Friday Video: Hamanako to Haneda Airport with the Nippon Datsun Club of 1961

Rather than showing you clips of Nissans cold catapulting over construction sites and Sgt. Daimon blasting fools in the face this week, here’s some footage of real life Nissans and Datsuns just doing what they were built to do.

Recorded on the ancient technology of 8mm film, this video shows the NDC (Nippon Datsun Club) of 1961 driving from Hamanako to Haneda Airport. This 180-mile (290km) trip is more difficult than it sounds. In 1961, Japan had no expressways to speak of, so the journey was taken along Japan National Route 1, which runs along the southern coast of Honshu before snaking through the Hakone Mountains, the birthplace of drifting.


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Even in modern times with modern machinery, this trip takes six hours. Imagine what it must have been like 50 years ago with a 48-horsepower Datsun Bluebird 310.

Hat tip to Kousoku Yuen.

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6 Responses to Friday Video: Hamanako to Haneda Airport with the Nippon Datsun Club of 1961

  1. Ed says:

    That’s a cool find! I wonder if NDC might be Nippon Datsun Club. http://www.ratdat.com/?p=218

  2. Toyotageek says:

    Totally and completely awesome! The heck with drifting videos or racing footage – this stuff is way cool. Everyday cars going for a cruise on nice long roadtrip!

    Dang, think you can get them to dig up some old Toyota footage now? 😉

  3. Sarcasmo says:

    Not feeling any of those cars… too old, too round, too ugly and too 50’s American car style for me. Show a cruise of J-Tin from 1968 and newer, and I’d be interested.

  4. Drive510 says:

    That’s awesome!! Original enthusiasts.

  5. banpei says:

    Great film! 🙂
    I love the fluffy animal on the dash! 😛

  6. Ben says:

    Thanks Ed. I was going by the description of the Youtube video but that badge can’t be argued with.

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