Datsun 510

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Datsun 510
1971 Datsun 510 sedan.jpg
Manufacturer Nissan
Also called Datsun 1300, 1500, 1600
Datsun Bluebird
Yue Loong Bluebird 706 (sedan)
Datsun Sedán
Datsun Guayin
(spanish for station wagon)
Production 1968–1973
Assembly Oppama, Japan,
Melbourne, Australia[1]
Thames, New Zealand
Civac, Cuernavaca, Mexico
Designer Teruo Uchino
Body and chassis
Body style 2/4-door sedan
2-door coupé
5-door station wagon
Layout FR layout
Engine 1.3L L13 I4
1.3L J13 I4
1.4L L14 I4
1.5L J15 I4
1.6L L16 I4
1.8L L18 I4
Wheelbase 2,421 mm (95.3 in)
Length 4,145 mm (163.2 in)(estate)
Width 1,560 mm (61.4 in)
Height 1,401 mm (55.14 in)(estate)
Curb weight 991 kg (2,184 lb) (Estate - approx)
Successor Datsun 610
Main article: Nissan Bluebird
For 510 model years after 1973, see "A10 Series" in the Nissan Violet article.

The Datsun 510 was a series of the Datsun Bluebird sold from 1968 to 1973, and offered outside the U.S. and Canada as the Datsun 1600. According to AutoWeek's G.D. Levy, the 510 has often been called the "poor man's BMW." The 510's engineering was inspired by contemporary European sedans, particularly the 1966 BMW 1600-2, incorporating a SOHC engine, MacPherson strut suspension in front and independent, semi-trailing arms in the back.[3] The European-influenced sheet metal design is attributed to Datsun in-house designer, Teruo Uchino.

The engine was pushed through by Nissan USA president Yutaka Katayama, a design developed through Prince, an acquisition.[4]

Launched in October 1967, it was one of the most comprehensive Bluebird ranges in terms of body styles: a two-door sedan (added in June 1968), a four-door sedan, a five-door station wagon, and a two-door coupé (added in November 1968).

This range became famous for Nissan's rallying successes outside Japan and paved the way for greater Nissan sales internationally.

The Datsun 510 released to the U.S. market came originally with the Hitachi downdraft carbureted 1.6L L-series I4 engine, with an advertised gross power of 96 hp (72 kW), a claimed top speed of 100 mph, front disc brakes, four-wheel independent suspension (MacPherson strut front and semi trailing arm rear- wagons had a solid rear live axle and leaf springs in back), rear-wheel drive, and either a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. Two-door sedan, four-door sedan, and four-door station wagon variants were available. It achieved 20 to 30 mpg in factory trim (U.S.). JDM spec models were also available in a two-door coupe body style in either a 1.6L or a 1.8L (1973) L-Series engine. 510s, in some markets, offered twin Hitachi side-draft carburetors, which were a smaller version of the British SU (Skinner's Union) design used on Jaguars and MGs.[citation needed] These engines also used enhanced compression and camshaft profiles to produce more power. SSS models (not available for the U.S. 510) offered upgraded instrumentation and interior trim, as well as appropriate exterior badges. All U.S. model 510s received anti-sun glass from 1970 on.


Affordable performance combined with simple and reliable mechanicals has helped the Datsun 510 remain a popular automotive enthusiast's car for nearly 40 years. Avid collectors can be found around the world with significant numbers in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand.

One advantage of the early Datsun cars is that many of the parts were interchangeable — engines, transmissions, and suspension setups, for example, were all similar enough to swap with minor modifications. This allowed the Datsun 510 to be easily upgraded from the 1.6l - L16 engine, to the 1.8l - L18 engine, and later to the 2.0L L20B engine, and to go from the four-speed manual transmission to the 63 mm (shaft-center distance) five-speed transmissions made available for the early (S10) 200SX and (A10) HL510, and the 71 mm five-speed transmissions used in the (S30 & S130) 280-series Z cars, 1980 to '83 (S110) 200SX, the 1977 to '80 (810) 810, the 1981 to '84 (910) 810/Maxima/Bluebird, and the C210/R30 series of Skylines. The 71 mm five-speed transmissions also saw extensive use in the 620/720/D21 series pick-up trucks in both long and short (rare) extension-housing versions.

Australian Northern Territory Speedway Champion circa 1970 - Still holds records today

Its positive reputation also led to Nissan re-using the 510 model name later on for the unrelated, 1978–1981 Nissan Stanza 'A10' in an effort to capture this range’s glory, an effort reviewers thought was a failure.[5]

Variations and market differences[edit]

The P510 (RHD) and PL510 (LHD) were the most prevalent models in most markets, including the U.S. The 1969 KP510T two-door coupe version arrived in small numbers to right-hand-drive markets, predominantly Japan's domestic market, unsaddled by engine emission regulations. The 'K' prefix cars had a coupe-style swept roofline and shorter deck lid while wagons got a 'W' prefix. In the U.S., the 1968 510 two-door sedan saw a limited introduction during the summer season, resulting in it being the rarest U.S. 510-year/model. The two-door sedan body style became popular and was imported into the U.S. in large numbers for the next 5 model years. For the 1974 U.S. model year, the 510 four-door sedan was dropped in favor of the 1974 PL610 series cars. Around the world, the J series pushrod-engined model was most common.


Australian versions of the Datsun 1600 were delivered either as a full import (1967 and early 1969), or assembled in Australia from local and Japanese parts. These 510 Datsuns were equipped with L16 engines. Australia officially only received the four-door sedan and station wagon models.[citation needed] Nissan-Datsun New Zealand had the four-door manual sedans assembled locally from 1968, replacing two generations of Bluebirds (the name continued on 1600s sold in Japan) with the new 1600 export badge. Local content was about 40% and included glass, wiring, batteries, radiators, carpet and interior trim. Locally made radios were a dealer-fit accessory. The cars were built under contract at Campbell Motor Industries in Thames; the preceding Bluebird had been built at NZ Motor Bodies in Auckland. The 1968 1600s/510s had 'clap-hand' wipers that parked in the centre of the windscreen and a rectangular speedometer; wipers soon were changed to a parallel action that cleared more glass, reversible for LHD versions. The 1970 facelift brought a new safety-style dashboard with recessed round dials, larger tail lamps with additional chrome trim in the lens and detail changes to the grille. Automatic versions were a special import, built up, and only if (limited) import license was available, and a few 'SSS' sedans were also imported fully assembled. The 1600, popular for modification and racing, not least due to its independent rear suspension (when contemporary rivals like the Ford Cortina and Toyota Corona had live, leaf-sprung rear axles), was replaced by the 180B in 1972 and was sought after used for many years afterwards.

As well as American and Oceanic markets, the 510 was also imported into Europe. First imports were delivered shortly after the announcement of the car in Japan and was one of the models to spearhead the brand. The first UK imports were announced at the October 1968 Motorshow. The first models were the L16 saloons, with the estate versions following shortly after. L13 models arrived in early 1969, and a series of minor updates and equipment changes followed - as dictated by the changes made for the US market. The L14 model replaced the L13 in October, 1970, and was imported with the L16 until May, 1972, when the car was replaced by the far more successful (in the UK) 610. Nissan imported about 4000 510 models into the UK, and less than 10 of those original UK spec cars are known to exist. Nissan established a proper dealer network around the time the 510 was discontinued, (Octav Botnar was instrumental in the massive success of the brand in the UK) so the 510 never really received the marketing nor recognition that was achieved in other countries. All official imports in the UK were four-door saloons or estates, but several two-doors and at least one four-door SSS version are in the country.

South American versions of the Datsun 510 were delivered with OHV pushrod engines J series variety and leaf spring suspensions (no IRS) on all models.

The 510 was sold in Taiwan as the Yue Loong Bluebird 706 and was powered by the J13 from the 411 and leaf spring rear suspension.

The Datsun 510 differed with the markets it reached. In South America, Asia (excluding Japan) and in Africa, 510 sedan, 2-door & station wagon models traded rear independent suspension for a leaf-sprung solid axle. The engines for these markets also differed. Rather than the OHC 1.6l L-series, they received pushrod inline four-cylinder engines from the J-series with either 1.3l or 1.5l displacement. These variants were also known as Datsun 1500 (J15 engine) and Datsun 1300 (J13 engine). In these markets, the IRS Datsun with the L series engine was the Datsun Violet, aka 160JSSS. In the US, the Datsun 710 was the non IRS version of the Datsun 160JSSS. It appears the Datsun 510 was favored by Nissan in North America, while the Datsun 160JSSS was the choice outside of North America.


The Datsun 1600 P510 was built in South Africa in Pretoria between 1969 and 1974. They were available as a 1600 deluxe, 1600 SSS sedan, 1600GL, 1600GL SSS and 1800GL SSS. They all had independent rear suspension and the SSS versions had twin carbs. These cars were very popular for motor sport in South Africa.


In September 1970, the 1.3 and L engines were replaced with 1.4 L units. In other parts of the world the 510 was equipped with J series OHV pushrod engines.[citation needed] In the US it remained a 1.6.



The last of the P510 series went through Australian assembly lines in 1972, and due to the extensive use for rallying, the cars are now quite hard to find in any reasonable condition. In the U.S., Datsun PL510 cars are becoming increasingly rare in the Rust Belt regions, but can still be seen in the more temperate Western and Southern States. Greatest numbers of the cars seem to be in the West Coast region.


Later years[edit]

The Datsun 510 was sold in Canada until 1981, it had rectangular front lights since previous models had round ones and in 1982, they changed it to (Nissan) Stanza. The 1981 model had a 2.0L (L20B) making 96 HP.

It was sold in the United States through 1981.

In 2013 and 2014, Nissan showed the Nissan IDx Freeflow and IDx NISMO at various auto shows, said to be influenced by the Datsun 510.


1970 Datsun Bluebird 510, the winning car of the 18th East African Safari Rally

The 510 is best known in the United States for its competitiveness in the Trans Am Series under 2500cc class. Datsun won its class in 1971 and 1972. The Datsun 510 remains one of the most popular production cars in numerous SCCA classes of amateur racing, partly due to Nissan Motor Corporation in USA's commitment to providing an extensive selection of common replacement parts from its many area parts distribution centers, special replacement parts from their master parts distribution center (based in Los Angeles), as well as parts from Nissan Motorsports, Nissan's performance division (based in Tennessee). The Datsun 1600 was also very competitive in the Australian Rally Championship with outright and class wins throughout the 70s and the 80s and currently in historic classes.[citation needed]

Event Year Driver Co-driver Car
Australia Ampol Trial 1970 Kenya Edgar Herrmann Germany Hans Schüller Datsun 1600 SSS
Kenya East African Safari Rally 1970 Kenya Edgar Herrmann Germany Hans Schüller Datsun 1600 SSS
United States SCCA Trans Am 2.5 Championship 1971 United States John Morton N/A Datsun 510 2 door sedan
United States SCCA Trans Am 2.5 Championship 1972 United States John Morton N/A Datsun 510 2 door sedan
Australia Australian Rally Championship 1985 Australia Geoff Portman Australia Ross Runnalls Datsun 1600

See also[edit]


  1. ^ Davis, Pedr; Davis, Tony (1990). Volvo downunder: A Swedish success story. Blakehurst, NSW: Marque. p. 76. ISBN 0-947079-14-9. 
  2. ^ 1968 Datsun Bluebird 510 at Retrieved on 17 July 2012
  3. ^ George Damon Levy. "Pete Brock's "Screaming Yellow Zonker."" AutoWeek. 20 January 1986. Retrieved 6 October 2007 from The Dime, Quarterly.
  4. ^ "The Bluebird Takes Wing...". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-06. 
  5. ^ Michael Lamm (January 1978), "Driving the Datsun 510", Popular Mechanics: 87 

External links[edit]