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1973 Datsun 510
Miraculously Unhooned 1973 Datsun 510 Holds Still For Alameda Photo Session

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Elhigh
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
That is one beautiful little car.

I never cared much for anything from Nissan, but the five-and-dime always turns my head. If anyone wanted to drop one in my yard, I'd take it.
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OrlandoDawgg
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
No love for the 620 trucks?

Here's my all original(other than paint and tires and fluids) 1974 Datsun PL620 with L18 motor. 374k miles on it right now, original engine, and it gets used(read: well beaten) as a truck, and keeps running like a solar timex watch.

I would love to do disc brake swap and sr20 swap, but that takes away from the original truck that runs forever, and stops in a different lane each time you hit the brakes :) You can ignore all my Hondas in the background if you are die-hard Datsun/Nissan junky. The accord, fit, and RR all rock!
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A strolling player
05/03/09

@OrlandoDawgg: No, trust me: there is much love for your truck here.
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
That is a thing of beauty.
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MushyHeirloom
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Leave. It. Stock.
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Armand
05/03/09

@ForgedyPistonshroom: Here, try this one instead: [jalopnik.com]
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rb1971 - E39M5'er
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Here's a 510 in San Francisco that looks pretty unmolested. It needs to be other-than-whatever-green-it-is.

If I wasn't in the process of changing out my 850 for an E39 M5 today (got tired of waiting for something weird to happen to that V12 and decided to do something a little different with my repair reserve) I might go take a look at it.
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Mad_Science
05/02/09

@rb1971: Fixer yer link:

[cgi.ebay.com]
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Chuckie_A
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Always liked these cars...very nice example. It has been my thought that you can tell much about an owner and how he/she treats the overall car by looking at the interior. This one appears pretty clean from the one image...thus the owner takes care of the car in general and is appreciative of what he has.
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A strolling player
05/02/09

@Chuckie_A: Then I must really, really care about my car right now. Over the next few months, as it did over the last few months, I will slowly accumulate bad feelings towards my car, only to one day suddenly feel good feelings toward it again. It is a cycle that repeats itself with no end in sight.

In reality, the only time I really feel good about my car is at the gas station. Well, that and the stereo's great. Other than that I'm beginning to get quite bored of it; I'm thinking it's time to add an engine or something.
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Maymar
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
So awesome, it hurts. Damnit, now I really have to go buy one of the Hot Wheels 510's, because there's no way I can afford a real one.
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BTLFED
05/03/09

@Maymar bans bare chassis hoonage: You would be surprised. There is luck involved (it took me over 3 years to find mine) but I got my 73 2 door for $1300 with SSS Sidedraft SU carbs, cam, header, exhaust, and solid floor and trunk pans. There is only a tiny hole of rot right in front of the passenger side rear tire, and I plan on cutting it out and welding a piece in. Other than that the car is totally solid.
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Maymar
05/04/09

@Code name: Lavinicus Stronghold: It's not quite that I think they're expensive - although an ungaraged early 70's Japanese car wouldn't make it through one Southern Ontario winter without needing plenty of body work. It's just that school and the economy (I'm in an automotive program, so few summer jobs) are conspiring to keep me broke
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Novaload
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Jeez, people must love messing with these things. Here's one with a neatly fit SR20DET with a T25 HKS turbo. 300whp and 280lb-ft at 18psi.

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A strolling player
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
The 510 is a BMW 2002 but cheaper, more reliable, and less attractive. And I'd rather have the Datsun.
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BRAWNDO_POWERED
05/02/09

@A pistonforging player:

Not these days, the 2002's can be had all day for under $5k, but those 510s are so much more expensive.
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mechimike
05/02/09

@A pistonforging player: See, I owned a 2002. Yeah, it broke often, overheated, and was expensive to keep in spares. But I loved it. The 510 is only slightly lower on my ladder of desire, but it is lower.
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MushyHeirloom
05/02/09

@BRAWNDO_POWERED: Because the BMWs were preserved, moreso than the Datsuns - about an equal proportion of each probably ended up as track cars, but more of the straight BMWs survived, while the Datsuns suffered greatly from that plague that haunts the Japanese to this day - rust.
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Mad_Science
05/02/09

@BRAWNDO_POWERED: You realize how hilarious that is, right?

When new, the 2002 cost somewhere between double and quadruple what the 510 did. 2002s were all about status and prestige, while the 510 was all about cheapness.

Oh how the tables have turned.
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Uncle Bo
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Anyone that doesn't like these cars needs to get the hell outta here.
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elwood
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Love it. Though, I think it needs a dual weber carb setup, just to sex things up in the engine bay.
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Vintage Racer - with V-12 goodness
05/02/09

@elwood:

Ask, etc....

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Armand
05/03/09

@elwood, Vintage Racer -: Man, everything looks better with a pair of Webers bolted up to it.
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BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Escort Mk1 and Mk2, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Datsun 510, BMW 1602, BMW 1802 and 2002, they all had one thing in common, front engine and rear wheel drive and were lots of fun to drive. (without airbags, ABS, ETC, 19" wheels, 40 series tires, MP3, airco, etc., etc.)

Is it possible that current automakers can come up again with a plain and cheap fun to drive car?
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Syrax
05/02/09

@BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ: Nope. Every one of those things are obligatory now, for safety or market reasons.
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KaptKaos
05/02/09

@BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ:

+1 bajillion

There is not one single inexpensive four passenger (not 2+2), rear wheel drive, two door coupe on the market. Not a single one.

Don't tell me Scion or Mazda couldn't build one with a 4 cylinder, manual trans and few frills?
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Six Flags Over Tomsk
05/02/09

@KaptKaos: They can; they just don't want to.
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lilwillie
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
//thread jack

Camaro's in the dealerships. Going to look at one this morning.

///end of jack

I've seen many as track cars. Watched one roll at Road America, but have never seen a generally unmolested one.

Very nice, I wouldn't want to change anything.
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A strolling player
05/02/09

@lilwillie wants another PCH: [feeding Jack]

Let me know what you think, and if you've driven the Mustang too!
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Mobius
05/02/09

@lilwillie wants another PCH: Wear protection.
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Mad_Science
05/02/09

@lilwillie wants another PCH and @A pistonforging player: I sat in one yesterday. No driving.

My impressions:

1) Steering Wheel is weird to look at, but good to grip.

2) Back seats are a joke. 2 gymnasts couldn't get it on back there.

3) The "bathtub" seating is ridiculous. The door-sill came up to my head, the windshield viewable area was tiny. Seriously, I felt like I was in a blast bunker.

Also, they had a $5k market adjustment on a $27k V6. Boo.

In short, I think I'm more interested in the Mustang at this point.
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Franzouse
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Want. SO badly.

Even the color is perfect.
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Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
05/02/09

In reply to 1973 Datsun 510
Just awesome, Murilee. I think the faux-Minilites are a perfect touch, but I would have gone with 14s and a little more sidewall, for a more aesthetically pleasing look (assuming those Wilwood brakes will fit under 14s).
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elwood
05/02/09

@Mike the Dog will work for a Preview Button!: How is the tire selection for 14" rims? And a slightly smaller rim may look better, but the ones on the car now certainly aren't too big to detract from the classic looks.
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mechimike
05/02/09

@elwood: We run 14" wheels on our Lemons car. Falken makes an awesome tire (the Azenis) in 195/60R14. Lots of E30's still have 14" wheels, so they're making sure to keep those boys in rubber.

Smaller wheels = less unspring weight.
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Mike the Dog is sitting by the door with a pair of cow slippers, and a very sad face.
05/02/09

@mechimike: Thanks for saving me the research. I was pretty sure there's be a good selection out there. I never had trouble keeping myself in good 13"ers for my 210s' aftermarket 13 x 6 steelies (4" wide just isn't enough).
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Miraculously Unhooned 1973 Datsun 510 Holds Still For Alameda Photo Session

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