My Datsun 1600.

Datsun 1972 1600 release.

And it's not the baby boomer generation that drives growth. They are much younger people in their 20s and 30s who like the Mazdas, Datsuns and Toyotas of the sixties and seventies.

Brett Montague owned his 1972 1600 Datsun for four years. He and his father Jim found him in a Victorian house after a long search all over the country. “It was used as a paddock racing car,” says Brett.

What Brett liked was that, despite the dents and scratches, there was almost no rust on the car. He is a mechanic by profession, so the restoration did not cause him any trouble. While Brett wanted to keep the car as stock-produced as possible, the desire to use the car on a daily basis in 21st century traffic changed his mind about the direction of restoration.

Jim continues the story: "We wanted to keep it as standard as possible, but it soon became clear that a few modifications were needed to make it easier to drive in today's traffic to ensure reliability and handling." Brett says the original 1.6-liter engine has been replaced with a 2-liter version from the Datsun 200B. A pair of Weber carburetors were attached to its sides to increase power output.

“The disc brakes are slightly larger than the original ones, and the front seats are ex-Skylines. The gearbox is also the former 5-speed Skyline. It's slightly amplified in everything but the radio. It's still the original AM unit,” says Brett.

The attention to detail at Datsun is irresistible. The car looks brand new and gets rave reviews every time it is taken out for a show.

The 1600 was the car that really brought the Japanese manufacturer to the global stage. First released in 1968, it was sold as Bluebird in Japan, 510 in the US, and 1600 in other countries.

What set it apart was its independent rear suspension and standard front disc brakes in a world where massive rear axles with leaf springs and drum brakes were still forced on consumers. Datsun made no secret of the fact that they used BMW as both a reference and inspiration. Good thing they sold 1600 for half the price of a BMW.

The 1600's sophisticated suspension made them nimble racing and rally cars. They won their class at Bathurst in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, and rally success earned them must-have status in the arena.

David Burrell, editor of www.retroautos.com.au