1970 Datsun 510 Wagon

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/3126604950.html


Thoes of us young enough will remember when Made in Japan ment it was junk

 

Don't usually see too many of these that are still all original like this one. Seems pretty solid, although anything from across the Pacific built 40 years ago I would take a real close look at underneath - even from California.
Price seems a bit steep, unless it's had a complete engine rebuild (which the owner didn't say - only a "head resurfacing" - not complete valve job?)

 

While growing up in the 1970's, a neighbor had one of these that was yellow. It was quite humorous amongst us kids that the engine size was rated in cubic centimeters. At that time the car was quite the joke and was considered bottom of the totem pole for new car purchases. Nobody yearned or lusted over these things. It's interesting to remember that these cars were considered comical and were berated while Beetles, at least in my group of friends, were accepted.

 

These are fun cars to own and drive. I had a '71 510 sedan back in 1979 that got 42 mpg all day long, and with the factory IRS, was fun to drive in the twisties! The wagon has a solid axle, however. Not the fastest cars on the planet - my 510 did a 22.22 @ 66 mph in the 1/4 mile - but they are what they are. The 510 has a huge following, so parts and such are not hard to come by, for the most part.

If this were not in California, I'd be very interested in this one!

 

My thought is, why would you resurface the heads unless you have overheated and warped them, at which point I would be suspicious of valves, rings and bearings, too.