Junkyard Find: 1982 Datsun 280C Aka Nissan Cedric
During my trip to Sweden a few months ago, I watched a Volvo 244 triumph at a Folkrace, saw some great restored Detroit iron, and— of course— went to the junkyard. In fact, I went to one of the best junkyards I’ve ever seen: Bloms Bilskrot, located near the northern town of Söråker. We’ve taken a detailed look at this 1966 Toyota Crown wagon, this 1963 Ford Taunus 17M, this California-customized 1969 Ford Econoline van, this 1964 Simca 1000, and now it’s the turn of a not-sold-in-North-America fifth-generation Nissan Cedric.
This one is pretty mossy, but still has some useful parts.
The 280C version came with the same L28 as the 280ZX, but it could also be had with a diesel version known as the LD28.
Since there’s a glow-plug indicator light on the dash, this car should be an oil-burner.
The European version appears to have been given English-language dash controls.
The next generation of this car came with a V6 and the endorsement of Jack Nicklaus. Wait, wasn’t he supposed to stay loyal to the Isuzu Statesman Deville?
Murilee Martin is the pen name of Phil Greden, a writer who has lived in Minnesota, California, Georgia and (now) Colorado. He has toiled at copywriting, technical writing, junkmail writing, fiction writing and now automotive writing. He has owned many terrible vehicles and some good ones. He spends a great deal of time in self-service junkyards. These days, he writes for publications including Autoweek, Autoblog, Hagerty, The Truth About Cars and Capital One.
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Was this Datsun 'Euro Buick' for doctors & bank mngrs seeking 1st starts & no dabbling? Plastic wood & plush blue reminds me of 60's BMC Vanden Plas. Though it 'wood' have been genuine... The Japs loved it. I'll guess from lead shot Cedric popped a huge trunk with pokey rear legroom? Shades of B13 Sentra.
That gauge cluster could have come right out of a late 60's Mopar product.