1969 Datsun 1600 Roadster California survivor with original paint for $12,995
Clean-title, running CA roadster with original paint, priced near the bottom of real sales.
Why we picked it
Why we picked it: this is a 1969 Datsun 1600 Roadster (VIN prefix SPL311) in red with a black interior and a new black soft top. It has the 1.6-liter R16 four and a 4-speed manual. The private seller in North Hollywood calls it a California survivor with mostly original paint, a clean California title, a recent full mechanical inspection and freshly rebuilt carburetors. The asking price is $12,995.
Original 1600 Roadsters have been selling for $11,750 to $24,750, and the better drivers land in the high teens. A dry-state car with a clean title at this price leaves real budget for sorting and upgrades. A 1969 car with 64k on a 5-digit odometer may well have rolled over, so judge it by condition, not by the mileage.
The value check
The seller is asking $12,995. Comparable cars in the same condition have sold for $11,750–$24,750, so the middle of the market is about $18,250. That put this car 29% under.
Original-condition 1600 Roadsters sold for $11,750 to $24,750 at BaT, Hagerty, Mecum and Barrett-Jackson over the past 12 months (classic.com CMB is $17,048). At $12,995 this one is about 29% under the $18,250 midpoint.
- 1970 1600 Roadster, Hagerty Sep 2026, $15,500
- 1969 1600 Roadster, BaT Sep 2026, $11,750
- 1967.5 1600 Roadster, BaT Aug 2026, $14,250
- 1966 1600 Roadster, BaT Jul 2026, $24,750
- classic.com Datsun 1600 Roadster sold results
What to check
- Check for rust in the rocker panels, the floor pans under the mats, the rear wheel arches, the trunk floor and the lower front fenders behind the wheels.
- The listing does not mention rust. Ask for underside photos or an inspection before you travel.
- The 5-digit odometer may have rolled over. Ask for any service records that back up the 64,290 figure.
- Look at the soft top frame, the windshield frame chrome and the side-curtain-era trim pieces, since some trim is getting hard to find.
- Freshly rebuilt SU-type carburetors need correct syncing. Check for a smooth idle and no fuel smell.
Making it drive like new
Keep the original paint and do upgrades that can be undone. Fit a 5-speed from a later Datsun with an adapter, a Wilwood or 240Z-based front disc upgrade, poly bushings, modern radial tires on 14-inch wheels, electronic ignition and an aluminum radiator. A three-point belt mount and a modest roll hoop make it safer without changing how it looks.
