I'm happy to say that I'm the proud new owner of a '72 2 door 510. I thought I'd organize my thoughts/introduction in an easier to read list format.
First the why:
- - I'm turning 40 this September and I've always wanted a car the same age as me (despite being a '72 model year, she was build in Nov '71).
- - I've always wanted a Datsun 510 but a search many years ago left me discouraged. Having recently seen the Transformers movie, I was motivated to search once again...
- - My oldest son is only 4 short years away from driving and I wanted him to learn standard on a car which will be in the family going foward. This car will be autocrossed with my kids as passengers to learn. Eventually both of my boys will hone their save-your-life street skills autocrossing it as well.
- - I wanted a car which my sons and I can work on together and to show them how a car works mechanically.
- - I wanted something fun to cruise around in - that doesn't require horsepower to make it fun. A car which is totally engaging to drive. Something of possession I can take pride in.
- - OEM paint, engine, tranny, interior.
- - Was a daily summer driver. After purchasing it, I started it right up and drove it the 30min home.
- - Remarkably, the car has been owned in the Ottawa area it's entire life! Typically the copious amounts of salt used in the winter is efficient at rusting things up here.
- - ... having said that, there's VERY little rust, in fact there was none that I could see. A previous owner had coated the entire body with that thick sticky black coating.
- - Previous owner completely reworked the underside with urethane bushings everywhere, all the arms/links repainted. Rebuilt calipers, new pads.
- - Includes a rebuilt & lightly bored L20B with racing cam, zero miles. Pair of sidedraft Webber 40s with manifold.
- - Includes a parts car with a seized L20B with a potential Peanut head and a working 5 speed tranny. Ground Control suspension. Besides that, I don't see anything else useable except a spare windshield.
- - Replace the interior with a new carpet, headliner, seat covers (where/who?) and door panels (where/who?). This is a MUST to get my wife to actually tollerate a ride.
- - Remove the Cherry bomb side exit exhaust for a vanilla MagnaFlow-type rear exit.
- - New rubber door/window seals.
- - Touch-up paint.
- - Drive it and enjoy it until she's parked this winter.
- - Rear disc conversion.
- - 5 speed swap.
- - Mount the potential Peanut head from the seized motor onto the fresh L20B with racing cam and Webber 40 carbs. Don't know if that will work yet, or if that's even a good combination. Personally I'm surprised/happy with the L16's mid range torque, I'm assuming I'll be very pleased with the L20B and hot parts.
- - Swap the Ground Control suspension over from the parts car.
- - Work on any rust that I can find.
- - Design & install a Class 2 receiver for my bike hitch (I only use 2" bike hitches). Nothing will be cooler than using my 510 to haul my bikes to a trail ride.
- - Drive it and enjoy it.
- - I've had a few successful years autocrossing a 1993 RX7 FD, and more recently a Nissan 350z which brought me a couple of club championships (Motorsport Club of Ottawa) and other club/events FTDs, and a podium at the Nationals. The plan is to NOT race this car seriously (read: no R compound tires
).
- - I love to bike. LOTS of racing in our family, particularily Mountain Bike and recently Cyclocross. Mountain Biking actually gives me more of a rush thatn Autocross/Lapping ever did. AWESOME way to hone your reflexes for Solo2. Check out my half assed attempt to record places where I ride: http://www.OttawaVelo.com
I just LOVE how the car looks and sits now. The previous owner added the black BRE stripes and D-slot rims along with fat 205/60 R13 tires. I was very surprised just how much fun it was to cruise around it. I live in the country and going for a 6-7 PM tour on quiet country roads when the light is soft and the air is cool just rocks.
It should take me little time to get up to speed but I am very appreciate of help & information. I look forward to learning everything there is about this car and eventually hoping to help others down the road.
And now here she is:
FYI Your car was in a storage barn in Greely for about 15 years where the fellow you bought it from got it. I missed the car by about 15 min last Dec 15th when it was sold on Kijji ( I won't post what it sold for ) otherwise it would be here in Osgoode 
. Looks like I'll have to source another used set of 'modern' seats.
