1981 Datsun 510 5 door HB from North America

Summary:

Greatest car ever

Faults:

Bad rust on fenders.

No A/C.

Terrible radio.

General Comments:

I loved this car! It was my first car and I put it through hell. I learned to drive a stick on this car, and was surprised when other manual transmission cars didn't beep when you put it in Reverse.

I could fit a years worth of college stuff in the back, which is pretty impressive since I had a lot of clothes back then.

It was a beautiful car, and I loved the whole thing.

I had to replace the fenders more than once, since they rusted out so quickly, which is why I believe that it was stolen off the street in Brooklyn, NY. The parts were hard to find, so I'm sure my car was chopped up into little pieces and scattered all over 510 HB.

I will miss that car till the day I die.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th April, 2013

2nd Jul 2021, 01:04

I had two of them, one I bought brand new, and one I bought used. They last a long time, but the performance was not good, and I had to put a water pump on it every 50000 miles. And exhaust pipe, tail pipe and muffler.

I put 350000 miles on it, but it gave me a good amount of problems, such as the heater core went bad when the car had only 40000 miles on it. Radiator went bad, around 70000 miles, thermostat went bad around 80000 miles, starter around 160000 miles, alternator around 220000 miles.

Now the other one that was used, which was identical, both were 5 door hatch back manual 5 speed. The used one gave me more problems, but very similar. Such as radiator, fuel pump, water pump, clutch and so on. But I wished I had bought a Honda back in 1980; my friend did, and they had less problems.

1981 Datsun 510 Hatchback from North America

Summary:

Very reliable low maintenance car

Faults:

Dash rotted out, and had to replace u-joints in the front drive shaft.

General Comments:

I sure do wish I still had it.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 31st August, 2009

1972 Datsun 510 Wagon 1.6 four cylinder from North America

Summary:

Fun to drive, and I love the looks I get

Faults:

Replaced head and gasket.

New radiator.

New thermostat.

General Comments:

With an automatic trans, it kills the fun of it being a Datsun.

Loud is good.

Electricals has their problems.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd January, 2009

14th Sep 2009, 18:29

I owned 3 510's over the years. One of each body style. My favourite was 'Sherman', a green (Datsun green 939) 1971 wagon, which I bought with 87,000 miles, and reluctantly sold with 151,000 miles.

With a 4-speed and basic interior, I moved 2000 miles in it with half my furniture, baby equipment and a 2 month old behind my wife. All the while getting far better fuel economy than I deserved...

8th Jan 2010, 20:26

My mother bought a 1972 510 Wagon brand new when we moved to the Pacific Northwest. It was a great little car and I believe she had all the options except the A/C and the automatic (she preferred the 4-speed). Great car that never let us down. We went all over the NW in it, including a week long camping trip to Canada. My mom, 3 growing male children and our dog (Irish Setter).

Once during a 'powder puff mechanics' course the idiot instructor cross-threaded the spark plug and my mom had to drive home on 3 cylinders and then get it fixed. She made it and the motor was no worse for wear.

Aside from normal wear and tear of our family, that little wagon took the abuse for 10 years and I think almost 90k miles when she traded it in on a 1982 Sentra.

The only other thing that happened was the shifter came out in her hand in the middle of a busy intersection while trying to merge. She just stuffed it back in the connection and drove it home where we installed a new nut on the lower end, and she drove it like that for another 2 yrs. I drove it for a summer and it was awesome. Went all over and with my friends. It outran many a new car (Toyota and Honda) and required zero maintenance.