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Datsuns at Barrett-Jackson 2019

January 17, 2019 by Greg

I started this series last year, and rather than bore you with the intro, I’ll simply link you to last year’s article as a warmup:
Datsuns at Barrett-Jackson 2018

For now, let’s dig right into the Datsuns that were at Barrett-Jackson 2019, shall we?

This year, there were five Datsuns represented (four S30 and a S130), and we’ll cover the S30s, in order of docket appearance – Click on the title to go to the pics and our assessment of each!

Lot #453 – 1973 240Z, orange over black.

Lot #456.2 – 1976 280Z 2+2, bronze over butterscotch.

Lot #477.1 – 1972 240Z, white over black.

Lot #949.1 – 1971 240Z, green over butterscotch.

Filed Under: Z cars

2018 Route 66 JDM Classic – Continuing the Tradition

October 9, 2018 by Greg

The 8th Annual Route 66 JDM Classic is over and in the books, and by all accounts, it was a great success! Dating back to 2010, the show was formerly known as the Multi-State Datsun Classic… but we all know that restorers and collectors of classic Japanese vehicles are a tight-knit bunch. So, for 2018, the event was opened up to owners of classic Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and any other Japanese classics.

Since 2010, the event has drawn enthusiasts from 28 states, as well as Mexico and Canada, with tourists and locals in Williams Arizona getting a treat seeing all that classic J-tin parked along historic Route 66.

BRE Enterprises and Aerovault hosted their open house in Henderson, NV in conjunction with the show. With plenty of BBQ and car talk with Peter Brock, John Morton and friends, the attendees from the north started the weekend off right!

Our traditional pre-show Meet and Greet at Kicks on Route 66 was well-attended, and gave everyone an opportunity to get their registration information early, and clarified any questions about the following day’s activities. If you haven’t tried it, their fish tacos are to DIE for!

All week prior, the weather forecast gave some cause for concern – but Mother Nature was good to us, and the rains held off until *just* before raffle prizes and awards were announced. The final tally at the start of the show was 56 registered vehicles, and there were definitely some special vehicles on hand to be seen.

Speaking of awards, here’s this year’s winners:
Best Z – John Satterlee, 1972 240Z
Best Roadster – Randy Cleve, 1966 1600
Best 510 – David Witt, 1972 510
Best Truck – Leroy Kyger, 1963 L320
Best Other Datsun – Pedro and Alice Medina, 1963 Bluebird Wagon
Best Mazda – Chris Schmid, 1976 808 Wagon
Best Toyota – John Garza, 1977 Celica
Best Mitsubishi – Jeff Ball, Datsun 610 with Mitsubishi powertrain
Oldest in Show – Pedro and Alice Medina, 1963 Bluebird Wagon
Iron Butt Award – Aaron Hofferber, all the way from Bend, Oregon
Diamond in the Rough – Alan Smith, 1967 Nissan Patrol
Best in Show – David Witt, 1972 510

Raffle prizes were well-received. Loads of collectibles, including grille badges, diecast cars, rare posters commemorating Datsun and Nissan history, gift certificates from Motorsports Auto, Rock Auto, Z Power Steering, FastBrakes, and Pine Country Restaurant, rare Datsun parts donated by Jamal Mansour, tool kits from the Desirello family… so much cool stuff! This year, we also decided to add in vendor spaces, and given the success, we’ll expand it for next year. Duke City Datsun Club was on hand with t-shirts and Hot Wheels collectibles, and John Williams brought his billet Datsun oil caps and air horns. Another change from previous years: Rather than trophies and dash plaques, there were commemorative event license plates for all attendees, and the awards were a special “Class Winner” license plate that will make great displays for the winners.

We’d like to thank all past and present attendees, but most of all, we’d like to recognize and appreciate the people who helped make this year’s event successful. Karen Desirello, Vicki Mattox, Kelly Tanis and Becky Childs kept things rocking at Mission Control. Russ Glindmeier, Patrick Ramirez, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Brousseau, and several others contributed awesome photographs of the event. And of course, the crew at Dairy Queen kept everyone fed and hydrated during the show. Check out the gallery below!

Most importantly, we’d like to express our gratitude to Chris Tiffany of Raising Special Kids, the official charitable beneficiary of the Route 66 JDM Classic. Chris took time out of his busy schedule to be on-site – answering questions, greeting attendees and guests, and even pitching in with the event setup! If you’re unfamiliar with what RSK does for the citizens of Arizona, check them out – they have a great team and they are a huge blessing to ALL parents of special needs kids.

I’d love to thank everyone for coming out to beautiful Williams AZ to support the show. If you had a great time, please consider sharing this article with your friends who might own a JDM classic car (for next year, this includes anything 1994 and older). We’ve gotten lots of feedback since the weekend, and we’re already taking steps to make it bigger, better, and more fun for everyone – Stay tuned to see what we have in store!

T-shirts from the event are still available! Whip up a quick $20 PayPal to [email protected], remember to tell her what size, and we’ll get it in the mail ASAP – and remember, all proceeds from this event go to our charity partner at RSK!

































Filed Under: Events

Datsuns at The Mitty 2018

May 4, 2018 by Greg

The Classic Motorsports Mitty is one of those ‘bucket list’ events for anyone who appreciates the history and spectacle of motorsports. Each year, vintage race cars (and some ‘vintage’ drivers) descend upon Road Atlanta for a weekend of remininscence and some more-serious-than-you’d-expect competition… and of course, DatsunForum was there to cover the action for the 41st annual speedfest.
2018 Mitty Road Atlanta
The backdrop for this year’s Mitty: Back in 1970, John Morton put the BRE Datsun 240Z on the podium for the first of two consecutive seasons – a win that cemented Datsun’s growing reputation as a serious contender in motorsports… and put the racing world on notice that the Japanese could build a car that could compete with the best Europe and the US had to offer.

Fast-forward to 2018. How fortunate were we to witness that same gentleman, a mere 48 years later, putting that same car on the podium yet again – at the same track! With Nissan as the featured marque for this year’s Mitty, it was only fitting that Mr. Morton also served as the Grand Marshal. Between races, Mr. Morton could be seen wandering around the paddock, joking with fans, and sharing stories from his racing career while his team prepped the car for battle.
John Morton 2018 Mitty
Now, with Morton a spry and lively 76 years of age, one would think this ‘Grand Marshal’ stint was purely ceremonial. Nope. He was there to race.

There’s a little more to the story, though. During qualifying, old #46 suffered an engine failure. What happened next? Well, word has it that some of the old engines from back in the 70’s were still nearby. The next time we walked though the pits, the BRE team had the dead motor out and was hastily transferring parts onto one of the old spare motors.
Morton 46 engine change
Morton 46 engine change 2
These guys didn’t show up to lose. And the slate of cars that remained behind him while he wrung every last bit of performance out of the red/white/blue #46 car would tell you the same thing.
Mitty 2018 3A podium 240Z
At the end of the 3A race, Lawrence Cooper in the yellow #17 1971 240Z took the checkered flag. Closing fast behind him was Greg Ira in Linwood Staub’s yellow #85 1972 240Z (yes, second place in a borrowed car!) Grand Marshal John Morton finished third in Randy Jaffe’s 1970 BRE replica #46… Not too shabby, considering 3A was a field of fifty-one cars!

Here’s a look at the field of cars at the beginning of the race – So much amazing Datsun history!
2018 Mitty Group 3A race

For those who like to know who’s driving what, here’s the entire 2018 Mitty Feature Race roster!

Road Atlanta is, of course, a world-class racing mega-facility, and we sampled several vantage points during the weekend. There’s simply nothing like kicking back in a lawn chair with a cold beverage with thousands of other vintage racing fans, watching classic race cars battle it out on a breezy Georgia day.
2018 mitty road atlanta
On the infield, clubs and groups from all over the US parked together, camped, and spectated. You want variety? The infield was the place to be – wandering through was a car-lover’s paradise, with a little of everything! From the mundane to exotic, common to uber-rare, you could see it all.

But the privately-owned cars in the infield weren’t the only attraction. With over 350 vintage racing machines on-site, the pits and paddocks were wide-open and accessible to all. Wandering through, we were greeted by drivers and crew members throughout the weekend. Questions led to stories, stories led to shared interests, and shared interests led to new friendships.

Saturday evening, after the racing was finished, everyone convened under the Classic Motorsports tent for a special viewing of “Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman,” Carolla’s documentary about the actor’s racing experiences… and as if that weren’t cool enough, free popcorn and beer made it an experience for the ages.

The Fan Zone was packed with vendors such as Hagerty, BFGoodrich, Bring-A-Trailer, Koni, Lucas Oil, BBS, Covercraft, G-Force, Flyin’ Miata and many others. BBQ food trucks with true Southern fare were on-site to add to the atmosphere, and perfect weather made this trip one that we won’t soon forget.

Since you’ve made it this far, what better reward than a TON of pictures from the event? 2018 Mitty Photo Gallery
We hope you enjoy them, and please feel free to share with friends. We’ll see you at the next event!

Filed Under: Events

240Z Reproduction Dashboards are HERE!

January 22, 2018 by Greg


If you’re restoring an early Z, you know that the dashes are typically cracked. Repairs require removal of the dash, and simply won’t hold up for very long. With early Z cars commanding premium prices these days, why would you even consider a cheap plastic dash cap or a carpet mat covering the damage?

Today, we spent some time chatting with Ivan and Hung from Vintage Dashes about their newly-released reproduction dashes for the early Z cars.

The reproduction dashes fit all 1969-1973 240z models, using the same manufacturing process as the original – injection molded foam and vacuum formed vinyl… and best of all, NO CORE is needed! All dashes have the hazard and cigarette lighter holes covered exactly as they came from the factory, AND you can order your new dash for either a Series 1 (without the indent) or Series 2 (with the indent).

The grain texture on the Vintage Dashes reproductions is nearly identical to OEM

We asked about the 1973 Z – Ivan explained that although there are very slight cosmetic differences in the 73 dash, this unit will fit just like your original – and is virtually indistinguishable from the factory unit.

The Vintage Dashes reproductions are made in the USA and can be shipped worldwide. The first batch will be shipping in early February, so get your orders in now! The Zpowersteering.com Z will be getting a Vintage Dashes reproduction soon, as we’ll do a full article on the installation for you guys.

To order yours, please e-mail: [email protected] to request an invoice for payment. If you have any other questions, you can email or call the team at Vintage Dashes:
Ivan Jaramillo: 1-510-779-8153
Hung Vu: 1-408-603-5922

Filed Under: Restoration, Z cars

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson – Lot 949.1

January 17, 2018 by Greg


Lot 949.1 – Description from the auction docket: “The car offered here is a completely original, matching-numbers-drivetrain car that has never been altered from its factory build configuration. Sold new by Santa Ana Datsun in October of 1971, the car remained in the dry climate of Southern California area through its entire life until 2017. When the current owners purchased this 240Z with it has no visible rust issues, which was confirmed true when they undertook a bare-metal respray in the correct original color of Dark Green. A high-quality body preparation was undertaken followed by show-quality paint just completed in 2018. The exterior trim, weatherstripping and other cosmetic items were replaced as needed and the interior was refurbished as necessary with all correct goods. This Datsun is powered by a 2397cc engine paired to a 4-speed manual transmission. This car runs, drives and performs as good as it looks and a recent thorough service puts the car ready to enjoy.”

No question, this one’s my favorite. A great color combination, a great backstory, no real hidden surprises, and a classic formula of originality and manual-shifted Datsun sports car goodness.


Those of you who have seen my restorations know I’m a stickler for underhood and undercarriage details… This car wasn’t overrestored by any means, and it presented as an honest, clean, mechanically-unrestored, well-cared-for Z. I’d have liked to see some additional attention paid to the engine bay, which contained some worn hoses, incorrect clamps, and some overall grime – but again, it’s an honest car, which beats a rattle-can restoration anyday.

OK, now for the quibbles: When a seller reports a “bare metal respray,” it’s reasonable to assume all the glass was removed. After all, that’s the correct way to perform a restoration. On an S30, the tell-all usually lies in the quarter windows. These weren’t removed, and the masking tape line (and old cracked rubber) proves it. If you’ve never restored a Z, the quarter windows are a challenge – but they can be removed, disassembled, and refurbished with new rubber – and reinstalled AFTER the paintwork is done.

Sadly, I couldn’t get undercarriage pictures on this car, as she was parked in one of the tents – out of the rain, but not without a couple inches of water on the ground. I’m dedicated, but not stupid. Let’s use the underhood condition and assume that the underbody is similarly clean, but not restored.

My guess last night, while writing this article, was that this one clears $40k easily. Well, today the hammer fell to the tune of $55,000.00. Let’s remember, this is a mild restoration – Not a rotisserie job, not a Foose / Kindig level restomod, but a simple refreshing of a good-condition, low mileage Z. Folks, the S30 game is strong, and it’s not slowing down.

Filed Under: Z cars

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson – Lot 477.1

January 17, 2018 by Greg

Lot 477.1 – Description from the auction docket: “This Fairlady Z Resto-Mod is the ultimate street machine. Countless hours and dollars were invested in designing, fabricating and restoring this car. The vision of the build was to turn a classic Datsun 240Z sports car into a classic Datsun 240Z supercar. It was a rust-free California car prior to the bare-metal restoration. This car is show-quality throughout. The exterior body is very straight with great gaps. It was painted 2017 GM Crystal White Tri-Coat, which is absolutely stunning. The hood rise and all the trim were painted Satin Black. The car is dressed with Cobra mirrors, halogen smoked headlights, custom emblems, carbon-fiber dipped front and rear bumpers, carbon-fiber front and rear spoilers with matching door handles. The car has a great stance on 16” Pana Sport Racing wheels that were dipped in carbon-fiber on front and back. The wheel center caps were dipped in white carbon-fiber to match the exterior color. The wheels are wrapped with new Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R tires that stick to the pavement. The all-new black interior is tastefully done. Some interior upgrades include aluminum Fairlady Z door sills, MOMO Competition steering wheel, AutoMeter Phantom gauges, Recaro bucket seats, black billet window cranks and shifter with Hurst knob, Performance billet pedals, custom Z accessories, Vintage Air cooling and heating, custom sound system, roll bar and rear strut tower bar, which were painted to match the exterior. The engine compartment is nicely detailed throughout. This car is powered by a GM LS V8 engine with 400+ horsepower. Dyno sheets are included. The intake manifold was dipped in carbon-fiber and the valve covers were painted to match the exterior. It’s equipped with many upgrades, such as a custom cold-air intake with K&N filter, Taylor 409 Racing red wires, Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator, AN fittings, Optima red-top battery and custom strut tower bar. The engine is cooled by a custom aluminum radiator with dual electric fans, carbon-fiber dipped cover and aluminum reservoir. The engine breathes through a custom exhaust system with Sanderson headers and Flowmaster mufflers. The engine is coupled to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission with hydraulic clutch. The power is transferred to the pavement through the Infiniti Q45 R200 VLSD rear end. It has custom billet rear differential mounts and billet axles with C/V halfshafts. The undercarriage is nicely detailed throughout. It’s equipped with custom-made subframe connectors from front to back. It has rack & pinion steering. The suspension system consists of MSA camber plates, MSA coilovers, Eibach springs, Tokiko illumine 5-way adjustable inserts, and Suspension Techniques front and rear sway bars. The braking system consists of Modern Motorsports Extreme 13” PBR four-wheel disc brakes with a Wilwood master cylinder. This vehicle has recently been serviced and detailed, which is documented with an invoice that is included.”

Whew. Well, that was inordinately long. But, this car is well-known in the Datsun community, having been previously owned and meticulously built (and LS swapped) by David Weitz. The following owner then redid the car in a new paint color, revised the interior added lots of carbon fiber (and faux CF) accessories, and brought it to Barrett-Jackson. We have it on good authority that the seller actually lost a substantial sum on this car, and I can’t help thinking I really liked it a lot better in its previous iteration:

But, I digress. It is what it is, and what it is, is a Z that will make purists cringe, fanboys swoon, restorers admire, and bidders raise their hand.

A track-ready restomod that seems too nice to actually take to a track day is the theme here, but it’s hard to argue with the combination of high-quality workmanship, a drivetrain that’s been sorted not once but twice, and an eye-catching exterior combination of bright white, black, carbon fiber, and red accents… I could certainly do without some of the more gaudy bits, such as the Fairlady emblems on the engine covers, the faux-CF wheel finish, and the tire lettering, but those are minor quibbles and definitely a matter of personal taste. I’d swap out the smallish tire/wheel combo for some wider meats, add in a Zpowersteering kit, ditch the gaudy stuff and go drive the hell out of it.

Speaking of personal taste, I’m a fan of any car that can get people out of their seats and talking about cars, and this one did the job, with a hammer price of $67,100.00. Although it’s rumored the seller lost a chunk of change, the bar for restomod Z cars has been, once again, raised.

Filed Under: Z cars

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson – Lot 456.2

January 17, 2018 by Greg


Lot 456.2 – Description from the auction docket: “This 1976 Datsun “Fairlady” 280Z 2+2 hatchback has 1,358 original miles (mileage not indicated on the registration). It is powered by the original 2.8-liter SOHC inline 6-cylinder engine with Bosch Jetronic fuel injection, mated to a 3-speed automatic transmission, and is equipped with front disc brakes. It also has factory air conditioning. Still finished in its original Bronze Poly Metallic, it features its original tires, books, manuals, and even the original title and sales brochure. The original tools and jack are still in their original wrappers, inside the trunk. It has a 3-ring binder containing original documents along with ownership history and maintenance records.”


There’s not much to say here, folks. This car is as close to a brand new Datsun as you’ll see. Remember, they’re only original once, and once they’re painted or restored, you’re really at the mercy of whoever does the work – and whether it’s really high quality, or a ‘shadetree restorer,’ it’s simply not the same as 100% original.

I suppose I could grouse about the amateurish display boards that accompanied this car and the others brought in by the seller… Sure, they looked like grade school science fair project displays: Tri-fold posterboard with photocopies of pictures attached with masking tape. But when the hammer dropped, no one cared – this well-preserved piece of Datsun history found a new home and a happy new owner. The legions of Facebook “experts” will wring their hands and bemoan the decision, but let’s not forget – no one bats an eye when an original ’68 Camaro 6-cylinder with a vinyl top fetches $65k.

Take a seat, critics, because there’s four to choose from in this Z. Hammer price was $44,000.00 – and somehow, I’m craving a butterscotch ice cream root beer float.

Filed Under: Z cars

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson – Lot 453

January 17, 2018 by Greg


Lot 453 – Description from the auction docket: “This 1973 Datsun 240Z is powered by its original, matching-numbers 2.4-liter L24 engine producing 151hp with twin side-draft original carburetors, backed by an automatic transmission. 1973 was the last year of production for the 240Z. This 240Z was the beneficiary of a complete and comprehensive ground-up restoration including engine removal and rebuild from ground up, transmission removal and rebuild and a rear end rebuild. It was completely dismantled and stripped to bare metal, then reassembled and finished in its original colors. The interior was refinished, all chrome was removed and refinished and all rubber interior and exterior trim was removed and replaced. Additionally, this Datsun was upgraded with Konig 16” high-finish period-look aluminum wheels with four brand-new tires, and it has less than 2,000 miles since its completion. It’s equipped with the original wood-rim steering wheel, original AM/FM radio, front disc brakes and a completely stock interior.”

OK, let’s talk about this one. The seller got a great, primo location – inside the tents, towards the rear, facing traffic. Access was clear all the way around the car, and I was able to spend a bit of time crawling around it. A great-looking Z restoration that would please all but the most critical buyer – but that’s what we’re here to discuss.

Not sure what’s going on with the painted valve cover or the blue stripes, or the painted oil cap, but it’s not hard to find pics of a proper engine bay. Obviously, this doesn’t hurt the value, as it’s easily remedied, but it’s wasted time and effort that could have gone elsewhere.

Call me picky, but here’s the deal: You want all the money for your “complete and comprehensive ground-up restoration”, then you need to replace, not touch up, your emblems and your taillight trim. “240Z” emblem is new, while “Datsun” emblem just gets some dabs of black paint? Peeling chrome is obvious, and those bars are readily available for purchase.

Oddly, this car had vertical defroster. My guess? Little Timmy put a baseball through the rear hatch glass in 1974, and a local junkyard had a Series One glass (or hatch) available. Again, this one doesn’t hurt the value, but it’s a curiosity if you’re a Z person.

Let’s talk about paint. An experienced restorer can see a repaint across the room. This car is no exception, and the description states as much. However, if we’re going to the effort, let’s get the thickness correct. The paint on this car was well done, but the thickness is all wrong, and in certain areas, it really hides the crisp lines of the Z body. Note how it’s “domed” on the rear hatch?

Interior was well-done. It’s hard to get a Z restoration interior just right, and this seller did a fine job. Even the seats, which are refurbished, have the correct original “look” that’s hard to replicate. Kudos, because that’s tough!

A couple points in the description appear either false or quite “stretched.” Let’s go to the obvious:


If you’re doing this, knock it off. Datsun didn’t slather these cars in undercoating, so let’s not try and pass that off. This gloppy mess would scare me off from a purchase, considering you simply cannot see what’s underneath – And, it calls into question the claim of “completely dismantled and stripped to bare metal.” The tension rod bracket is especially concerning, since we can’t tel what’s going on under the goop – and it’s an area prone to rust. Those of you with a better eye will catch the spray pattern of the bedliner or aftermarket “undercoating,” and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that 1973 wheelwells weren’t painted black – they’re body color. In another article, I’ll show you the slipshod (and minimal) application of factory undercoating on a ’73 Z, and it looks nothing like this.

OK, one more gripe: A fuel tank isn’t hard to restore properly. Those straps weren’t removed, and the tank was coated in-place. This means the lines are likely original, as is the tank ventilation system – and we all know that can be a colossal pain to remedy if you don’t like being asphyxiated by fumes. That differential drain plug looks wrong, and again, black paint everywhere doesn’t do wonders for confidence. I’d question the alleged “$60k restoration” as claimed by the seller, unless it was consigned to a shop from beginning to end.

Hammer price was $40,700.00. Considering the questionable undercarriage and the PRNDL in the console, the seller did quite well.

Filed Under: Z cars

Datsuns at Barrett-Jackson 2018

January 16, 2018 by Greg

I’ve attended the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale each year since 2009, and a couple times back in the late 80’s and early 90s. One thing that’s a relatively new development is the recognition of classic Japanese cars as being worthy of representation on the docket.

This event, like so many others, has historically been the domain of European classics and loads of America iron. But let’s face it – auction houses like Barrett-Jackson have been, shall we say, “late to the party” when it comes to Japanese classics.

Certainly, there are those who will argue that the value simply isn’t there, but they can’t come up with a good reason. Why aren’t there more Japanese classics at these auctions? Some will say the cars were initially “cheap” and therefore not worthy of collector status. Still others will claim that “too many” were built, so there’s no collectibility. Another argument – they’re simply “too new” to be collectible. Obviously, those people are, in a word, wrong.

Sure, many Japanese cars were affordable. So was a VW Transporter (yet they commonly command six-figure sale prices).
Sure, they were built in large numbers – But do you really think a 1970 Chevelle SS was “limited production?”
As far as recency, the vast majority of offerings at this auction were built after 1960.

Bottom line: Other than a general negative sentiment towards Japanese auto manufacturers, there’s simply no valid reason they shouldn’t be well-represented at shows and auctions.

Several years ago, a lone Datsun Roadster sat awaiting its turn on the auction block. Unless you were a restorer or collector of Japanese classics, you’d think the car was pristinely-restored and rare as hen’s teeth – in fact, the placard on the window contained several inaccuracies that were very important.

Truth be told, it was just a fairly average high-windshield 1600 car, with some incorrect bits and a laundry list of flaws – but hey, the paint was shiny! Basically, it was a good “driver-status” car… and yet it somehow crossed the block for well over $20k.

That’s great news for anyone looking to sell a classic Datsun, but terrible news for the uninitiated buyer. Clearly, the buyer didn’t consult an expert, and could have easily purchased a lot more car for his money. Of course, you don’t go to the world’s largest collector car auction looking to find a bargain.

But a great rule of thumb is: “Your car is only worth what someone is willing to pay.” Couldn’t have been more true on that day.

Having watched this process for several years, we thought it might be fun to look at some of this year’s offerings, and dissect the seven Datsun auctions that took place this week.

Let’s get started: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #24

Filed Under: Events

Datsun 510 – March 1969 Motor Trend Road Test

December 28, 2017 by Greg

The first thing everybody said after they saw the all-new ’68 Datsun 510 with its McPherson strut front suspension, trailing-arm rear layout, and general body shape, was that a cheaper BMW was here. Then they drove the car and found it quite a machine, but not a BMW by any stretch of the imagination. Two things were wrong: Japanese detailing was not in the same league and it didn’t handle as well, not quite. The error in this logic is that the 510 wasn’t built to compete with the BMW, it’s the Beetle you’re supposed to compare it with, dummies. From this aspect, things get a lot more even in a hurry.

Standing on a 95.3-inch wheelbase (VW Is 94.5), overall length of the all-steel unit body Datsun is 160.2 inches, width 61.4 and height 55.1. Not much different from the Bug whose measurements go 159.6, 61.0 and 59.1 respectively except the four-inch lower roofline which means a corresponding reduction of front headroom.

Despite the overall dimensional similarities, though, total interior space utilization is improved over the Volkswagen and because of the wide doors it’s easier to get in and out – Especially the back seat. With those so-called throne-room front buckets, putting something like a bag of groceries in a VW’s rear passenger compartment is a hassle, especially for a woman. Datsun must have recognized this hang-up because their seat mechanism incorporates the neat trick of sliding the whole unit forward on its tracks when the seatback is pushed ahead. But in all fairness, the VW seats are more comfortable, and, with near true chair height, will accept a six-foot three-inch driver’s frame, though neither is is Will Cham-berlain territory.

Datsun’s windows-up, draft-free ventilation system is on an efficiency level with Opel and Peugeot, which says a lot and as heaters go, this one pumps out BTUs like an open-hearth furnace. These things, excellent ventilation and heating characteristics, demonstrate that the Japanese have studied the wild variations in our various geographical sections and built a car to suit existing conditions. You can yak all day about how the German detailing, finish and fit is far superior but a long, high-humidity, Eastern summer in a poorly ventilated car that, after a time, becomes your own personal portable forge, will sour a customer forever and Volkswagen had better realize it.

In all out, one-on-one performance the Datsun has a bunch of people covered in its class and then some. The all-aluminum overhead cam 97.3-cubic inch (1595cc) engine puts out 96 horses at 5600 rpm, which, for a 2125-pound car, equals a pretty decent power-to-weight ratio. As a point of fact, the 510 will out-accelerate the 1.9 Opel Automatic to sixty, quite interesting since the Opel is lighter and has 300 more ccs. Better yet, from fifty to seventy mph the Datsun was 1.8 seconds quicker, 158 feet of additional room you’ll appreciate when passing on a two-lane highway sometime. At speeds where most other cars in this class begin to fade, the Datsun is coming on. Part of this is engine, part transmission. The 510’s four-speed looks and acts like one of those beautiful Alfas and even with a distinct whine in second and third, has to be the best around.

Stopping capabilities of the front disc, rear drum brake combination border on the aircraft carrier-arresting-hook league. At 117 feet, the 510 took only a yard more to stop from sixty than the 200-pound lighter Austin America, a feat all the more impressive because the standard Toyo E-41, 5.00 x 13 tires are as slick as bear grease. Toyo’s questionable adhesion qualities also made the suspension amazing because the car theaded through tight corners and switchbacks like O.J. Simpson. Ex-racer Bob Bondurant, who uses a Datsun 510 sedan as well as a Datsun 2000 sports car in his School of High Performance Driving at Orange County Raceway, tried our test car and commented it seemed inclined to slide more than the one he had equipped with fatter tires.

There was no time to experiment with our particular machine, but Datsun, who also realize the original skins leave something to be desired if you have any sporting blood, offered us a four-door shod with Goodyear 175R-13 radial-ply tires. In the space of about four blocks we realized we tested the wrong car, or rather that Datsun ought to just make some good radials standard equipment. The improvement is staggering, something in the magnitude of driving off a sheet of ice onto a dry, concrete road. Riding qualities – good to begin with, are certainly not impaired, they’re improved. Another distinct plus we noticed about the four-door was that it had padded carpeting instead of the plain rubber mat that came in our job, so the noise level was de-escalated at least 25 percent. And, that’s a good thing. Finally, for some reason, a Datsun, even with its quaint hand choke, has about the poorest cold start characteristics of any car we know. The people of International Falls, Minnesota, will not love them for it.

Look Datsun, this is your golden opportunity. Nobody really believes that an $1895 510 is as good as a $2700 BMW. But, if you add a set of radials, a sound-absorbing carpet and a choke that works, the tab will be just over $1,900. That they might believe, especially after they drove it. And then, VW would be in deep water.

Filed Under: 510 / Bluebird

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