I really think in the next 5-10 years these Buddha Head cars (that's what we used to call them back in the early 80s and yet we wanted them so badly even in Jr Hi school) are really going to take off. What will happen to them in an other 10 - 20 years> Slow drop in price just like the typical American iron from the 60? I can't believe that 510 sold for that much. Everyone's telling me to hang on to my S2000. I really like to sell it. It seems BaT is the way to go?

Probably a bit like the European market for mark 1 and mark 2 Ford Escorts( old bangers at one time), but those Ford models had serious international competition history, rather than local,and prices for well prepared ones are now way higher than for that 510

I always thought of the 510's as the Japanese version of a BMW 2002 . I remember 510's being raced by some big name drivers back in the day . Pretty amazing how prices have sky rocketed .

So, how many of these cars have survived without wasting away?

They are still out there.

https://makemodelsearch.com/autos/6/datsun-510-for-sale-in-az

had a 510 very similar to the 1602 I also had [same car as a 2002 minus 400cc]
a jap copy of the 2002 that was raced and had a lot of factory race goodies

un-rusted a very valuable but rare car as most like the 2002 rust eazy and everywhere

I saw some nice buses down at the beach today, so thought I'd share here since they were mentioned.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517695381.JPG

I just got the coil-over kit for the Datsun.
5-way adjustable.

• coil spring compression adjustment
• overall length adjustment
• soft/hard adjustment
• camber/caster adjustment

Some welding needed to weld tube onto front spindles. Hence the paint removal and holes for rosette welding.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517845382.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517845382.jpg

Sweet looking hardware Alvin, what brand are they?

^^^^ Troy Ermish at Ermish Racing https://www.ermish-racing.com/online-store tells me they are of German manufacture. Custom made.

John Morton won a couple SCAA championships in 510 (1971 and 1972) in the #46 dime....cool cars.

Wholly crap!!! https://www.carsforsale.com/1978-datsun-280z-for-sale-C1067998

I've got to let my buddy who bought my old '78 280Z know.

Too bad I didn't get any good pictures of it before I sold it:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517870702.jpg

This one looks like fun

https://orlando.craigslist.org/cto/d/1972-nissan-datsun-510/6447294206.html

Those Zs are so sexy. I have no idea why anyone would get a 510 instead. They're so square and dorky looking.

Most of ^^^these^^^ guys are dreaming and/or are several years ahead of the market. I have a `77 that's nicer than most of those in the link, with a five speed and 6K miles on a rebuilt engine (106K on the car), very clean interior and lovely (albeit non-factory) pearl white paint that I'm thinking of advertising for $13K-$14K.

What's most amazing to me about this car is the compliments. I received as many raving compliments on this car in the first few weeks of ownership as I did on my 930 in five years. I attribute this to so many folks having known someone who had one, or had one themselves (and thought it was the coolest car they'd ever been in) versus the relative few who have spent any appreciable time around air-cooled P-cars.

_
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517943176.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517943176.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517943176.JPG

The bigger problem is finding one that hasn't been modified to death (riced out as youngins call it) not that there is anything wrong with that.

Mr Morton at Laguna Seca 1971

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517947746.jpg

Datsun 1600's (510's as you guys call them) have been a constant throughout my years of car ownership. One of the best fun for buck cars you can have.

The last one I built had the FJ20ET engine from the mid 80's type Skylines from Japan. About 950Kgs & 300hp makes for some exciting times.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517959842.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517959862.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1517959893.jpg

They were the poor man's 3 series. I loved them. But that one's a bit high.

I had many more strangers talk to me about my 280Z than any Porsche although the 930 gets its share.

My first car was a rust bucket ‘72 240Z that I had to see to a junk yard so my next Z 10 years later was a rust free stock ‘78. I put a lot into the ‘78 Z: engine rebuilt with ‘76 ported heads, 1mm over Nissan factory race pistons, cam, headers, ported intake and big throttle body. The transmission and rear end were from an ‘83 ZX which had much better ratios. Tokiko shocks, eibach springs, and big swaybars. Exterior had 15x7 Black BBS looking wheels, early bumpers, front air dam and rear spoiler. The best addition was probably the light flywheel. Too bad the chassis is so flexible.