My first car ever

[redroadster68]

I was 15. For some reason I had read about Datsun 510s I had heard that they were powerful ( relative) and were easy to modify . I had gone to a few autocross events with my older brother and saw a number of highly modified Datsun’s punch way way way above their weight. Mini coopers and the occasional vette would better them. Fiat spiders, triumphs, mustangs, Rabbits, all were no match for the mighty Datsun 510.
At 15, I started my search for my first car ever, a Datsun 510. I searched everywhere, as much as a 15 year old was capable of before the internet. We are talking 1982. This was Vancouver island, British Columbia , Canada
Well, as sheer luck would have it, my neighbour’s girlfriend just happened to have a cream coloured 1971 , 2 door datsun 510, in excellent condition. Retro aluminium slotted mags, thin blue and red strip running the length, and a 4 speed standard....a 15 yr old boys jackpot.
I mentioned to my neighbour that I was looking for a car just like that. He mentioned it to his girlfriend. She liked her little car but saw I loved it. 5 days later she asked if I wanted to buy it. She offered it to me for $1500. I only had $900, money I had saved from my first job, cleaning cars for a security guard company. Once a week I would wash and vacuum their 4 company cars .
My dad told my neighbour I only had $900 dollars . He told his GF...she felt my love for her car and agreed to sell it to me for $900
So it sat in my driveway for the longest 7 months while I waited to turn 16.
I bought an old L16 block at a junk yard for $100, I bought an old head from another junk yard for $50 . I installed 240z pistons , I learned to port and polish the head myself, and I got my stock cam Reground at shadbolt cams in Vancouver. I purchased a single side draft 45 mm Weber of a guy who had it on a 620 truck.
Bought a used header, had a 2” exhaust fabricated. Installed a monza tip...that’s it for exhaust.
I turned 16, got on my bicycle and rode to the dmv, wrote test and later passed the road test.
That Datsun was sitting in my driveway ready to be driven. Six months later I bought Carroll Shelby Libre wheels, and a paint job fitting my age and the era .
For years I entered it in autocross events and drove the living crap out of it. I loved it but as any 16 yr old, I abused it. It was a tank, it never let me down. It was so much fun.
I sold it 5 yrs later. Bought a vw convertible GTI Wolfsburg edition, and a 1968 Triumph GT6

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[redroadster]

I had a 72 2 door 510 in 78 79? To 83
Lowered mostly stock, but lowered more fun than my 311 I'd say as easier to work on , Daily drive

[GeoffM]

Great post. Thanks for sharing.
In '86, my friend bought a 510 for his first car. It was a 2-door, Orange, lowered with black steelies and beauty rings. It had SU's but the seller gave him a manifold/Solex set-up as well. We had no idea why the extra parts. :rolleyes:
I mainly remember the gold shag carpet that covered the hump....oh yeah, and a couple of near-death moments lol.

[redroadster68]

I also installed Mullholand racing springs and koni rear shocks. My backseat was just speakers ... again I’m 16 yrs old
The price of 510 are through the roof. There is one for sale in my town, 4 door very nice, for $27,000 and another in Vancouver BC for $39,000. I won’t even start on the price of Early Z cars. Kissing $70, 80 grand. My bro bought his 1973 z in 1985 for $3000. Yikes.
All my cars have been “ drivers” use them and enjoy them...always take care of them. Fun fun fun