1970datsun510 - Jalopnik

posts about #1970datsun510 more →
1972 Datsun 510

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Six Flags Over Tomsk
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Fantastic find.
Reply

MushyHeirloom
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Om nom nom. Somehow I even love the '70s-fridge limp-celery color. What a great, simple car.
Reply

MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred

Novaload
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Hood pins = maximum high score
Reply

Novaload was starred Novaload was unstarred

Jo Schmo
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
I'd hoon that
Reply

Jo Schmo was starred Jo Schmo was unstarred

SundaySunday
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
I'm loving the minilites, the roll bar and the black hood. I'd like to think they've adorned this car for decades and that it has some kind of rally/racing stories to it.
Reply

SundaySunday was starred SundaySunday was unstarred

Uncle Bo
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
What does this car score on the How Jalopnik Is My Car scale? Like, 10,000 points or something?
Reply

Uncle Bo was starred Uncle Bo was unstarred

Boosted Lego Wagon
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Now here's a classic that needs a modern take. Dump the sentra and bring back the 510.
Reply

Boosted Lego Wagon was starred

Jim-Bob
01/20/09

@boosted-lego-wagon: They did that in 1991. The B13 Sentra was actually intended as a retro-510 but it was not public knowledge. Same size car, and the body lines are very similar in side profile. Compare the two and you will see what I mean. The B13 was, after all, styled and engineered by some 510 enthusiasts. That's why they are the most sought after Sentra in Nissan enthusiast circles.
Reply

Jim-Bob was starred Jim-Bob was unstarred

brandegee
01/20/09

@Jim-Bob: The B13 was great little car, esp. with 140 horses, but I think he may be referring to RWD as much as he is styling cues.
Reply

brandegee was starred brandegee was unstarred

Graverobber
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
I always liked these cars, and except for the BMW projector lights, this one looks pretty appropriate.

Back in the day, Pete Brock's BRE company made these things go like stink. They tore up SCCA in the early '70s winning two titles before they were ruled-out:

Now Murilee, if you could just find me a nice MK1 Lotus Cortina . . .
Reply

Graverobber was starred Graverobber was unstarred

NatefromOgden
01/20/09

@graverobber: Fine Corinthian Pleather: I still have a model of #35 that I built back when it was (probably) still racing. And I displayed it on a plexi stand that I built that included a photo taken by a co-worker at Mid Ohio Raceway. It is one of my treasures.

And I still have the unfinished kit of the BRE street car. My original intent was to build up that car and a car-hauler trailer to put the race car on. I should finish that little project...
Reply

NatefromOgden was starred NatefromOgden was unstarred

Graverobber
01/20/09

@NatefromOgden: Dude, I built that one too. I think it was a Revell (back before they bought Monogram) and I had it on my shelf next to the 65 Chevelle and the TR4A. I have a Min and a B25 Mitchell sitting in a box in the garage that I still need to assemble. Man, reliving your youth can be time consuming.
Reply

Graverobber was starred Graverobber was unstarred

Ben Wojdyla
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
For my vintage Japanese steel buying dollar, the 510 is only bested in the cool department by the 64-66 Toyota Corona Coupe.
Reply

Ben Wojdyla was starred Ben Wojdyla was unstarred

pauljones
01/20/09

@Ben Wojdyla:

Oh, I dunno, an RX-3 or a C110 Skyline will beat out a 510.

You have educated me today, though I had no idea that they made a coupe version of that car until right now.

I guess you learn something new everyday.
Reply

pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred

bd_oakland
01/20/09

@pauljones:

not only did they make a coupe, they made a slantback for the JDM.

[www.j-garage.com]
Reply

bd_oakland was starred bd_oakland was unstarred

pauljones
01/20/09

@bd_oakland:

Oh I knew that, I just didn't know that they made a coupe version of the 64-66 Toyota Corona.
Reply

pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred

Paul Y. can't get in the club; gotta parking lot pimp
01/20/09

@Ben Wojdyla: The old Coronas are nice, but my favorite old Japanese car has to be the 1st-gen Celica coupe (not the fastback). Those are gorgeous.
Reply

Vintage Racer - with V-12 goodness
01/20/09

@bd_oakland:

Reply

Paul Y. can't get in the club; gotta parking lot pimp
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
This car's patina is perfect.
Reply

engineerd
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
The longer I stay on Jalopniks the more I'm falling for the old Japanese iron. I'm now ranking the 510 up there with a BMW 2002 on my list of cars to get when I have money, time and don't live in the rust belt.
Reply

engineerd was starred engineerd was unstarred

engineerd
01/20/09

@engineerd: Jalopnik

Sorry, I've been in Michigan too long.
Reply

engineerd was starred engineerd was unstarred

BSAKat
01/20/09

@engineerd:

Heh, you work at Ford's, do you?
Reply

BSAKat was starred BSAKat was unstarred

engineerd
01/20/09

@BSAKat: Used to. I had someone trying to email me and asked if our email was down. I said no and asked what the email address they were sending to was. They said "dmay9@fords.com". No, that won't work.
Reply

engineerd was starred engineerd was unstarred

Gearhead_42 - Nibbles ate my garage!
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Note the lack of a shift knob on that stick... that's gotta hurt!
Reply

Deartháir II
01/20/09

@Gearhead_42: How exactly do you use your stick-shift? The way I drive, I don't see that being too painful, but I shift gears with my hand...
Reply

Deartháir II was starred Deartháir II was unstarred

brandegee
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Is it wrong I want one of these more than a 2002?
Reply

brandegee was starred brandegee was unstarred

Bumblebee
01/20/09

@brandegee: You've got 2002 fever too, huh? Ever since Murilee showed us the red one with the white panasports, I've been tracking them religiously on eBay.

But no, it's not wrong that you want one of these more, but I think a 510 would cast you deeper into project car hell than a 2002.
Reply

Bumblebee was starred Bumblebee was unstarred

pauljones
01/20/09

@Bumblebee:

No way.

510 parts are cheaper and easier to find than 2002 parts, and with the 510, you don't have to worry about the occasional paranoid BMW fan berating you for using a 1973 part instead of a 1972 part or what not.
Reply

pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred

Franzouse
01/20/09

@brandegee: It's not wrong, it's very Jalopnik however.
Reply

Franzouse was starred Franzouse was unstarred

Deartháir II
01/20/09

@brandegee: I'm with you on that. I had a 2002 years ago, and I enjoyed it, but I always thought these were a little better looking. There's a bright yellow one with fender flares near my parents' house, and he still drives it every day in the summer. I lust for it, very very badly.
Reply

Deartháir II was starred Deartháir II was unstarred

scroggzilla raids again
01/20/09

@brandegee: No, you're not wrong. In my personal Fantasy Garage, I'd want one each of the following classic driver's cars for track day/back road hoonery:

Datsun 510
BMW 2002tii
Alfa Romeo GTV 1750
Lancia Fulvia HF 1600 Lusso
Lotus Cortina MK1/Ford Cortina GT MK1
Mini Cooper S 1275
Reply

Vintage Racer - with V-12 goodness
01/20/09

@Bumblebee:

Please... a 510 is probably exceeded only by an old Beetle in terms of parts swapability. Knowing lots of 2002 racers and restorer's, I can definitely state that the 510 is a piece of cake compared to the BMW.
Reply

mechimike
01/20/09

@SCROGGZILLA RAIDS AGAIN!!: A Volvo 122S or 1800 would not be out of place on that list...just sayin'
Reply

mechimike was starred mechimike was unstarred

theeastbaykid
01/20/09

@brandegee: @graverobber: Fine Corinthian Pleather: Fun fact: Peter Brock is currently a 510 and 2002 owner. Collect 'em all!
Reply

theeastbaykid was starred theeastbaykid was unstarred

theeastbaykid
01/20/09

@brandegee: @Bumblebee: "Ever since Murilee showed us the red one with the white panasports...." Oh boy, not THAT one...
Reply

theeastbaykid was starred theeastbaykid was unstarred

theeastbaykid
01/20/09

@SCROGGZILLA RAIDS AGAIN!!: Sounds like the Cal. Melee entry list. [jalopnik.com]
Reply

theeastbaykid was starred theeastbaykid was unstarred

brandegee
01/20/09

@Bumblebee: That's the kicker. On the East Coast, 510s are nearly non-existent and forget finding them in junkyards...you'll probably have more luck with old BMWs. On the West Coast, you'll of course find more of everything.

I see quite a few 2002s and old-school Minis where I live, but *never* 510s, and only one 610 in the past 10 years. Even the old 200/240SXs are vanishingly rare.
Reply

brandegee was starred brandegee was unstarred

baldy_pm
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Hopefully this is being modded for some hoonage, and not because some some ricer saw it in 'sport compact car'

The 'racing seat' makes me think the latter...
Reply

baldy_pm was starred baldy_pm was unstarred

elwood
01/20/09

@baldy_pm: ?

Seriously, I drive a Hyundai Elantra, and I wish my seats had a bit more side bolstering. If this guy is doing ANY sort of competition, what makes you think he wouldn't want a more supportive seat? I can't imagine that the stockers were particularly good.
Reply

elwood was starred elwood was unstarred

BTLFED
01/20/09

@elwood: The factory seats on a 510 have the side support of a park bench. Before I got my new seats, if I threw my 510 into a corner my passanger would almost end up in my lap and I would end up against the door and that is WITH seat belts on.
Reply

BTLFED was starred BTLFED was unstarred

MushyHeirloom
01/20/09

@BTLFED has two bottles, big ones: So make sure you have an attractive companion of your preferred gender, that's all.
Reply

MushyHeirloom was starred MushyHeirloom was unstarred

pauljones
01/20/09

In reply to 1972 Datsun 510
Nice piece of classic Japanese Iron!
Reply

pauljones was starred pauljones was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

#1970datsun510

Jalopnik

SUBSCRIBE TO Jalopnik

1972 Datsun 510

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment