It’s hardly the last regularly-driven Datsun 510 wagon in town, but this hurts. When I first saw it a couple of blocks from my house, I assumed it had just been involved in an accident at the corner there, and was immobile.
A look at its other side suggests maybe otherwise, but it’s hard to say for sure. Either way, that’s not going to buff right out.
These Datsuns are from the era when Japanese cars are made of much thinner sheet metal than normal, so they got bent very easily. I bet you cant dent the fender or door simply by leaning against them.
That’s a crying shame.. it’s a very sharp little car.
This car isn’t my cup of tea, but I do feel bad for the owner – it’ll be hard to find the right parts at the Pick-n-Pull to reform its current shape. This is a distinct negative for driving a CC. Yet with this being Eugene, there could be a litter mate at the P-n-P….let us hope.
It may have to die but it’s death could save other Datsuns.
Datsun fan for years. Hate to see that. I’ve loved these little station wagons since they first came out.
It looks like it could be fixed, and whomever kept such an old car as a daily did so deliberately. It’s very possible it’ll die but not a sure bet.
Good project for a kid in H.S. or Jr. College body shop class – if you can find the sheet metal, bumper, lights and grill. Might have a bit of suspension damage as well.
Looks like the hard points (strut tops, radius rod mount etc) are still in place, should be repairable but will definitely take some work and its a shame for what was a nice car. Rally 510s come back from worse regularly.
Where I’m from, NE Illinois, that’s still, believe it or not, considered drivable. Of course, it would get right-of-way very easily.
Relax, alright? My old man’s a television repair man. He’s got the ultimate set of tools. I can fix it.
Alright Hamilton!
Spicoli
people on ‘ludes should not drive
I haven’t seen one of those on the roads around here in at least 20 years. The Japanese cars of this era have long since rusted to nothing. Even the 80’s models are pretty much non-existant. It’s not a car that I like, but hopefully it gets fixed up. Somebody obviously cared for it over the years.
A competent body / frame shop can fix that easily.
The 280ZX wheels look nice on it too. I hate seeing this happen. A couple years ago I saw a nice daily-driver ’65 Mustang that suffered the same fate.
If there is no frame damage and nothing that can’t be fixed regarding the engine mounting points, I see a LeMons racer here. Will need some sheet metal to pass tech, but anything that more or less bolts up will do.
It is painful; but at heart a car is an appliance. Every car has to die sometime; and while the Datsuns were trend-setters, they were hardly classic. Not as the Mustang is classic; or even the 240-Z. These were just…a somewhat better way to do cars.
These Datsun 510’s are classics! They were the original cheap Bimmers!
It will only be really sad if it gets crushed as is, I’ll bet a Datsun fan would buy it in a heartbeat, put the front clip from another car on it and enjoy it or hotrod it with some crazy motor.
Just about every Datsun that came into my acquaintance during that era, including my Dad’s little truck and a good friend’s 510 sedan, was that same orange color. The dealerships must have looked like orange groves. Very long lived cars in SoCal, and you still see one from time to time. The engines went on forever.
The passenger fender is cocked outwards so there IS frame damage, so a frame shop would be needed.
I see a serious case of toe-out and camber issues as well.
This wouldnt be a terrible candidate for a japanese motorfix type build. This particular CC is known for large inline six motor swaps and going sideways…or it would be a great donor car. Dont pity the owner. Im jealous
The fit wasn’t perfect but I had flared fiberglass fenders on my 510 thirty years ago and I betcha there are more in a warehouse somewhere.
Costing more than the 510 is worth, you say? Not from the asking prices I’ve seen recently.
Send it to me. I will gladly put it back on the road.
I’ve actually seen a beat but running red 510 wagon several times where I live (North of Boston MA suburb nicknamed The Witch City) recently, which is a shock, giving the fact that 70s cars generally don’t survive the winters here.