Back in the day, the Datsun (now Nissan) 510 was called a ‘poor man’s BMW.’ When it came to America in 1968, the 510 became an instant hit. So what made the 510 such an important car for Datsun and a big hit in America?
It has been rumored that Datsun purchased the rights for an inline six-cylinder engine from Mercedes (some sources refute this but the engine has close ‘Mercedes’ similarities!). Datsun reportedly modified the powerplant by basically lopping off two of the engine’s cylinders. Thus, it became a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine for the 510.
In the 70’s, a friend of mine had a Datsun 510. He would race cars from stop lights and usually win. I wondered how his 510 moved so darn well. It might have had something to do with a possible combined Mercedes influence and Japanese engineering under the hood. I remember his father saying, “It needs another clutch again!”
The 510 was offered in a two-door, four-door sedan and wagon. It was a boxy car that provided much glass area and good outward visibility. The 510 had a lightweight monocoque design and unibody construction. Thus, the 510 became a part of automotive history.
The engine was a 1.6-liter inline four-cylinder making 96 hp and had a claimed top speed of 100 mph. The car’s 0-60 mph time is reported to be in 8.6 seconds.
The 510 featured front disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension consisting of MacPherson struts at the front and semi tailing arms at the rear.
The transmission was a four-speed manual or a three speed automatic. In 1973 the 510 was available with a five-speed manual transmission.
The 510 provided affordable performance and Datsun/Nissan reliability. And because many parts on the 510 were easily interchangeable with the 810 and 280 Z, enthusiasts had little difficulty modifying the car.
John Morton and Peter Brock won two Trans-Am Championships driving the 510. The car was known for beating BMW and Alfa Romeo competition.
The 510 was considered the most important car exported by Datsun/Nissan. The car had a great balance of adorability/value, engineering, and performance.
In 1972 the Datsun 510 cost about $1,996. The last year for the 510 was in 1973 (it was replaced by the 610). When production ended, over 500,000 Datsun 510s were sold worldwide.
Want to go back to the past and get a straight forward performer? Consider running down a rust fee Datsun 510. Look for a 68-73 510 to be priced from $2,000-$5,000. A good mechanic’s on lift inspection and test drive is recommended before your purchase.
View the slideshow to see the 68-73 Datsun 510 inside and out!
Kyle Busch is the author of “Drive the Best for the Price: How to Buy a Used Automobile, Sport-Utility Vehicle, or Minivan and Save money.” He welcomes your comments or car questions at his auto web site: www.cartown1.com . Follow Kyle on Facebook and Twitter.