@Elhigh: I'm honored :)
@harumph: Absolutely not! I have been into 510s for about a dozen years now and I'm well aware of the rarity and significance of an unmolested car such as this. I certainly don't intend to change it, and it will probably be awhile before I choose to part with it. So for the time being, it is safe! :)
I may have to find a set of 14" Libras for the next Melee, but that's as far as I'd ever go with this one. I have a BRE-clone to satisfy 510-hoonage urges, which will keep me from screwing this one up.
@KepWinger: Just turned over 107,000 on the Melee. The story is, the original owner bought it new at Econo Datsun in Riverside in '73. It was used as his daily driver until 1979, when he moved to Sacramento from SoCal. At that point, he got a new car and the 510 was relegated to 2nd car status, and, fortunately garaged and driven frequently enough to be kept up. Probably 95,000 of those miles were pre-1980. It is a wonderful car and I think it's a noble cause to keep one of these iconic cars in its original form.
@Mrb00st: Apparently you missed the Melee stickers in the rear window.
@Zarba:
Actually a few of us "whine and cheesers" enjoy the Melee as well. Even Martin. And FYI - this was the 12th year of the Melee.
Keep that diesel truckin', Jerry.
Hopefully someone else will get Fred a hamburger.
The original Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider by Pininfarina is surely more deserving of "top 10" status than later Spiders.
I think the 164 was designed around 1989-90, not as early as '87? I could be wrong. But I remember the first models we saw in the US were around 1991. That was a great car and a gorgeous design.
I'm not so sure about the rest of this list. It seems rather too focused on more modern cars. And the Allante? Uh, I think my list might have had a Cisitalia 202 or something instead...
Well I for one really like the Multipla.
However I'm surprised to see the Mitsuoka Viewt didn't make the cut here...
WTF Jalopnik? How do you not have pics of that sweet Group 44-inspired Jag XJS in the background of one of the photos?
Oh wait...upon closer inspection I see what looks to be a Goodwood Festival of Speed tech sticker. I guess that's not a LeMons entry...
Only 2 Votes for Alfa GTV? WTF?
Thanks for all the kind comments. It's really a good car and surprisingly quick given the 3-speed automatic.
We'd keep it, but there are too many other projects...
Someone buy the damn thing already!
Thanks for the post Murilee!
David
Murilee, thanks for coming...and thanks to all of you who braved the bad weather and came to the show!
Details on next year to come...
Don't forget, we're having a 40th anniversary reunion of the BRE Racing Team:
-BRE Presentation by Peter Brock, followed up by BRE Team Panel Discussion/Q&A
-John Morton and other original BRE Team Members in attendance!
-See the original BRE Datsun 510 Trans Am Car
-BRE Datsun 240Z C-Production Nat'l Champion
-BRE merchandise and autograph session with Peter Brock!
Everyone in the top 5 was playing the fuel strategy during the last hour. I heard that the Spirit of San Diego needed to pit for fuel, which would make sense.
In the #64 MR2 we were doing our best to conserve every last drop and I believe we would have made it to the finish...then, with 45 minutes remaining, we lost a tire and lost probably 5-6 laps in the pits changing it....lots can happen in the last hour!
Someone did bring an early 4-cyl Fiero oonce (July '07 I believe) and led the rrace in the beginning. After 3-4 hours, they were done.
Uh, "not the most desirable"? Have you ever been to Stockton, CA? Oakland? Hunters Point?
In America's ghettos, these hood rats are more desirable than an 8C 2900 on the 17 Mile Drive in the middle of August!
Shoot 'em up, just shoot 'em up what!
Lou Brero is building a V12 XJ-S which may appear at the May 10-11 Altamont race...but he's already a hero...
@Armand4:
Armand, I disagree. I don't think anyone is suggesting that Sir Stirling was anything less than a spectacular shoe in his day (prior to his '62 Goodwood accident). His Mille Miglia '55 performance was the stuff of legend (side note: he was high), as were his successes at the Nurburgring and other endurance events. He proved his skill in a vast variety of racing machines (Doug Nye wrote a great book about this, I forget the title)
As for his "British sense of fair play", well, I think you're phrased this wrong. He definitely had a sense of British nationalism, often choosing to compete in relatively uncompetitive British cars. But fair play? Have you ever been to the Monterey Historics?
On a lighter note...
"Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?"
Chris Amon is 13th. Any coincidence there?
I simply fail to understand how someone who never won a championship could be #1. Nuvolari is turning in his grave, for sure.
And the book isn't even titled correctly. According to the list (with many prewar drivers included), it should be "The Top 100 Greatest Grand Prix Drivers of All Time". "Formula One" refers to 1950 and beyond. Get the facts straight!
Fangio in 6th, below Ascari?!? Schumacher 11th? 12 World Championships between them and they can't even crack the top 5? What a joke. As the first commenter suggested, this list must be in no particular order.
To put Moss first is just silly. A legendary great he was, but the best F1 driver of all time? I don't think so.
Pikes Peak Olds Toronado...
or Ak Miller's Pikes Peak/Bonneville V8 Devin. Now that will get your attention!
