surfingcowboy Posted September 17, 2023 Report Share Posted September 17, 2023 My Pl 521 1600 was manufactured in December of 1969. It has round side reflectors. Yesterday at the Route 66 Reunion car show in Ontario, CA, I saw a photo of a 1969 521 without any reflectors at all on the sides of the truck (rear and front fenders). Was that original? Or, did all 1969 trucks have round reflectors. In over 50 years, I've only seen one other 521 1600 with round reflectors. My recollection is that in 1970 the 521 changed to rectangular reflectors. Can anyone confirm that? Also, did the 1971 or 1972 model have rectangular running lights that replaced the side reflectors? Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 Welcome, My 521 has the round reflectors. 1 Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 19 hours ago, surfingcowboy said: My Pl 521 1600 was manufactured in December of 1969. It has round side reflectors. Yesterday at the Route 66 Reunion car show in Ontario, CA, I saw a photo of a 1969 521 without any reflectors at all on the sides of the truck (rear and front fenders). Was that original? Or, did all 1969 trucks have round reflectors. In over 50 years, I've only seen one other 521 1600 with round reflectors. My recollection is that in 1970 the 521 changed to rectangular reflectors. Can anyone confirm that? Also, did the 1971 or 1972 model have rectangular running lights that replaced the side reflectors? I know my 72 521 has the square side marker lights... not sure on anything else... Quote Link to comment
NC85ST Posted September 18, 2023 Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 My ‘70 has the rectangle side marker lights. Quote Link to comment
surfingcowboy Posted September 18, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2023 Thanks for the feedback. It all fits. My research since posting this is that the federal law regarding side markers was that at least reflectors were required in either 1968 or '69, depending on the source of the information. Everyone is in agreement that 1970 was the first year of required running lights on the side. I'll be posting my truck for sale in the next few days here. I'm the second owner, bought it in 1972 with 40k miles. Pretty much all original. Runs great. Have a good spare engine too. Just showed it this weekend for the first time at the Route 66 car show in Ontario, CA. I've put $8k into the restoration so far… Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 There were several styles but I think all 520s and L521s (J13s) had round rear reflectors. The PL521 October '69 and on ('70 model year with L16) were rear red rectangular with bulbs. Front fenders were amber arrow shape electrical from May '68 till Sept '69 when they became amber rectangular for the '70 model year. I've seen a J13 powered 520/L521? with the electrical amber arrow front markers. Tried removing but so rusty. 1 Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 5 hours ago, surfingcowboy said: Thanks for the feedback. It all fits. My research since posting this is that the federal law regarding side markers was that at least reflectors were required in either 1968 or '69, depending on the source of the information. Everyone is in agreement that 1970 was the first year of required running lights on the side. I'll be posting my truck for sale in the next few days here. I'm the second owner, bought it in 1972 with 40k miles. Pretty much all original. Runs great. Have a good spare engine too. Just showed it this weekend for the first time at the Route 66 car show in Ontario, CA. I've put $8k into the restoration so far… Your pics are too small..... 😄 Mine has an L16 and the round lights. Not exactly sure on the year. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 October '69 is the introduction of the rectangular front and rear marker lights however the L16 was introduced 4? months earlier in July 69 so yes! there are PL521s with round rear marker lights. What are on the front fenders? Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 2 hours ago, datzenmike said: There were several styles but I think all 520s and L521s (J13s) had round rear reflectors. The PL521 October '69 and on ('70 model year with L16) were rear red rectangular with bulbs. Front fenders were amber arrow shape electrical from May '68 till Sept '69 when they became amber rectangular for the '70 model year. I've seen a J13 powered 520/L521? with the electrical amber arrow front markers. Tried removing but so rusty. US never had this style marker Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 Very possible. Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 8 hours ago, datzenmike said: October '69 is the introduction of the rectangular front and rear marker lights however the L16 was introduced 4? months earlier in July 69 so yes! there are PL521s with round rear marker lights. What are on the front fenders? Mine are round front and rear. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted September 19, 2023 Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 Well my information is from Nissan but Nissan is chock full of exceptions . Should have got the year on that truck from Saskatchewan. Note the two different front running/turn signal lights. My '68 510 had amber turn signal lenses that the US didn't get. Quote Link to comment
surfingcowboy Posted September 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 To be clear, this truck is original. It has round reflectors, not lights, on the front and rear fenders. It was manufactured in 12/1969 and first sold in California. Quote Link to comment
surfingcowboy Posted September 19, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2023 Again, mine is a L16 (1600). Quote Link to comment
]2eDeYe Posted September 20, 2023 Report Share Posted September 20, 2023 Sounds pretty much the same as mine. Quote Link to comment
surfingcowboy Posted September 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2023 Again, can anybody tell me what my truck is worth as I described it? What are Pl521s going for in good running condition? I'll be posting my truck for sale in the next few days here. I'm the second owner, bought it in 1972 with 40k miles. Pretty much all original. Runs great. Have a good spare engine too. Just showed it this weekend for the first time at the Route 66 car show in Ontario, CA. I've put $8k into the restoration so far… Quote Link to comment
thisismatt Posted September 20, 2023 Report Share Posted September 20, 2023 Five, maybe six dollars given the pictures you've posted 3 Quote Link to comment
surfingcowboy Posted September 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2023 Cannot figure out how to post pics here. All I see is the inner image from URL. How do I post pics from my computer? I tried dragging a pic in and it doesn't seem to work. Quote Link to comment
Crashtd420 Posted September 20, 2023 Report Share Posted September 20, 2023 4 hours ago, surfingcowboy said: Again, can anybody tell me what my truck is worth as I described it? What are Pl521s going for in good running condition? I'll be posting my truck for sale in the next few days here. I'm the second owner, bought it in 1972 with 40k miles. Pretty much all original. Runs great. Have a good spare engine too. Just showed it this weekend for the first time at the Route 66 car show in Ontario, CA. I've put $8k into the restoration so far… Take a look at b.a.t. https://bringatrailer.com/datsun/pickup/ I'm actually surprised at some of the current prices.... I see them as low as 5,000... An SR powered 521 sold for 6900 I think it said... And a refreshed stock one for over 17000..... There is one currently bidding at 8100... follow it and see what it sells for.... around 10,000 possibly..... You should be able to compare what yours looks like to those that are being sold.... Quote Link to comment
surfingcowboy Posted September 20, 2023 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2023 Thanks!! Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.