 210 all were in wagon trim. These were all still called Datsuns.

 

The 810 is a 6 cylinder car. All '78 ad up had internally regulated alternators and electronic ignitions, so there's that.

[sick620]

wagons are sweet.. they are getting hard to find for a reasonable price or for one in ok shape.. I would for sure keep an eye out on marketplace and craigslist and jump on one when an ok one comes up for a few grand or less, deals still come up but you have to be fast. 

[Dave Dennis]

Hello, wow thanks for responding, yeah I am going to have to be alert for one,but I am willing to spend a little more for one.I can tell this forum is going to be good, looks people are friendly and helpful.

[Dave Dennis]

Mike, you have a wagon but don’t want to sell??? Maybe?

[datzenmike]

Who would want to sell a wagon??? lol

[thisismatt]

You're in California?  You don't want a 76, 77, or 78.

[Dave Dennis]

No those years are fine with me

[thisismatt]

You want to track down and maintain 50 year old emission components and get biennial smog tests?  Ok...

[Dave Dennis]

I don’t understand? What do you mean?

[420n620]

thisismatt    -  You want to track down and maintain 50 year old emission components and get biennial smog tests?  Ok...

 

 

Dave Dennis  -   I don’t understand? What do you mean?

[datzenmike]

Prior to '75? vehicles are emissions exempt in Kalifornia. Technically they still have to have the emissions 'stuff' on, but no one checks this.

 

Know what you are buying. Don't buy someone else's piece of shit. Get the most complete example for the money that you can afford. Saving $200 on one over another isn't worth the extra $800 in parts you have to find and put on. Buy a car that has all the emissions equipment on and working, is being currently driven and has passed the smog and emissions testing. It has to pass a visual test also so that 'custom' air cleaner won't do. Do NOT discount automatics! They are survivors and almost always have not had the shit driven out of them simply because boring and no one want them. You can easily enough swap a manual into it later.

[Dave Dennis]

Ok I got and you make perfect sense, I appreciate your advice.Actually I am looking for an automatic.Would you say this forum is a good place to find a car?Where are you located?

[MikeRL411]

1 hour ago, datzenmike said:

Prior to '75? vehicles are emissions exempt in Kalifornia. Technically they still have to have the emissions 'stuff' on, but no one checks this.

 

Know what you are buying. Don't buy someone else's piece of shit. Get the most complete example for the money that you can afford. Saving $200 on one over another isn't worth the extra $800 in parts you have to find and put on. Buy a car that has all the emissions equipment on and working, is being currently driven and has passed the smog and emissions testing. It has to pass a visual test also so that 'custom' air cleaner won't do. Do NOT discount automatics! They are survivors and almost always have not had the shit driven out of them simply because boring and no one want them. You can easily enough swap a manual into it later.

 

California inspection requires the presence of smog components.  Not really required to have them connected and functional.  Got my 1970 Buick certified this way.  California built with CA approved special intake manifold for exhaust gas recirculation.  "Pink pages" in driver's manual pointing this out.  Inspector was pig headed and insisted that an approved smog retarder be visibly verifiable.  He would not look up the part number of the California special intake manifold. Bolted cheapest aftermarket unit to fender, coiled up the connecting wires and tied them off.  Approved unit verifiable, law did not say operable vs verifiable.  Passed inspection.

[thisismatt]

76 and newer require biennial smog testing in CA (there may still be a few remote rural counties that don't require this). Trying to maintain this requirement on a 50 year old vehicle is difficult.  C.A.R.B. requirements include visual inspection, so even if you could pass the sniffer test you will fail the visual inspection without the original parts.  You will notice vehicle prices in CA reflect the value of not having to get tested. For example, a 75 BMW 2002 is considerably more valuable than an equal condition 76 in CA.

[Dave Dennis]

Good to know Matt