NEW! Award 90: 1972 Datsun 510 42K Restomod – SOLD!

March 20, 2023, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we can now call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

March 9, 2023 Update – After a three-month pause following the expiration of their last listing, the seller of this unique 42K-mile 1972 Datsun 510 restomod we’ve been tracking the sale of since December 2021 just posted a fresh Craigslist ad.  The seller’s latest asking price is $29,000, representing a substantial decrease from the original ask of $42,510 when we first came across this Datsun two years ago.

December 26, 2022 Update – While this “Classifind” expired recently, given the seller’s history, we suspect may not actually be sold yet.  For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing.

November 24, 2022 Update – After a one-month pause following the expiration of their last Craigslist ad, the private seller of this 1972 Datsun 510 restomod just posted a fresh listing. While the pictures and description remain the same, the seller’s latest asking price is $29,510, representing a substantial decrease from the original ask of $42,510 when we first came across this Datsun nearly one year ago.

October 23, 2022, Update – While this “Classifind” expired recently, given the seller’s history, we suspect may not actually be sold yet.  For now, we’re labeling this ride “Sold?” However, we will keep an eye out for an updated listing.

September 10, 2022 Update – After a brief hiatus following the expiration of the last listing, the seller of this 1972 Datsun 510 we have been following since the beginning of 2022 just posted a fresh Craigslist ad. While the pictures and description remain the same, the seller lowered their lofty asking price to $31,510.  While it represents a significant drop from their original ask of $42,510, it may still be too rich for most 510 buyers’ budgets, especially considering this example features a much less desirable automatic.

August 21, 2022, Update – While this “Classifind” expired recently, given the seller’s history, we suspect it may not actually be sold yet.  We’re labeling this ride “Sold?” until we come across a fresh listing.

July 19, 2022 Update – Sure enough, after a two-month absence, the private seller of this vintage Datsun 510 restomod just posted a fresh listing on Craigslist. in this latest ad, the seller dropped their asking price from $35,000 to $33,500. While it represents a significant drop from their original ask of $42,510, it may still be too rich for most 510 buyers’ budgets, especially considering this example features a much less desirable automatic.

May 15, 2022, Update – While this “Classifind” expired recently, given the seller’s history, we suspect may not actually be sold yet.  We’re labeling this ride “Sold?” until we come across a new listing.

April 12, 2022 Update – We just confirmed that the seller of this vintage Datsun 510 we’ve been tracking since the start of 2022 replaced their last expiring listing with a fresh Craigslist ad.  In it, the description, pictures, and lowered asking price of $35,000 all remain the same.

March 23, 2022 Update – After several months of getting nowhere at $38,000, the private seller of this Datsun just lowered their asking price by three large to $35,000.

March 13, 2022 Update – The private seller replaced their expiring second ad with their third Craigslist ad for this Datsun. However, they have not budged on reducing their asking price of $38,000. The fact this Datsun continues to languish on the market validates our “NEW!” award when we first featured this ride.

February 6, 2022 Update – The private seller just posted a fresh listing to replace the current expiring one.  In the new listing, the pictures, description, and asking price of $38,000 remain the same.

January 28, 2022 Update – We just noticed the seller just lowered their asking price again to $38,000.

January 6, 2022 Update -We just came across a new listing designed to replace the seller’s December 2021 listing. While the pictures and description from the original listing remain the same, we noticed the seller reduced their asking price by two thousand dollars. Unfortunately, that small reduction is not even close to bringing g the asking price in line with typical market estimates.

Nissan can point to two cars the company offered in the early 1970s that put the brand on the map in America and much of the world. While many will immediately recall the Datsun 240Z sports car as one of them, the rear-wheel-drive Datsun 510 sedan (in both two- and four-door form) is what really helped the company gain a foothold in America. As good as these cars were when new, the Japanese had not yet discovered good rust-prevention techniques in the early 1970s. Consequently, finding a rust-free survivor-quality example such as this 42,768-mile 1972 Datsun 510 Sedan originally listed in January 2022 in Davie, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale) is a look back in time. Even rarer than finding a 510 in this condition, this car is equipped with an automatic transmission and factory air conditioning that still functions properly.

The private seller documents several tasteful modifications in their detailed description (see below), giving their 1972 Datsun 510 almost a restomod-like vibe.  Unfortunately, the seller’s revised asking price of $29,510 (the original ask was $42,510 (see what they did there?) is wildly above the  Hagerty Insurance Online Valuation Tool’s #1 “Concours” appraisal of only $23,600.  Not helping the seller’s cause is the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool revealing this guide’s #1 “Excellent” appraisal to be only $14,200. Finally, a check of  Bring A Trailer Datsun 510 sales confirms that the seller’s ask would be higher than any of the highly modified, desirable two-door, manual transmission examples featured.  Consequently, we have no choice but to give the seller our latest “NEW! (short for “No Effin Way!”) award an optimistic asking price that is clearly not in line with current market values.

The Hagerty Insurance Valuation Tool provides the synopsis of the Datsun 510:

“Most car people think of the Datsun 240Z as the car that really changed the perception of Japanese cars among the motoring press and the public. In fact, it was the Datsun 510 that started the trend more than a year before the Z hit the U.S. And if the Z was a half-price E-Type, then the 510 was a BMW 1600/2002 at a substantial discount. The car packaged a fully independent rear suspension with semi-trailing arms (with the exception of the wagon, which had a live rear axle) with a SOHC four-cylinder engine with a single dual-throat carburetor to great effect. The car’s styling wasn’t the least bit odd, unlike many early Japanese cars, and the Datsun 510 became the darling of the enthusiast press and club racers. There was a four-door sedan, a two-door sedan, and a wagon in the U.S., and a Japan-only coupe where it was known as the Bluebird.

Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) fielded a team of Datsun 510s in Trans Am with driver John Morton that did remarkably well, and Datsun used this to their advantage in advertising. One area where the 510 didn’t bear a resemblance to the 2002 was in build quality. Interior plastics were several notches below BMW’s and the cars always had a tinny feeling that was the result of thinner gauge steel and lack of insulation. Still, the 510 was a milestone car for the Japanese motor industry and for Nissan/Datsun, who wouldn’t produce an entertaining small sedan again until the Sentra SE-R of the early 1990s. Sadly, rust has claimed most of the 510s in the U.S., with the exception of parts of the West Coast and the Pacific Northwest where one still sees them (particularly the wagons) performing daily driver duties.”

The highly popular Donut Media YouTube channel’s James Pumphrey provides a great overview of why the Datsun 510 is so revered in the car enthusiast world:

While the twenty-year ownership and attention to detail of bringing their 1972 Datsun 510 sedan to the current show-quality level, the seller will likely have a hard time convincing even the most ardent 510 fan to cough up that much dough an automatic-equipped, four-door version.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“For Sale is one (1) VERY LOW ORIGINAL MILEAGE 1972 Datsun 510 Sedan, Automatic, A/C Classic Car.

– Current mileage is 42,768 original miles.

– I purchased the car in 2000 with 36,232 miles.

– Car originally from Missouri

– Car was originally owned by an elderly woman.

HISTORY OF THE CAR:

I have owned several 510’s & Datsun Z’s. I bought this car with the intent of traveling the whole country with it as I had done with another 510 when I graduated from college. At the time I took ownership of this 510, I was thrilled to get such an impressive car with true documented very low mileage in amazing condition with original paint. It even still has the original plastic on the passenger side front sun visor. It was an incredible find. In recognition of the age of this car and the long distance driving and usage I had planned to do with this car and in recognition of what a really nice example of a low mileage 510 this is and the incredible preserved condition it was in, I decided to go completely through this car, set it up for long distance driving and make it more modern and reliable and the way I would like it. At this time, I do not foresee taking the long trip I intended to and have decided to sell the car to another Datsun enthusiast who will appreciate it. To this point, in 21 years, I have only driven the car about 6,000 miles which includes a trip from New York to Florida.

UPGRADES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND WORK DONE TO THE CAR SINCE I OWNED IT:

– Installed a rebuilt engine.

– Engine was an L20B with U67 heads.

– L20B polished valve cover.

– Installed a new Webber carb.

– Installed a rebuilt A/C compressor with brackets, belts & pulleys & a set of exhaust headers.

– Replaced some of the exhaust system.

– Installed electronic ignition Crane Cams Fireball XR3000

– Installed new starter

– Installed new alternator

– Installed new battery

– New custom made Ron Davis built high performance radiator

– Installed new loud airhorns

– New water pump

– Had the original transmission completely rebuilt with new torque converter

– High end Alpine stereo CD/40 watts and 4 new speakers

– Functioning cold factory air conditioning

– New NOS fuse box

– All window sweeps replaced

– All trim & windows removed to have entire car painted – high quality, excellent paint job – still looks excellent

– Hardly used car – garaged & covered since I obtained ownership

– Put in a rear window with heating element using a new 1973 Datsun 510 rear window with new correct window seal so the car would have a rear defroster/heated window.

– Put in a new NOS 1973 Datsun 510 lighted defroster pull switch for heated rear window

– Installed an in-dash factory red needle tachometer

– Installed a lighted autometer temperature gauge

– New front windshield with new correct rubber

– To keep stock appearance and stock hubcaps, I went & bought Corvair rims (they are wider than 510 rims), had them media blasted & painted and on them are mounted Sumatro 205/60/13’s and stock hubcaps.

– Installed a new NOS front bumper with bumper guards

– 3 auxiliary outlets for personal electronics

– New carpet

– Newer style retractable front seatbelts

I did all of the above to make the car more comfortable & more modern while retaining all of the outside appearance to be stock.

It is unlikely you will find such a low mileage, super clean, 1972 510 elsewhere.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity. The pictures speak for themselves.

It has true 42,768 original miles with documentation.

TERMS OF SALE:

– The car is being sold As-Is-Where Is. No expressed or implied warranties.

– Will accept CASH or Bank Check (drawn from a reputable USA bank). Will not release car or the car’s paperwork until the car is paid for in full and all the funds are fully available to seller.

– Serious Buyers Only. No trades. Do not waste my time or your time. Price is FIRM. No tire kickers. No low ballers.

– I do not need help selling this car. Will not consider consignment people.

– Car is located in Davie, FL (Zip Code: 33330). Shipping of car is the full responsibility and at the cost of the buyer.

– Once you have purchased the car and the funds are all fully available to the seller, the car must be removed from the sellers’ premises within five (5) days of the funds being fully made available to the seller.

– Pickup of car must take place between the hours of 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST).

– All sales are final. No refunds. No returns. No trades.

– Shown by appointment only.”

Yea or Nea: Do you agree with our pricing assessment of this 1972 Datsun 510 sedan?  Comment below and let us know!