The folks over at Car and Driver just featured this wicked 280zx powered Datsun 510 in their “LeMons Good/Bad Idea of the Week” article. Check out the story on “Team Dirty Sanchez”(yeah, I know, but it’s LeMons!) and more pics HERE. Thanks to zcarblog reader Clark G. for the heads up!

This year’s Concours was just as incredible as last with an even larger showing of Japanese cars. Thanks to David Swig there was an 11-car lineup in the Japanese Car Exhibit.  The display included an R34 Skyline GT-R, Datsun 510, Datsun 610, three Datsun 240z cars, Datsun roadster, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Celica, Toyota Corona, and a Honda S600 roadster!

The weather was perfect for walking on that famous Stanford lawn with cars from different eras and marques everywhere. The highlight of the Japanese Car Exhibit for me had to be the Datsun 610, Toyota Corona and the Honda S600.  I have not seen a clean 610 in person and this one looked just right lowered over Watanabe wheels and running a front spolier. We wonder what it had under the hood.  I really liked the pillar-less door/window and the rear tail lights:

David Swig showed his 26k original mile Toyota Corona Coupe. This car was a totally un-molested gem with plenty of character. From the hidden fuel filler to the pillar-less windows and detailed hubcaps it was treat to see:

The Honda S600 roadster sported a dual chain-drive system unlike the later S800 with its live axle. The  high-revving motor has a near 10,ooorpm redline, in 1965! The owner said driving it was exhilarating to drive since the powerband starts where most car redline 🙂

The Japanese Car Exhibit was staged… …[read more]

I just got my copy of “America’s Coolest Station Wagons” from Amazon. It is a large paperback with 145 pages of high-quality images. Wagons of all makes/models are featured from bone-stock to customized, beaters, drag racers and of course Anthony’s 2JZ-GTE powered Datsun 510 wagon! Definitely a must-have for car nuts and Datsun fans alike.

 

The first time I saw this pretty Datsun 510 was at the BlackHawk Nissan show last year, but I never met the owner. Fast forward to the TurnZ event in June. Finally spoke to owner, Matt G about his car very briefly. And only 2 weeks ago we hung out at the JCCS show and drove back up to Norcal together for almost 400 miles…I had to share his 510 and the story behind it with you.

This 510 was purchased on eBay in 2005, and during the 4 years following has undergone a complete restoration. Virtually every nut, bolt, bushing or seal has been replaced with new or like new used parts. The normal body rust that existed was
replaced with like metal, welded in place and rust proofed. The body was then seam sealed and rust proofed from the inside out and professionally prepared and painted by William’s Auto Body. All work done by Matt except for a few things!

 

The drive train and brakes were improved over stock equipment and a 1995 240SX 2.4L(KA24DE) engine and transmission where swapped in and a Greddy turbo kit added. Matt prepped the engine with oversize 9.0:1 forged WiseCo Pistons,  Forged Connecting Rods, and the head received a mild port and polish and early 1992 Intake and Exhaust Cams (longer duration).  ARP Head and Main studs, and a Cosmetic Metal head gasket keeps things tight.

 

The Greddy Turbo Kit(12psi) is made for the 240SX.   Custom piping, a proper recirc’d BOV, custom BMIC(that’s right bottom mount!) Bell intercooler with super trick air scoop (spring loaded for driveways, speed bumps, etc). The exhaust system is 2.5”  done in stainless by none other than Dan Gallmeister of DGR Fabrication and is finished by a dual-tipped Magnaflow muffler. Fuel duties are handled by custom bent 3/8 “ aluminum supply and return Lines, 300zx in-tank pump, Aeromotive regulator, and Nissan 370cc injectors.

 

Matt’s hard work paid off when he dyno’d the 510 at ZCarGarage on one of it’s Dyno Days. It made good power, spinning the rollers to the tune of 262hp/264tq to the wheels!

~300hp in a 2000lb car must be fun:)

 

To put all the power to the ground Matt modified the suspension both front and rear. Up front there are Energy Suspension bushings, 280ZX Struts with Tokico adjustable coilovers and adjustable camber plates.
In rear,  a penultimate rear crossmember with Proshock adjustable coilovers.
Braking is accomplished with 4-wheel discs, 280ZX fronts with vented rotors and 280zx rears with solid rotors. A 280ZX 15/16” master cylinder and custom e-brake handle complete the setup.

When we drove down from JCCS show I noticed the awesome stance on Matt’s 510. Great job restoring it and driving it because DATSUNS are driven!