10k: KA24DE Power: 1971 Datsun 510 Sedan
The Datsun 510/Bluebird was a small sedan (2-door, 4-door, or wagon) built in Japan and sold from 1968 through 1973. Their boxy good looks have stood the test of time better than most other
Datsuns from the same time period, and if you like the 510 sedan’s
style you’ll dig this next feature. Find this 1971 Datsun 510 Sedan with KA24DE power offered for $8,500 in Palm Springs, CA via craigslist.
This is not a stock and snooze worthy grandpa owned original, this is the Bluebird that started smoking cigarettes and hanging out at the tattoo parlor when he was 16. It features a fuel injected engine swap, new sub-frame, new bushings, new anti-roll bars, new wheels, and JDM style fender mirror. Good luck seeing anything in those little fender mounted mirrors, seeing anything at speed it is like trying to identify cellular structure in a specimen under a microscope while being attacked by a chimpanzee.
Under the hood is a real howler, this is 2.4 liter KA24DE inline-4 cylinder engine, the same as found in a ’90s era Nissan 240SX/Xterra/Altima/Bluebird-U13. In stock configuration the K-series engine is good for 155 horsepower and 160 ft-lbs of torque, but power is at the tip of your fingers with forced induction, and turbo power is very common with swaps.
See a cooler piece of classic Japanese iron for less? tips@dailyturismo.com
I downloaded Adam Carolla's "Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman" off iTunes last night. Good movie, even my wife liked it! I was hoping to see it in the theatre, but the only place it is playing in my state is 100 miles away including 2 ferry rides.
youtube.com/watch?v=4Szj0gCkFuk
PLN started racing in a 510 in SCCA B Sedan in 1976.
+1!
There is also a Steve McQueen documentary debuting at Canes this weekend: "McQueen: The Man & Le Mans" about his obsession with making the film "Le Mans"
youtube.com/watch?v=J–qlcVaTYM
I hadn't heard about that one yet. Cool! I'll definitely see that. There are extras on one of the releases, I forget which one, that explores this topic somewhat. But probably not to the depth that this film will, most likely. Thanks for the heads up!
A guy here at work was involved in the production and says they found a million feet of unused footage from Le Mans that has never been seen before and used some of it in the documentary.
Oh man, that's going to be great!
Love old nickel-dimes even if the KA24 ain't my fave motor, but I note that the car sitting in front of it is an old MX30-series Cressida, which seems to have become a popular ride among the ricey set.
I have to admit to a certain fondness for the late '80s examples, but you can get a decent E28 535i cheaper and it's a much better car.
I wonder how RyanM and his wife are doing? Hopefully, everything went well. Anybody heard from him?
Too many doors
Two many.
Personally, I prefer the four doors. But that's probably just my ripening 401k talking.
Or the chilled anejo.