510 – Page 2 – the DAILY DATSUN

February 26, 2013

Jay Leno’s Garage: 1971 Datsun 510

Recently Jay Leno had Tonight Show’s prop master, Greg Elliot, swing by with his gorgeous 510. On Jay Leno’s Garage, they go through an in-depth look at the sparkling example of a modified Datsun 510 – lowered, bored out engine, coil-overed and ridin’ on Libras. I’m kinda diggin those powder coated bumpers too.

Throughout the segment though, you can definitely hear Jay assuming this was a stock example, but that’s hardly the case. One thing is for certain: his love for this car, and love for old-school cars in general. Check it out:

January 7, 2013

Time to get a little Dats-loco!

Datsloco comes back in 2013 for it’s 8th Annual Datsun & Nissan Carshow and Swap Meet!

We got a brief chance to check out the end of the Datsloco fest last year and it was a hoot meeting all the great people and their cars there. This year the 8th Annual Datsloco event will be held on May 4th, 2013 in Manteca, CA. Here’s a map, and additional info. Get that car prep’d and ready!

From the Craigslist post:

Its that time again to mark your calendars and get all the datsun families together for our 8th annual swapmeet/show n shine. We have had such a great turn out every year,so lets make this one even bigger

We will be selling datsun cars as well as parts. Admission is free and only $10 for a selling spot. May 4th from 8am to 3pm at 934 perimeter dr manteca ca 95337. Come one or come all, bring your rides and lets see if we can fill this place up like we did last year. Come out and have fun and meet car enthusiasts like yourself. This will be mainly datsuns and nissans but other makes are welcomed to join us. See u all there. For more info u can call or text me at 209-298-513zero. Sorry no burnouts and no alcohol allowed. I WILL NOT BE COOKING THIS TIME DUE TO LOCATION. SORRY

FREE Admission, $10 fee if you are selling parts.

What: datsun nissan event When: may 4th from 8am to 3pm Where: 934 perimeter dr manteca ca 95337 Why: cuz we enjoy “doing it in a datsun” For more info call or text me at 2o9298513o datsloco

And that’s Datsloco.

October 14, 2012

Datsloco, Livermore – My 1st Meet

Dat’s right! Datsloco!

My previous posts have all been car shows (which i’m quite fond of) like the Willow Glen classic, but this was my 1st MEET! I was super excited to say the least. Datsloco is a local meet organized by a guy named Gino, usually held in the Livermore area, and simply just peeps and their Datsuns. Well of course they had plenty of parts for sale, bbq (supposedly Gino makes an off the hook carne asada), and even a guy workin on his tranny in the parking lot.

Before the meet though, first things first: a pint. Campfire stout @ Tap25.

Highwater Campfire Stout

Though we got there a few hours from the end, there were plenty of Datsun trucks, and every variety of 510’s possible: 2-dr, 4-dr, Bluebirds, Coupes, and even a RHD from Japan. Two other Z’s remained when we rolled in. Additionally, a Nissan 240sx and 70’s Toyota Corona rounded it out. OK, HOODS UP!

Gino’s Bluebird Coupe – if this doesn’t make you want one…

You can just hear the snarl on this one.

Super hilarious!

Dean’s 240z w/ Fairlady Z432 grill

Hoods up!

Triple carbs on a L28 engine w/ polished valve cover – love it.

There were a few Crown Royal bags around

A RHD Bluebird Coupe from Japan!

Someone testing out some gold Watanabe wheels. I like Wats, but the wheels he had on already looked great.

Powder blue wasn’t no slouch – just check out where all the color is…

July 21, 2012

Against All Odds

I remember first meeting my brother’s 4-door Datsun 510. 5-colors, a little bit of rust, heater on all the time, no power steering, had to start it in 2nd and it had the smell of musty foam with a thin veil of gasoline. A far cry from our Integra, all i could ask was, ‘why?’. I didn’t even want to take it around the block.

Shortly there after came understanding, then hours of work on the car, then appreciation, more hours of work on the car, and then finally realization that this was a fantastic car for so many reasons – independent suspension, great feeling of the road, period style, simple to work on, operate and maintain. And for many reasons, turned heads. :]

Then there’s this little documentary that threw it over the top. Titled Against All Odds, it accounts the Datsun 510’s Trans-Am race against it’s classmates from Alfa Romeo, BMW, Fiat, Volvo and other similar cars at the time. Driver John Morton and Peter Brock’s engineering team battle it out in an “attempt to make the transition from show room to victory lane in a single season… against all odds“. It’s great. And it’s on YouTube. Enjoy!

Against All Odds, 26mins

July 13, 2012

Z Owners of Nor Cal Annual Car Show – Brisbane Marina

Z Owners of Northern California (ZONC) are having their Annual Car Show at the Brisbane Marina on July 28th, 2012!

Wow, that first sentence just sums it all up. There’ll be plenty of 240Z, 260Z, 280Z, 350Z and 370Z cars you can shake a stick at, with a special section just for the older cars. Of course plenty of 510’s, Datsun Roadsters, G35 coupes and GT-Rs will also be there in full force. I won’t be entering in 280Z just yet (plus i don’t want to spend 5 hrs there), but I’ll certainly be there to check it out. Should be a blast to see what everyone’s done with their Z cars up close and personal.

For more information go to ZONC’s website: http://zonc.org/

For photos of last year’s event, check out Z-Car Garage’s page. Rob’s got a host of photos to gawk at.

March 20, 2012March 22, 2012

OFFICIAL: NISSAN brings back DATSUN brand

It’s official! Nissan is bringing back the Datsun brand. Wow – just when we got rumor of it’s comeback, it’s already here.

According to news / blogs, the Datsun brand will be offered in Indonesian, Indian and Russian markets; and most likely a heavy amount of re-badging instead of new / retro models.
Most enthusiasts were really only hoping for new 510‘s, mini-trucks, and roadsters.. but who knows, maybe they’ll swing around once the new Datsun picks up.

Read the press release below:

Nissan CEO expects strong growth in Indonesian auto market
– Carlos Ghosn details Indonesian investment and the launch of Datsun –

Production capacity to grow to 250,000 by 2014
33 billion Japanese yen investment
Nissan strongly supports Indonesia’s green car program
Return of the Datsun brand

JAKARTA (20 March 2012) — Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today announced measures to strengthen its production base and sales presence in Indonesia. Total capacity will increase to 250,000 annually by 2014, with the workforce expanding to 3,300, and sales outlets are planned to increase to 150 by 2015.

On March 19, CEO Carlos Ghosn met Indonesia president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and reiterated Nissan’s commitment to the nation’s motorization.

“Nissan is bringing new jobs and new vehicles to Indonesia,” said Ghosn. “We are going to expand our production capability and offer a new and exciting product line here.”

The new plan announced today will make Nissan’s Cikampek site, located 80 kilometers outside of Jakarta, one of the largest production facilities in the ASEAN region for Nissan.

In 2011, 890,000 vehicles were sold in Indonesia, for the first time making the nation ASEAN’s largest car market. Nissan is in line to achieve its sales objectives of 60,000 units for fiscal year 2011. Indonesia total industry volume is estimated to increase nearly double by 2017 compared to 2010, largely driven by the introduction of the Green Car program now being drafted by the Indonesian government. Nissan strongly supports the program and looks forward to its speedy ratification.

While talking to the media, Ghosn announced the return of the Datsun brand, Nissan’s third global brand, alongside Nissan and Infiniti. Datsun will provide sustainable motoring experience to optimistic up-and-coming customers in high-growth markets. Datsun represents 80 years of accumulated Japanese carmaking expertise and is a important part of Nissan’s DNA. Datsun vehicles will start sales in India, Indonesia, and Russia from 2014.

Source: Nissan Global

March 14, 2012

Top 20 Nostalgic Japanese Classics, Z in 3rd

Editors of the latest Nostalgic Hero magazine have just pulled out a list of the Top 20 Nostalgic Classic cars. To no surprise, Nissan / Datsun filled 7 of those spots with the likes of some amazing machines: Datsun Fairlady 1600 / 2000, C210 Skyline, and the Bluebird 1800 (Datsun 510) to name a few.

In 3rd, you’ll see the esteemed Nissan / Datsun Fairlady 240ZG.
While it’s great to see a Z on the list, I think I would’ve liked to see the Z432 over the ZG. The 240ZG is great, but sometimes that G-nose doesn’t look right. I suppose it all depends on the rest of the look.

20. Hino Contessa 1300 Coupe
19. Suzuki Fronte Coupe
18. Subaru 360
17. Datsun Fairlady 1600/2000
16. Daihatsu Midget
15. Nissan Sunny Coupe 1200 GX5 (B110)
14. Nissan Skyline HT 2000GT-ES (C210)
13. Mitsubishi Colt Galant GTO MR
12. Isuzu 117 Coupe
11. Toyota Celica Liftback 2000GT
10. Isuzu Bellet 1600 GTR
09. Nissan Bluebird 1800 SSS (510)
08. Toyota Corolla Levin 1600 (TE27)
07. Honda S600/S800
06. Toyota Sports 800
05. Mazda Cosmo Sport
04. Nissan Skyline HT 2000GT-R (C110)
03. Nissan Fairlady 240ZG
02. Toyota 2000GT
01. Nissan Skyline HT 2000GT-R (C10)

Of course at the top is the awesome C10 Skyline GT-R. No matter what variety that two-door C10 model comes in, it’s awesome.
With the rest of the list, I haven’t heard of most of these, so it was a great list to check out some “new” cars. Let’s check’em out.

Nissan Skyline HT 2000GT-R (C10)

Suzuki Fronte Coupe

Nissan Skyline HT 2000GT-R (C210)

Isuzu Bellet 1600 GTR

Toyota Sports 800

Source: Japanese Nostalgic Car

February 14, 2012March 8, 2012

i ❤ datsuns

Happy Valentine’s to all car lovers and their Datsuns!

I had the pleasure of sharing that love of the Z car with my fiancee last week when it was the first time she had ever drove in the 280z! She’d been rightfully reluctant as it’s not in the greatest of conditions and a fair amount of embarrassment that resembled my brother’s ‘69 ’72 Datsun 510. You know, to everyone else, cars are hard to appreciate when old and unkempt. Sigh ~ Your girl and your ride – what can be more spectacular?! Needless to say, she’s the one who’s pushing me to get that interior done and (along w/ my parents) to get the gold poly paint done. haha! So for all of the 280z’s advances, you have her to thank.

Cheers to you and your car!