Datsun 510

[pdplot]

Going out for dinner last night, there was a Datsun 510 parked in the lot. Usual rust and no rear seat, but there it was. These have gone way up in price these days. I had one back when new - it was either that or a very used BMW for the same money. Bought the Datsun as our 2nd car, autocrossed it and sold it when the fenders rusted out at 45K miles. Only problem - a defective pinion bearing in the rear end. The plastic seats used to fog up the windows too, but a great handling little car.

 

[dklawson]

I have always wanted one. However, virtually every one I have seen over the last decade has been heavily modified. As you said, they have become quite expensive so finding an affordable, unmodified one is pretty much beyond my reach.

 

[HealeyRick]

I remember really wanting one when they were new. Not a stock one of course, but you could buy everything to make it a street version of the Trans Am cars from BRE, including a hot motor with dual webers. Complete suspension, fiberglass flared fenders and everything out the door was cheaper than a 2002

 

[glemon]

My brother's first car was a '66 Sprite that the previous owner had painted in the classic BRE color scheme used on the racing 510. My sixth grade teacher had a light blue 510, and even then I was beginning to be tuned in to cars and knew they were kind of cool.

I hadn't really followed the market until I saw one on CL recently that was very rough and they still wanted several thousand dollars for it. I would have guessed it a several hundred dollar car, but I guess they really have gone up a lot.