Whenever there is a dominant car in a given segment, it’s natural that we try and find a suitable back-up car that offers a similar driving experience for less money. While I realize it’s a stretch to suggest that a car other than the Datsun 510 ever truly threatened for sports sedan dominance, perhaps the larger 710 was a similar option if more space was a requirement. Find this donated 710 sedan here on eBay and offered with no reserve.
As some of you may recall, I spent many years slogging through junkyards on a weekend, looking for small bits of gold on forgotten hulks of obsolete makes and models. A car like this would always give me pause, as I’d look at parts like these taillights and think – “Geez, there’s got to be someone out there who needs those.” Except, it was probably the individual who owned this 710, which most likely got picked up by parking enforcement or abandoned in an estate sale, so those taillights would still be sitting in my garage had I grabbed them. The old-school blue plates are cool to see.
The 710 is in rough shape. The seats are shot, the dash is cracked, and the carpets are non-existent. On top of that, it’s an automatic, which is only going to dampen interest further. Of course, there’s a limited market for these, so anyone who is on the hunt for one likely isn’t going to be picky about the transmission choice. I do dig the color, which may even be original given we see it inside the door jams, and it looks pretty consistent on the exterior panels.
The other interesting feature are those wheels. These are OEM Datsun alloy wheels, which appear to have been an optional upgrade back in the day. The fact that the paint is worn evenly, the wheels are original equipment, and that it still wears blue plates all seem to suggest this is an original car that’s been abandoned in California for some time. Do you think it’s worth rescuing? Or is it solely a future parts car?
In high school, I drove this exact car as a coupe; orange with a half black vinyl roof. Engine parts were held together by baling wire. It was a flip of the coin if it would start in the morning to get to school. I sold it after six excruciating months of ownership. The last I heard it was totaled in an accident (no injuries thankfully).
Nice write-up, Jeff. I love the 510, and I’ve thought about building one. After a search for racing 710s, I’ve got to admit the 710 is less boxy and arguably sportier. I’m definitely selling the 2002 tii I’ve got now when it’s done, then I’ll probably do one more to sell, then I’ve thought about maybe finding a non-tii OR a 510 to keep after that. The critical difference is the 510’s live axle vs. the BMW’s IRS. Thanks for making us consider the 710!
510 sedans had IRS. Wagons had the live axle.
And the 710 had a live axle while the 610 had the IRS. The 610 was handsome in an early ‘70s Japanese way. The 710? Not so much.
All this takes is one poor guy or girl who grew up with this car and now sees a chance to capture that youthful time in this automotive scrapbook.
At least that is what I hopes happens here…
I had a 1974 Datsun 710 that I inherited from my father. Well I had a minor accident and my father said I was buying it after the insurance fixed it. I will say this. Extremely dependable but I had a 2 door. I didn’t even know the 4 door version existed (and sorry but it looks much uglier than the 2 door). If you drove this car smart, it lasted forever. Between my family, my wife and I we put over 275000 miles on it. So light that a good set of tires would last 100,000 miles and the brakes were terrific and lasted forever also because the car was light. It was weak in the snow due to that lack of weight in the back but that was my only complaint. Sorry there isn’t a picture of the engine. I think a straight 4 cylinder but I remember the engine was quiet. Lots of leg room in the front also. But sure looks like it needs a lot.
They had a 2 liter I4 that put out a good amount of power. My mom had a ’76 4 door. In winter we put some cinderblocks in the trunk for some traction. The street that we lived on was too steep for anything other than 4WD when there was snow on the ground. So that meant coming up the side street that was less steep at the bottom, getting it up to 45, often sideways even on that street, keeping your foot on the gas until you got to the side street that connected them and praying that you had enough momentum for the turn. Very light, and very fun to drive. I once got it up to 110 on the interstate! I then dropped down to 55, and a half mile further up the road was a trooper.
The Datsun 510 coupe and sedan had IRS in most markets, including the USA. Wagons used a live axle.
Should have been a response to Todd’s comment above. Not sure how it ended up down here.
Todd, the 510 sedans do have IRS, only the 510 wagon has a solid rear axle. That was done to handle the additional payload that a wagon would presumably carry. Regarding this 710, its best feature are the rare factory alloys!
Looking at this, I now realize why everyone seems to think my 72 Plymouth Cricket is a Datsun!
Ok its awesome that the bidding is almost $1000 bucks because its going to charity but otherwise I just see scrap metal however it is old school Datsun so you know what you’re looking at when you open the hood Without all emissions and computer control crap.
Thanks everyone for setting me straight on the 510 IRS. I was working from rusty memory. That puts the 510 up a peg on my list. Much appreciated!
Sold for $1300, 25 miles from my house.