Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

This month I got the chance of a lifetime. A left-hand drive 1979 Nissan President (HL250) was up for sale in Finland. I have never seen a Nissan President in real life, but I knew I wanted one, the minute I saw the ad. These cars were never sold outside of Japan. The few cars exported from Japan, would be cars to be used by the foreign services of Japan, like embassies and other official representation. On some very few occasions Nissan corporation would give a President as a gift to someone they thought deserved it.

This car has the rare Nissan Y44 4.4 liter V8 with 200 hp and automatic transmission. Being a left-hand drive the car is ultra rare. More so than even the first Silvia CSP311. How many that was made of the HL250 is not known, but the most optimistic estimate is about 250 cars.

My car was imported to Finland by the Japanese embassy in 1979. They used it for official service until 1982/1983 when the car was sold off to a finnish citizen. Since then it has had a couple of owners. The car has not been used since 2001/2002. For 6-7 years it has been subjected to the harsh finnish climate and suffered seriously from that.

There isn't much rust, but three or four places needs some welding. Chrome, paint and interior is bad. Engine and transmission seems to be in perfect order.

NICE CAR! You will now be a man of distinction. I have owned most models of Datsuns in my lifetime but this is one I, too, would love to own. Keeps us posted on your progress and I want to hear your impression on how it rides when you get it on the road. NICE FIND!

Thanks Paul, will keep you posted

That's very cool. Get it fixed up. and drive around town with one of those little diplomatic flags flapping on the fender! Japanese, of course!

MTyler wrote:That's very cool. Get it fixed up. and drive around town with one of those little diplomatic flags flapping on the fender! Japanese, of course!

...or, going with the 21st Century trend, decals that list the Datsun Parts Online website URL.