Once a horrific little car that no one wanted, Harry Klaus’ 1970 Datsun 510 with its surprising drivetrain is now one of California’s cleanest JDM restorations on the road, built in an ordinary two-car garage with inexpensive tools. Powered by what appears to be the original L-series 1600 engine, this sneaky Datsun uses an intriguing combination of an ’83 Nissan 200SX Z22 block mated to a ’78 Datsun L20B cylinder head, driving an ’85 Nissan King Cab 5-speed transmission with an ’80 Datsun 280Z bell housing.
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Created and Produced by Michael Badami and Nicole Johnson
Directed by Michael Badami
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What a beautiful car.. wow
This 510 sounds awesome.
I've always been a big fan of the sporty Japene Datsuns, Mazda's, Mitsubishi's and Toyota's of the 70's.
It's sad they've all been forgotten and disappeared.
My respect go out to the builder/restorer. Bodywork is one thing but also puzzling the gearbox, engine and drivetrain together out of the NIssan/Datsun range is a lot of work.
But great to see that Datsun did the same as many other Asian and European economyboxes in that era.
Some research takes you a long way.
Mahalo Bradha for the Aloha!!
boa historia.
Crazy thing is i was looking at this datsun to buy, when it was posted for sale but couldn't bring myself to do it with the skyline rear end, big ups to this man
Love your work Nicole! Cars made by the hands of the lunatics who own and drive them are so much more interesting and inspiring than mega budget outsourced ones.
"Datson Dating" I'm sure this will being back some good memories for a lot of folks.
I fitted a set of wheel trims on my car by myself – cable ties too! – Will an attractive woman come and flirt with me on camera?
Had a smile on my face all the way to the finish of the video lol
I had a few Datsun s 510 but the One that I miss most is the 1969 got it in 1990 for $600 or $500 I like to negotiate so I’m not sure
It was definitely not a rust bucket , it was running and driving automatic , Which I replaced it to the four speed and looking for the 5 speed , I had so much fun in the car but end up selling it because I had my license suspended lol🧐 still looking for a replacement but not that easy to come bye
Don’t sell it you’re gonna regret it I love the paint job and I love the white stripe on it Nice video.
Sold my 510 and in return I bought the 1973 240Z and the Austin 63 Austin Healey sprite with the money I got for the 510
It was not a good decision still have the Austin Healey …..
ULTRAKool car bro, still wish it was in GranTurismo so l can drive it
10apr2023dellthecomputer
That. Is. Beautiful!! Great back story behind it all too. I've had my Mk1 Escort over here in the UK since 1996 so in a similar way to you Harry, it is more than just a car! Great work!
Just discovered your channel – great content! So far all the ones I've seen are builder-centric. Love your enthusiasm and knowledge.
It needs either a turbo or NOS !
A freind of mine had a 510 in high school during the 80’s, it actually handled well and could take a real beating. Coincidentally, he married a Hawaiian girl as well. Cool car. I like builds that leave some of the imperfections in the body work, makes owning and driving them less stressful, more fun.
Big Island of Hawaii!!!! I'm on the Big Island of Hawaii. I bought my first 510 at 14 in 1984 and just bought my LAST 510 at 53 in 2003 a few weeks ago! Sweet ride. 🙂
So cool. Sounds good too!
SO COOL. AS A young Daddy, the USGS sent me from Menlo Park, to Denver to run a Section in the PhotoLab. My family grew by 1 and
thus we outgrew our 1972 Fiat Wagon. Comes the 1976 Datsun 510 Wagon. What a screamer and economical (as the Feds didn't
pay a lot) This thing was phenomenal in the SNOW too. The turning range is very short which was very handy.
But by age 30, the family growing again to 5 kids, (10 yrs and younger) the switch to a bigger wagon was needed.
I missed my 510 right away!! BUT ~~ I found a 1973 VW BUS. And that became another "love affair"!
It's very nice to see the 5 1 0 immortalized on NICOLE JOHNSON'S DETOUR. Nice Production. No Question!! Nice Smile TOO.
great looking car nice and simple well within the scope of most people ,looks like ford cortina i love it !!!!!!!
Hi, that took me back to 1971, I had Datsun 160J SSS when I was stationed in Singapore. In those days we use to race the SSS’s in Singapore and KL in Malaysia. The reason that the Datsuns were so popular was the ability to change parts from their other car series and we had heaps of fun. I shipped my Datsun home to NZ and blasted the local roads. Sold the car when I got a company car (everyone knows that company cars go faster!). Thanks for bringing back some great memories. Cheers mate. Harera
Nice work! I drove one of these in the late 1970s. Datsun sold performance parts through its dealers, and I remember the hot ticket was suspension and brake parts from the 240Z, all bolt-on.
Just put your foot into it! Lets see some sideways spinning wheels and that twisty little snap that only a 510 can do when shifting weight, hoo haa
In 1971 I lived in a suburb of Sacramento and on rainy days I would see 3 510s in Brock racing livery doing donuts and 360s like a stunt team. I was 9 years old and thought they were the coolest thing ever. Many years later I had a broken clutch basket on my Yamaha RD 350 and was referred to a guy not far from where I had lived and seen the Datsuns. He welded up my basket and when I picked it up he showed me his shop. He was welding up 240z heads and re porting them. It was the coolest thing. I became a fabricator and have had and modded several Datsuns and Nissans. This was a fun episode. Ps. I want window openers like that! Mt Honda Element has those flip latch windows. I think there's a market.
My first car was a Datsun 810 wagon I bought for $150 with the freeze plugs blown out. Drove that 240r for a decade. Loved that sleeper.
The 510 was cool in the 80s and is still cool today. Such a great car, and a very clean build!
I just discovered Nicole today. She's the real deal. Awesome. And this Datsun was really cool too!
Having lot of fun seeing this. Reminds me the old cars we where driving and wrenching on in our youth. Thanks!!!
Oooh what a cracker, looks period sounds period spot on ❤
OMG DANA WHITEs BROTHER!!!
Lady you are gifted .that Datsun goes like a haunted lavatory
I love your interview style
Thoroughly modern millie . sucker punched him to the point that he was practically begging you, that he could tell all his tradecraft. I wonder how many of your houses are in Gemini that your family wouldn't know who was coming threw the door next (astrologically speaking). Good on you
Best wishes from David in New Zealand