What am i missing here?..1971 Datsun 510 5-Speed

enzo1 · 02-02-2018, 10:54 AM

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1971-datsun-510-19/
SOLD ON 2/2/18 FOR $36,000

fastfredracing · 02-02-2018, 11:08 AM

Just waaay cool. I get it.

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

I remember when you couldn't give one of those away

fastfredracing · 02-02-2018, 11:14 AM

Me too. We rode around in a burnt orange one in high school, it was really an ugly little tin can, but something about them rings my bell now .

LakeCleElum · 02-02-2018, 11:14 AM

Wild Guess: Buyer was in high school in early '70's............I get that.....

stomachmonkey · 02-02-2018, 11:20 AM

Those things are a blast.

Except for the price tag, I'd not hesitate.

Eric at Pelican Parts · 02-02-2018, 11:24 AM

Datsun's are going way up in price, I've been seeing 240z's, 510's, and 1600's appreciating. I wish I could have bought sooner, but I have no more garage space to house cars.

motion · 02-02-2018, 11:25 AM

Hahaha.... my little brother had one back in 1986 or so. It was worth virtually nothing. He had a problem with it and gave it to me. I fixed it and ran it up and down Ortega Highway a few times. It was a blast! I ran out of gas with it on the 91 or the 57 and just left it on the side of the freeway. Never saw it again.

sand_man · 02-02-2018, 11:27 AM

Cool car. If that's shocking, better not look at restored split window VW buses!!! Especially in "Deluxe" trim!!! I never should have sold my '61 23 window!!!! I'd love to have another, but I just can't touch what I want. And there's no way I'd ever tackle a restoration.

scottmandue · 02-02-2018, 11:31 AM

Yeah, one of these were high on my list for my retirement "fun car" because they were a dime a dozen back then.

Oh well, plenty of inexpensive fun cars out there that don't have a cult following.

Such as (not a fan of red but just an example):

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/2006-mazda-rx8-low-miles/6466979798.html

Eric at Pelican Parts · 02-02-2018, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sand_man

Cool car. If that's shocking, better not look at restored split window VW buses!!! Especially in "Deluxe" trim!!! I never should have sold my '61 23 window!!!! I'd love to have another, but I just can't touch what I want. And there's no way I'd ever tackle a restoration.

Serious, I remember seeing a immaculate restored 23 window bus going upwards of $200K!

Tervuren · Tervuren's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Yeah, one of these were high on my list for my retirement "fun car" because they were a dime a dozen back then.

Oh well, plenty of inexpensive fun cars out there that don't have a cult following.

Such as (not a fan of red but just an example):

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/2006-mazda-rx8-low-miles/6466979798.html

If it weren't for the cost of ownership/insurance and the need to store, I would own a a lot more fun cars in that price range.

Miata, RX8, Jaguar X100, Ford Mustang, etc...

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02-02-2018, 11:39 AM

Totally get it. I put a car like this under the umbrella of authenticity. People crave it in our synthetic world. It's honest.

speeder · speeder's Garage

It isn't even stock or original, color-change, etc. Pretty bizarre. I also had one in college that was an $8.00 car. They were fairly well made, (like everything Japanese), but really not fast or exciting in any way.

mikehinton · mikehinton's Garage

We paid $135 for a 1971 510 wagon in 1976. Drove it for 50,000 miles and sold it for $800. Good times!

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

I miss my 620 King cab, those are getting hard to find too.

Probably should have held on to my 240Z, it was rust free.
I'll always have a soft spot for Datsuns..

BK911 · BK911's Garage

Love the car, but nowhere near $36k worth of love.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02-02-2018, 12:27 PM

it gets more weird though when you compare the 510 to this

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-mercedes-benz-280c-4/

I thought it would go for double what it did. Now I wish I'd put in a bid. Sharp with a capital S.

Norm K · 02-02-2018, 12:41 PM

What you're missing is that the market for these cars is very, very real.

_

widebody911 · widebody911's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sand_man

Cool car. If that's shocking, better not look at restored split window VW buses!!! Especially in "Deluxe" trim!!! I never should have sold my '61 23 window!!!! I'd love to have another, but I just can't touch what I want. And there's no way I'd ever tackle a restoration.

I'm restoring a '57 23 window right now