Let me be another to cast a vote for the Datsun 510. Back in 1972 (when
many probably considered Japanese cars to be on the fringe), my college
roomate bought a 510. It was light-years ahead of what most college kids
were driving. I was driving a 1961 TR3! My other roomate was driving a
Vega!!!! The Datsun was well-built and reliable as a stone, the first thing
we did was drive it (ie flog it) non-stop to Florida for Spring Break.
Later, after I got married (c. 1974), my wife and I bought a '72 510 and had
it as our main car for a couple of years incurring only a couple of blown
head gaskets to mar its sterling service. Now I run with the 510s in Group 8
with the SVRA and I can vouch for the speed of the cars and the ability of
their pilots. Only my long-time later ownership of 2002s reminds me of how
much fun you can have in a boxy little sedan.
Cheers, Craig Seibert 1968 Morgan +8 Duff Morgan Racing Car #611
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-vintage-race@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jim Froula
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2000 3:54 PM
To: vintage-race@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Vintage Racer: what car to buy?
> Driving a LOTUS does take you a step higher in the snob appeal league,
> however. Although most of my Ferrari friends are embarassed to have the
> LOTUS guys even bus their tables....so you're still haven't MADE IT yet!!!
> But your a darn site closer than if you had a 510 or Sprite (sorry Datsun
and
> AH/MG drivers!!...but sometimes the truth hurts)!!
>
> OK...spam away again...
>
> Myles H. Kitchen
> 1965 LOTUS Cortina Mk1 #128
Okay, since you asked for it. If the objective is a cost effective, fast,
easy to drive car with a good supply of parts, then why not a Datsun 510?
You might start by PLEASE explaining the huge resistance to Datsuns in
vintage racing. Is it the "racing heritage" thing? I no it can't be
design/engineering, can it? Or maybe the fact they never had a bright red
factory color?
I own a '68 510 as well as a Lotus Escort MkI. I have also experienced
the pain and agony of friends at the track working on their more exotic
marques. The guys that seem to make the biggest deal out of the stigma are
also the guys who pay people to bring their car to the track, work on it for
them and make their lunch. Believe me, I'm all for that treatment. But I
don't think they appreciate the overall package of the car (or cars) they
have chosen.
I'm not prejudice because of where a car came from. Or is that the big
deal? I do know the Ford is going to take ALOT more effort to be as fast as
the Datsun (but that's why I bought it, I like the challenge).
For the beginner, I vote for a Datsun 510.
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