Remembering my Datsun 510 on 510 Day

"JamesE" (jameselterman)
05/09/2016 at 04:08 • Filed to: Datsun, 510, 280Z, 240Z, Nissan, Vintage, 1970, 1970's, 70's, Elterman

On 510 day I am reminded of the fun Datsun 510 I used to own. Before I sold it I did a photo shoot with a friend who owned a 280Z. Judging from these photos you might think it was decades ago but in fact these photos were taken in the fall of 2015.

I bought my 1973 Datsun 510 in 2010 because I wanted to understand what all the fuss what about surrounding these cars. My early driving years in the mid-1990's were during some of the best years for Japanese sport compacts so I have always been a fan of this category. Unfortunately the 510 went out of production before I was born and most rust belt examples were recycled decades ago. Lucky for me I found this period correct 510 so I could experience the 510 as if I were an enthusiast in the 1970's.

My wife couldn’t wait for me to shave off the mustache but I was getting fond of it.

I planned to enjoy it for a short time and then pass it along to someone else. Since I have a tendency to get attached to cars I created a short to-do list to keep myself focused.

Autocross

Car meet

Photo shoot

Sell

Back in 2010 I was an avid amateur racer so I wasted no time !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I was also quick to take it to car meets such as Cars & Coffee and import meets. But it took me five years to get around to the photo shoot. Likely I had grown too fond of it and was denying myself the final step to avoid selling it.

Finally in 2015 I invited my friend Ron with an incredible 280Z to join me for a fun photo shoot set in 1975. Our cars look period correct so why not dress in period clothing? Ron is a good sport so he was up for the challenge. We visited our local haberdashery for some far out clothing and I hired a talented automotive photographer, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , to take the photos.

The Datsun 510 established the definition of sports compact cars. It was inexpensive to own, highly modifiable, and possible to enjoy daily. The original owner of my 510 had fitted it with period correct modifications such as Libre wheels, BRE front splitter, and Mulholland Drive suspension. The 510 is easy to work on and responds well to modifications. I had a great time looking through documentation provided to me by the original owner such as BRE catalogs and snips from 70's car magazines. It is clear to see why modifying them became so popular and it is very difficult to find a stock one today.

My 510 was a Canadian market car and has a great story describing how it end it up in my town, St. Louis, Missouri. The original owner had owned a 1969 Datsun 510 and adored it. In 1973 he unfortunately wrecked and totaled it by putting it sideways into a utility pole. He immediately decided to buy a new 510 to replace it. Unfortunately since this 510 model was at the end of production he could not find a new one in America. Desperate he wrote a letter to Nissan in Japan. Nissan wrote back with a typed letter suggesting that he check Canada since the final shipments were sent there. After locating some in Ontario he flew up, bought a new 510 and drove it home to St. Louis.

My 510 is now in the hands of a collector in Chicago. He was quick to pick it up after !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . As you can imagine it was an honor that BAT featured my listing.

Looking back on my five years as a 510 owner I completely understand what makes it so special. It helped establish a recipe for sport compact cars that has brought us many great compacts in the decades to follow. Without a doubt this fantastic car deserves it’s own automotive holiday.

Happy 510 day!

Smoking. Because 70's.

Thanks to Ron for sharing his Z for this photo shoot

And although Instagram wasn’t around in the 1970's the internet of today demands “rigged shots” so we will not disappoint.

Photos by Travis Carroll

If you would like high resolution versions of these photos for personal use !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

DISCUSSION (20)

Berang > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 04:24

Wonderful cars and photos.

Next you should find a fiat 124, the car that was the 510 before the 510:

Kinja'd!!!

Leon711 > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 04:34

Beautifully written with great pics. Just one thing, it’s 5/09 today.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Berang
05/09/2016 at 04:34

Holy shit it’s like the 510 ripped this car off

Flavien Vidal > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 05:32

Very nice car man!

I did a quick review of one a few months ago...A 1600SSS 4 door. Unfortunately I couldn’t get to enjoy it in the mountains....

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/1971-datsun-51…

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 06:21

Wow, I really like those pictures! The period correctness is absolutely awesome! The cars are great too, nice to see them without overfenders for a change.

XJDano > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 06:36

Good stuff as always James. I am kind of bummed I didn’t get to see it in person. What is the next car on the bucket list?

Every once in a while I let my mustache grow out & my wife doesn’t like it either.

DutchieDC2R > Berang
05/09/2016 at 08:19

Amazing pictures, amazing story, amazing car!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Berang
05/09/2016 at 09:02

...but it’s a Fiat.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 09:03

Nice pics; nice cars. I can’t decide which one I like better. So I’ll fax you a check and have my agent come and arranged shipment.

JamesE > Leon711
05/09/2016 at 18:03

Thank you and good point! I intentionally posted this a day early in hopes that Jalopnik would be so kind as to share on May 10.

JamesE > DutchieDC2R
05/09/2016 at 18:04

Thank you!

JamesE > Flavien Vidal
05/09/2016 at 18:06

Wow! I would love to drive that example. When I originally set out to find a 510 I planned to modify it. But when I stumbled on my period correct example I decided I was intent to keep it period correct.

JamesE > XJDano
05/09/2016 at 18:07

I’m not sure my next toy car but I bet it will have at least twice the horsepower as the 510 but half the character.

JamesE > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/09/2016 at 18:08

Thanks!

Leon711 > JamesE
05/09/2016 at 18:22

I hope they do!

JamesE > JamesE
05/12/2016 at 13:43

@DasWauto Thanks for picking this for Best of Opposite Lock!

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > JamesE
05/15/2016 at 03:49

By the way, when you’re listing the tag items in your post, you need to have a comma in between each tag word(s).

JamesE > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
05/17/2016 at 13:22

Thanks.

JamesE > JamesE
05/17/2016 at 13:24

Fixed it!

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > JamesE
05/17/2016 at 13:30

Awesome! For future reference, that’s how tag boxes universally work.