Random # 340: Another Datsun 510 / 1600 (Updated)

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Yes.  Another one.  This time, it’s a fabulously honest track car that wears its history with pride.  It may be a tiny bit battered and bruised - as you might expect of any competition vehicle of a similar vintage - but it's straight and looks great! 

The Nippon Datsun Club badge is a cool touch.

It doesn't seem to have beeen heavily modified, although there's nothing to say what sort of engine it's running*.  However, it appears to be fitted with a standard brake set-up** - discs upfront and finned drums at the rear - and has a nice set of 14" Superlites all 'round.  Inside, there's a race seat and sports steering wheel, a couple of extra gauges, a cage and that's about it.   

The high-beam delete is a common mod, presumably to aid under-bonnet ventilation.  It also reveals a wonderful DIY olive oil catch can.


* and **:  The car's owner, FaceBook handle Nam Nustad, reached out with the following info:

It's running an L20B [a 1,952 cc, four cylinder Datsun engine], extractors / a side pipe, twin 45 Webers, electronic ignition, big valves with a ported head, an O-ringed block, 11.5 compression, standard 240K 5 speed, 240K front struts / Hilux calipers, Pedders springs & Koni shocks, a big front sway bar, adjustable lower control arms & radius rods, etc. 

He adds that the old Datto is "pretty basic but fun to drive," and that he has "some more goodies to go in as funds & time allow."  That sounds like my kind of car!    



Did you enjoy this post?  If so, you might also like the following two pieces.  The first features a wonderful BMW E9 CS, while the second showcases Dick Johnson's awesome XE Falcon racing car:

https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2024/08/from-south-east-queensland.html; and

https://uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com/2024/08/noosa-concours-d-elegance-2024-part-3.html.

And just in case you don’t “get” the whole Datto 1600 thing, here’s a video from Aussie YouTube channel Grassroots Garage that might help you to understand: https://youtu.be/2SKude0tOmQ?si=Miq7IPIZCPdy1cb3.  

There are also stacks and stacks of other classic, sports and performance cars elsewhere on the site.  So why not have a look and, if what you see is your kind of thing, consider liking, sharing and / or subscribing to the 'blog or following it via the Upper Middle Petrol Head Face book page (https://www.facebook.com/uppermiddlepetrolhead1/)?




U M P H

(uppermiddleptrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

iPhone images.

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