Like any steel-bodied car, the Datsun 1200 is prone to rust. Unlike the Datsun 1000, the body panels are not galvanized but only painted on the inside. Eventually rust will attack your car, sometimes from the inside out. This means that keeping the car's paint waxed -- though it will help -- will not prevent rust.

Rust Treatment Methods

Rust treatment is not specific to the Datsun 1200, you treat it the same way as any other car. Search for rust treatment guides here: Rust Treatmentᴳ.

The best solution is cut the rust out and replace with sheet metal patches

The best treatment is POR15, perhaps

A lot of rust and a few holes

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Rust around the taillights is another area to inspect

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Bottom of suitcase full of rust & holes, [need] more new sheet [metal]

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More rust & holes

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Fender Corner Rust

In the front the solution is to patch the Sills#Sill_Repair

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In the rear, patch the Fender

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Floor Rust

Lift the front mats to examine the floors -- floor rust -- very common. New panels can be purchased as of 2017.

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wagon rear floor

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Engine

Engine with water damage to the bores must be re-honed

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Battery Tray Rust

Grind off the battery tray rust, sand it down, and cover with primer paint

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Water Box Rust

The most common "hidden" rust problem is with the "water box" -- the part of the firewall/cowl where fresh air enters the cabin.

Discussion: ^POST water leaks

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See Firewall for how these panels fit together to form the 'box'.

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Water normally comes in though the air vents behind the bonnet, hits the baffle and runs down to a drain hole. If any part of the body in the area is rusted, water will instead leak down onto the fenders. You will only see this drain hole when a welded section is removed from inside the inner guard.

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