Home » Rare Rear-Drive Coupes: 1974 Datsun 710 vs 1979 Mercedes 450SLC

Rare Rear-Drive Coupes: 1974 Datsun 710 vs 1979 Mercedes 450SLC

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Good morning, and welcome to the Two-Door Tuesday edition of Shitbox Showdown! Today, we have a pair of coupes that you don’t see around any more. But first, let’s finish up our name game from yesterday:

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Well, that’s the long and the short of it. And for what it’s worth, I agree; I still dig the Mini, but if it’s between this Mini and this Maxima, then for me the name is Nissan. I already have one cantankerous British hatchback to deal with; I don’t need another. (Yes, I know this one is technically German. That doesn’t make it better.)

Vidframe Min Top
Vidframe Min Bottom

Today, our choices may have some younger readers scurrying off on a Google search to learn just what the hell they are. Neither of these cars is at all common in the wild, and one of them I would have guessed was extinct by now. Yet here they are, both for sale here in Oregon, the magical land of forgotten cars. Both are automatics, both are rear wheel drive, and both have the best-looking headlight configuration – quad round sealed beams. Let’s have a look at them.

1974 Datsun 710 – $2,500

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Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter inline 4, 3 speed automatic, RWD

Location: Medford, OR

Odometer reading: ad says 7499…?

Runs/drives? Almost, but not quite

I’ll never understand why Nissan didn’t just use the home-market names for their cars in America. We could have had Sunnys and Bluebirds and Fairladys instead of a bunch of numbers that didn’t really correspond to the different sizes or trim levels of the cars. This car, in Japan, was known as the Nissan Violet. Doesn’t that sound friendlier than “Datsun 710”?

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I do like the looks of these old Datsuns, though. Too bad they’ve been lost to time except for a few “greatest hits.” But then, that seems to be the way of things: everybody over-plays “Don’t Stop Believin’,” when the second cut on Journey’s Escape album, “Stone In Love,” is at least as good a song, if not better. Datsun 510s and Z-cars are revered, and the poor 710 and 610, both rear-wheel-drive cars with sharp styling, are resigned to the junkyard of history.

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This 710 isn’t exactly a showpiece, but it’s probably one of the nicest ones left. Some bits of the interior are obviously incorrect, and the front bumper is MIA, but this isn’t the sort of car you nut-and-bolt restore back to original anyway. It’s a lightweight rear-wheel-drive shell, a blank slate that you can modify and tweak to your heart’s content.

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Of course, you could bring the little L18 four-cylinder back to life and just drive it as-is. The engine ran not too long ago, it sounds like, and the paint is still shiny, so it’s not a bad starting point. You’ll still be the talk of Cars & Coffee. But a manual swap would make this little car a lot more fun to drive, and more power couldn’t hurt either, of course. However you do it, it would be a neat car to get back on the road. It’s nice to see a few “deep cuts” like this running around still.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC – $1,850

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Engine/drivetrain: 4.5 liter V8, 3 speed automatic, RWD

Location: Portland, OR

Odometer reading: Just under 200,000 miles

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Runs/drives? Yep

The Mercedes SLC lives in the shadow of its convertible sister model, the SL. The two cars share a platform and drivetrain, but the SLC adds about 14 inches to the wheelbase, a back seat fit for actual passengers, and a sleek pillarless hardtop roofline. It also commands far less attention and a much smaller price tag than the SL.

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This 1979 model is a 450SLC, which by Mercedes’s reckoning, means it has a 4.5 liter engine. As a US model, this one has a soggy low-compression version of the M117 single-overhead-cam V8, and giant Federally-mandated 5 mph bumpers. It’s a full thirty horsepower down from the same car in Europe, and eight inches longer from those big silly bumpers. No wonder gray-market imports of European Mercedes were so popular.

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These have always been lower value than the convertible SL models, but I can’t understand why this one is so cheap. The seller calls it a “project car,” but also says it “runs and drives good.” The exterior looks fantastic and is a great color. The interior is scruffy, but serviceable, and it has a nice Nardi (or Nardi knockoff) steering wheel in place of the ugly stock Mercedes wheel.

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Honestly, this looks like a nice weekend cruiser as is, unless it won’t pass smog (it was last registered in 2014) or the transmission is on the way out or something. The ad is very light on specifics, so a test-drive is the only way to find out. The ad has only been up for a day, and I suspect that it won’t be up much longer, if this car is as nice as it looks.

Tomorrow is a bit of a special occasion, and I’ve got something celebratory planned, but for today, these are your choices: a nearly-forgotten Japanese coupe, and a German hardtop overshadowed by its drop-top sibling. Neither one is perfect, but either one could turn some heads with a little work. Which one will it be?

Quiz maker

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(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)

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Boxing Pistons
Boxing Pistons
2 years ago

I have always loved the SLs of this era, so this one is an easy choice for me. That SLC oozes class. Of course, some additional inspection is in order given the “too good to be true” price. If it is all in (relative) order, buy it, clean it up a bit, throw some euro style bumpers on it and cruise!

DarKhorse
DarKhorse
2 years ago

That Mercedes is nice, but I have too many fond memories of bombing around in my friend’s 1975 Datsun B210 Honeybee, as well as my faithful 1976 King Cab pickup that I drove all through high school. Gotta go with the beautiful blue 710. I’d have to try to talk the seller down and do a manual swap, but that Datsun is a sweet little machine. If restored properly, that engine should eke out close to 50 MPG, which puts it in Prius territory in terms of mileage if not in safety.

eldesonbenrobot turds
eldesonbenrobot turds
2 years ago

The Datsun all damned day. You’ll see 100 of those Mercedes before you ever see another one of these.

HooDooGuru
HooDooGuru
2 years ago

The 710 was my first car and I ran it into the ground. However it had a manual and was fun to drive, the slushbox kills it for me. Merc.

Boulevard_Yachtsman
Boulevard_Yachtsman
2 years ago

I really like the SLCs, maybe even more than the SLs – great looking coupes. And that one looks quite nice for the asking price. I see stuff like that around here for twice as much only to get to the description and see “engine has loud knock” or “needs frame repaired before driving”. Also, not having the front bumper on the Datsun would drive me nuts and I can’t imagine they’re easy to source.

Jamanred
Jamanred
2 years ago

The Mercedes does appear to have been in a minor accident. The front bumper has a slight bend and the fog lights on the driver’s side are broken. But that is even more reason to dump the bumper for a Euro spec and refresh the lights. No pic of the driver’s side to see if there is any damage though.

CivicDisobedience
CivicDisobedience
2 years ago

Mark, I’m totally with you on “Stone in Love.” The lyrics are almost as awesome as the hook. “In the heat with a blue jean girl” is unironical genius.

Gotta be the Datsun. Something is definitely not right about the price on that M-B.

Jamanred
Jamanred
2 years ago

Mercedes Mercedes Mercedes. Yes you can still buy OEM parts direct from Mercedes on these. There is a healthy aftermarket for interior parts as well (seat covers, door panels, dashboards). With it’s age and mileage, I would bet it just needs a new suspension and bushing replacements (yes, at a cost usually more than the selling price of this specimen). These older German vehicles used an epoxy based paint which allows them to still shine 40 years later. This one looks like it was taken care of for the most part..maybe not to showroom quality, but nicely for a daily. I have seen local examples in the $6k range for mid 80’s models which would still need a new suspension to get them truly roadworthy. So, this price is pretty good to me. I still prefer the SL. 86-89 is the last gen for this body style and is my dream vehicle…but yowsers have they gone up in value.

mocamino
mocamino
2 years ago

If the Merc was a convertible, the answer is easy. Then again, if it was a droptop, it wouldn’t be that cheap. Still….I’d rather have the Datsun.

365daytonafan
365daytonafan
2 years ago

Mercedes all the way although the price does raise a flag that this is a scam or it doesn’t actually run. I’m glad it is the other coast from me otherwise I would be really tempted.

acrimoniousmofo
acrimoniousmofo
2 years ago

I really really really wanted to vote for Datsun, but $2500 is a big ask for a non-running, not particularly special old coupe that will need parts made of pure unobtainium, and–as presented herein–the Benz is in a lot better condition, for less money.

IRegertNothing, Esq.
IRegertNothing, Esq.
2 years ago

This one is a tough call. I’ll go with the Datsun because of the rarity and because I don’t trust that the Mercedes is as sound as it looks. Runs and drives does not necessarily mean the car is safe or legal for public roads.

Mr.Asa
Mr.Asa
2 years ago

Damn. This is one of the harder ones to chose.
I think I’d go with Mercedes as the Datsun proclivity to rust away to nothing scares me a bit more than whatever is hiding in the MB

sc00t3r
sc00t3r
2 years ago

“best-looking headlight configuration – quad round sealed beams” is close but not quite right…

Horizontal: 2nd best
Vertical: BEST (e.g. 1967 GTO)

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago
Reply to  sc00t3r

This for the win. Same year Ford Fairlane for me.

chewymilk
chewymilk
2 years ago
Reply to  Jack Trade

I want the Mercedes but went with the Datsun.
Mostly because I won’t feel as bad gutting the drivetrain and suspension and replaceing it with something a little more modern (maybe Ecoboost mated to a Miata transmission) and much more rally/ Baja like.

parsko
parsko
2 years ago

Datsun, cause it AIN’T a Nissan.

Iain Delaney
Iain Delaney
2 years ago

The Datsun is just too expensive, especially considering it doesn’t run. I suspect sourcing parts is going to be difficult. A pity, because it’s an interesting car and in good shape.

JDE
JDE
2 years ago
Reply to  Iain Delaney

yep, the price is about where it should be running and driving, maybe….also the motor could just need new gas or the worst case, a complete engine rebuild just to make it run. Because of that he thing should be sub $1k at best. The Merc is actually pretty clean, the parts are surprising attainable and I live in a non smog state.

dogisbadob
dogisbadob
2 years ago

I like the C107 more than I should. Normally, Nissan/Datsun is better than Mercedes, but in *this* showdown, *this* Mercedes is better than *this* Datsun.

Both are cool colors

10001010
10001010
2 years ago

I’ve gotta go back to the Datsun

Donald Petersen
Donald Petersen
2 years ago

This took some considering. I generally don’t like Nissans or Benzes, but both of these are uncharacteristically attractive. The Mercedes has a gorgeous profile, but that Datsun’s blue is to die for (and it looks great sans bumper!). If the Datsun had a stick it would have edged out a win, but as it sits, with two slushboxes to choose from, I’ll take the V8.

zrpm
zrpm
2 years ago

I too dig the bumperless look of the Datsun. It would look neat with some rally lights in place of the bumper mounting flanges.

Shop-Teacher
Shop-Teacher
2 years ago

I’ll take the Datsun. I’ll end up having a lot more fun with that, than the Mercedes. I grew up in a wealthy town in the 80’s, and these Mercs were crawling all over the place. Their styling never did anything for me. I find them impossibly boring.

zrpm
zrpm
2 years ago
Reply to  Shop-Teacher

Solidly on Team Datsun here, though I’d opt for rare Japanese weirdness over buttoned up German luxury in most cases, FWIW.

Question for some of the other commenters – when did Mercedes steal the Merc shorthand from Mercury? Was it shortly after the latter marque met its demise? The shorthand was Benz for as long as I can remember.

Wayward Drifter
Wayward Drifter
2 years ago
Reply to  zrpm

I’m guessing it is a region thing. I don’t think they had Mercury in Europe, and with its demise, the European nickname for Mercedes gained traction here

bracq p
bracq p
2 years ago

450SLC all the way, the detuned M117 can be convinced to show some more enthusiasm by advancing the timing. Rust is always an issue, but it looks pretty good from the pictures and there are so many parts to sell off in case it turns out undriveable.

On the 2nd picture of the Datsun the “hump” to the C-pillar irritates me, is there really that much sheet metal or is the angle just unfavourable? Looks like the car equivalent of shrugging your shoulders.

Jack Trade
Jack Trade
2 years ago

Mercedes for me. I’m not enough of the Japanese car nut to really love the idea of restoring a basic coupe from that era, and maybe it’s just me, but I just love Mercedes’ almost Bauhaus interiors of that time – they always seem to telegraph luxury as being about clean, simple but bold design.

Esp. cf. what was on tap from the domestics back then. Ugh.

DoYouHaveAMomentToTalkAboutRenaults
DoYouHaveAMomentToTalkAboutRenaults
2 years ago

Ok, this one is quite the dilemma. Normally I’d see a Datsun and that would be it, but this one’s a bit pricey, especially when compared to the 450SLC, which is also in much better condition. Yeah, I’ll go with the Merc.

FrankenCamry
FrankenCamry
2 years ago

Have to go with the Benz here. It’ll always look more expensive than it is, and parts will always be easier to find, even if they’re expensive.

Man With A Reliable Jeep
Man With A Reliable Jeep
2 years ago

I love and appreciate that the Datsun is so well-preserved. If you wanted a clean 710 and try your damndest to fight entropy with, this would be the one. But in the end, the MB is so much more vehicle for so much less. I also find the styling the more appealing of the two, which is maybe a foregone conclusion. My vote is MB, barring some qualifying questions to the owner, and the corresponding answers.

DubblewhopperNdubbletrubble
DubblewhopperNdubbletrubble
2 years ago

Datsun all the way!!! I love the blue and the car is soo much cleaner once you get rid of those atrocious bumpers. And swap out that damn automatic.

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