THERE was a problem with our test Datsun 1200 Coupe -- but it ended up being the nicest problem we've had for long, long time.

It happened like this: the coupe had only 21 miles on the clock when Capitol Motors, the NSW Datsun and BMW distributors, gave it to us for testing.

And putting up 400 or 500 "running-in, please pass" miles when a deadline meant we could least afford the time looked like being very much a chore as we headed out along the fabled Putty Road (it runs from Windsor to Singleton in NSW) at an AM time the Editor would never believe.

But no; that drive turned out to be delightful. The little Datsun handles remarkably well, and even with running in rpm restrictions has surprising open road performance.

Its specifications mark it as decidedly ordinary struts and an anti-roll bar at the front, semi-

elliptec at the rear, and a puny 1171 cc pushrod four-pot that's not particularly advanced in design.

Yet the Nissan engineers may take a very low bow, because they have sorted this mundane suspension perfectly and matched it to the little mill's performance with the finesse to make the coupe a gasser.

Unfortunately the car falls down in room and finish. The goodies are there, sure, but the way in which they're presented could be far more tasteful and attractive. Definitely not up to Corolla-Mazda standard.

Still, its undoubted good looks, smooth, safe handling, braking, performance and plain ease of driving make it attractive for mother's 30 mph shopping expeditions or genuinely sporty driving for young bucks.

Doodling along with the first 100 miles still a long way off, our virgin test car soon showed how it coped with spiteful bends. Because

we couldn't use the engine as we'd have liked, the handling qualities were emphasized and as we despatched bend after bend with considerable disdain we revelled in the near-neutral handling.

The lack of body roll was impressive and the (Dunlop SP3s suited the car very well).

Setting the car up at the last minute simply produced mild roll understeer corrected with gentle throttle back off. The tail would then com e around just a little, progressively and pleasantly, ready for smooth powering out of the bend.

At the same time, the ride was great for such a small car. Excellent damping took car of the Putty Road's many bumps with minimal short-wheelbase pitch.

Much later, when we could wind out the engine, we found the use of correct power blended with the mild understeer/oversteer for delightful power sliding.

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Top far left: Datsun dancing sideways, showing its remarkable handling and controllability qualities. Attractive styling even manages a hint of aggressiveness.

Far left: Coupe's interior is well-laid out, but falls down in trim quality. "Buttons" on top of seats are for optional headrests.