Do Datsuns rot in Japan?

Wyn

Wyn

Club Member
Just watched a vid of an exported jap 240z to Auz that got me thinking
The car sure looks minty mint
So do the jap cars not rot like ours over here?
Are the streets/scrap/junk yards not littered with ol rot box Z's

Are they valued over there as much, or are they all being restored n shipped out ?
 
Mr.G

Mr.G

Club Member
Don't know if true but I heard that they don't use salt on their roads like we do.
 
Graeme260z

Graeme260z

Forum User
I worked in Japan for a few months and asked about old cars I was told they don’t corrode because the atmosphere is very dry so no moister gets in the cavities of the bodywork where most of the corrosion comes from. If you take a door panel or rear quarter panel off a UK car in damp weather you will often see it’s wet on the inside from condensation that’s why we need anti corrosion aids like electro dip and waxoyl type products. They also have very strict MOT tests that cover cosmetic defects as well as structural faults. For example cigarette burns in seats and body work damage have to be repaired for the test so old cars that are on the road are in very good condition.
 
SeanDezart

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
900ss said:
Just watched a vid of an exported jap 240z to Auz that got me thinking
The car sure looks minty mint
So do the jap cars not rot like ours over here?
Are the streets/scrap/junk yards not littered with ol rot box Z's

Are they valued over there as much, or are they all being restored n shipped out ?
Click to expand...

Such sweet innocence............:rolleyes: !
 
Aceman

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
My 20 year old RX7 I imported is rust free and certainly led a hard life out there! Not much to go on I know, but I was quietly impressed at the condition none the less.
 
Mr.F

Mr.F

Inactive
My 23 year old 200ZR imported from Japan about three years ago - immaculate underneath with barely a trace of the ferrous oxide. Had to drop the fuel tank recently - not a job I'd like to attempt on a rusty UK Z31 - and all the little 8mm bolts on the filler neck and pump retaining plate came undone cleanly with no breakages! Filler neck which corrodes as you watch it on a UK car was almost like new...
 
richiep

richiep

Club Member
900ss said:
So a better place to buy then the states?
Click to expand...

Not with the current Yen to Pound exchange rate...

Getting a good S30 from Japan could be a very costly exercise compared to the US. It depends on what your motivations are. Looking for the cheap option? Forget it. Looking for a genuine JDM car of a type not available elsewhere and willing to pay for it (HS30H, etc.) - be prepared to pay for it.

There was a 75 FairladyZ with 3.1 stroker imported by Newera a couple of years ago - think it went to Ireland. It was 18k and IMO not as minty and well sorted as I would expect for that money had it been a restored UK car or a converted US import (I could certainly ave done a better job myself for the cash). Depends on what you are looking for though.

As Ian notes, rust isn't totally absent from Japanese cars either.

The Count may have some specific views on this topic, so I defer to his wisdom! :bow:
 
SeanDezart

SeanDezart

Well-Known Forum User
Back in the Nineties, I helped a Japanese guy export a UK 240Z to Japan........he was wealthy enough as he had two BMW Alpinas and a big Nissan (President ?) saloon in Tokyo !

I bought a 1983 RS30 Skyline off him before he left - fabulous car (but rusty) !
 
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