Minnesota
AA-2026-BE5B2B
On the image
This is a portrait of a man with his preferred modes of personal transportation, back when a garage was primarily a display case for one's automotive aspirations, rather than a storage unit for holiday decorations. He stands between a Datsun 210 and a Suzuki motorcycle, having wisely calculated that owning both covered all reasonable travel scenarios. One for the responsible adult, the other for the slightly less responsible adult who still needs to get to work.
The Suzuki, fitted with a sissy bar and luggage rack, hints at a spirit of independence and perhaps a few long weekend rides where one might carry a small duffel bag and a slightly larger ego. His matching blue helmet, carefully placed on the sissy bar, serves as both a safety device and a subtle advertisement for the lifestyle.
He wears the uniform of the era: sensible glasses and a long-sleeved t-shirt, which, when combined with a pair of jeans, formed the cornerstone of casual confidence. The Minnesota license plate on the Datsun 210 confirms this is a place where one needs reliable machines, and where "10,000 Lakes" implies at least that many good places to take a motorcycle.
The historian's note
This image, dating to the 1970s, depicts a man with his Datsun 210 automobile and a Suzuki motorcycle, likely in a residential garage in Minnesota. The Minnesota license plate is visible on the Datsun, which also displays the state's "10,000 Lakes" slogan.
The Datsun 210, known as the Nissan Sunny in other markets, was a popular compact car in the United States during the late 1970s and early 1980s, valued for its fuel efficiency and affordability. The Suzuki motorcycle appears to be a four-cylinder model, common for touring and sport riding during this period, fitted with accessories like a sissy bar and luggage rack, indicating a readiness for longer journeys.
The scene reflects a common domestic tableau of the era, where garage spaces housed a family's automotive investments. The presence of both a reliable car and a recreational motorcycle highlights evolving consumer preferences in personal transportation in 1970s America, with a growing market for Japanese-made vehicles and an enduring culture of motorcycling.
Subjects & keywords — each links to a search
Visually related — by likeness
Man with Datsun 210 and Suzuki Motorcycle, Minnesota, 1970s. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-BE5B2B. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/man-with-datsun-210-and-suzuki-motorcycle-minnesota-1970s.
@misc{aaAA2026BE5B2B,
title = {Man with Datsun 210 and Suzuki Motorcycle, Minnesota, 1970s},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-BE5B2B},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/man-with-datsun-210-and-suzuki-motorcycle-minnesota-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Man with Datsun 210 and Suzuki Motorcycle, Minnesota, 1970s PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-BE5B2B UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/man-with-datsun-210-and-suzuki-motorcycle-minnesota-1970s ER -
From the community
Identifications, corrections, and discussion from readers — reviewed by a librarian before appearing here.
Sign in to add an identification, correction, or comment.
No notes yet — be the first to add what you know about this image.