1970 Datsun 510 - Jay Leno’s Garage 

I so appreciate Jay including guys and cars like this, great guy and great car. I'm so impressed that a guy like Jay, with his $ millions, so easily relates to and genuinely appreciates a guy like this dude who really represents the vast majority of those in the hobby.

This is exactly what I want. Damn the internet and driving up the cost of Datsuns.

The Datsun 510 was such a great car. It was designed to be an economical car for the masses and almost immediately was embraced by the sporting community. It was hugely successful in SCCA racing and was so easy to modify. I had three of them: 1970 and '71 sedans and a '71 station wagon. Datsun really knocked one out of the park with this design just as they did with the 240Z and I'm glad to see them embraced by the younger folks nowadays. The prices have gone through the roof if you can find one it good shape.

It doesn’t need more engine, 130-140 bhp is perfect 👌🏻

Those wheels and tires look great. So tired of old cars with low-pro tires. Cars like this need sidewall

The bible for interchangeable car parts is the Hollander Interchange Manual. It will tell you, for example, that the timing cover for a 1976 GMC Truck also fits a 1969 Corvette.

May be my favorite episode-this guest is so genuinely enthusiastic and proud of his ride-plus Leno is so cool geeking out with him as only an authentic gearhead would. Well done!

The owners enthusiasm is terrific. And yes, for some of us the 90's do seem like they were just "last Thursday!"

Jay, you’re out of your uniform

I love that he used that engine when everyone else throws them away. Keep it its a great engine!

In Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 this cars are LEGENDS.

"Will it ever be finished?" "I doubt it" Car guy truism (raises glass)

The mirrors are out on the fenders, A: more clearance left, right on narrow Japanese streets. B: You can see them through the windscreen, so you don't have to take your eyes off the road. So they are actually function over aesthetics.

I've been binge watching this channel for the last few weeks, Jay puts no adverts (at least as I can see) and just wants to talk shop with people who have a genuine passion. I am game for this

This car, the Nissan Skyline, and the Mazda 1973 RX3 are the coolest cars. Great episode

I had one of these in the late 80s. Joined the Army, and my mom sold it while I was in basic training. FOR $75!! because it had 2 flat tires. To this day, I still give her hell for it.

This is one of those bucket list vehicles.

Thanks Jay... love these 510s thanks for posting this for us...

1970 510 4-door, 4 speed was my first car (bought in '77 plastic still on the back seats). Loved it! Drove it from Vancouver to Ottawa. Traded it a couple of years later for a '77 Pontiac Sunbird that rotted out. Wish I had the 510 now.

15:53 That's a beautiful shot. Looks like it was shot in Japan with the cherry blossom

My mom’s first car... she still talks about how she unexpectedly was given a set of mags from my father as a birthday gift the first year they were together. She still doesn’t fully understand why my father, a lifelong car guy, would do such a thing

Probably one of my favourite episodes - after the grey RX3 ... These were the cars I was totally into in high school 👍

This is what I love about this channel. If I saw this car at a car show, I’d probably just walk past it but Jay makes vehicles that wouldn’t otherwise catch my eye interesting.

I learned to drive in my Dad's 1970 Datsun 510, pale yellow station wagon. It was a great car, very reliable engine and transmission. In 1980 the police pulled him over and told him he could not ever drive that car again, because rust. It was totally perforated, you could see the road through the floor pans, and all body panels had big rust holes. But it still drove great. One thing people have maybe forgotten is that the 510 was a popular choice as a rally car. It was cheap, rear wheel drive, easily converted to rally conditions. The beige colour of Jonathan's 510 is actually pretty close to the pale yellow that was a standard Datsun colour, so it took me back! Great episode, and nice ride!

Always had a love for old Datsun vehicles! Too bad prices keep going up, I’ll just have to enjoy videos of them

Wow what a beautiful car sometimes simplicity has more beauty than a car with a million modifications props to this guy for such a quality build Im glad Jay posted this I love his genuine connection with the average car guy

Loved these since I was a kid,...they were new then!

Cool, always liked the 510's. Way back in 1974 I was working at the grocery store and a 16 yr old kid there had a 510. It was orange and very cool. One ride was all it took to get a feel of how great those cars were. Thanks Jay.

"The 90's are last Thursday." Jay, you're the best. Love your show. Guess one has to really love this type of car to see the value in it. He did a great job. Other than that, I digress. It's refreshing to see you giving the average Joe a vlog. I'm sure there are legions of fans who love this car. He worked hard and did a A plus job. Nuf said.

The car weight bit just cracked me up. You're a good guy, Jay. LOVE this series. Keep up the good work.

I like how he used a auto power half cage. Simple and it works. Very tastefully done.

I LOVE THIS.... REAL, VALID, CLEAN and a great car. Thank you Mr. Leno I enjoyed your show with this owner/builder

One of my favorite episodes EVER! Jay in top form. Fantastic build, nice work!

I don't think I ever thought that I would miss the ka24 in my 240 but seeing it here definitely brings back fond memories.

I bought a Datsun 510 in 1971 for $1900 . I loved these cars . Thanks for showing this car. Great car. The color is the same as my, but mine was stock.

I worked at the only Datsun dealer in large Midwest city. Since only 2 other techs worked on Datsun, I was given everything that came in the door for 12 years, with my 76 280Z, 75 510 sedan and wagon. After I bought my 76 620 pickup, my wife said no more. These had independent rear drive with the diff bolted to the frame. Moved and found a 1969 1600 a Roadster and did a frame off restoration. Still have as the others sold while keeping the 620 PU. I have extra diff’s, brakes and other parts & the “Datsun Race” catalog with everything needed for each line of Datsun vehicles. Had a 620 given to me and made a matching tow trailer from it. Stop on a road to “U” turn as me eye caught another beat up 1600 Roadster that had a factory roll bar. Even convertible, Datsun used a welded box frame and the roll bar bolts to the frame. Did everything on these as I took tests my service mgr. offered extra pay per tests I past and got all 8. It was called National Institute for Service Excellence later shorten to ASE. So for me, it was a special time. Love watching but wish it was just stock, I guess. Naah!

I learned to drive on my mother's Datsun 510 wagon- a blast to drive

Don't bet against Jay. He knows cars!

Love how excited/ nervous this guy is lol especially when Jay kept saying it's his car now.

Again, thank you Jay for having JDM builds like this Datsun 510. A lot of the kids that used to drag race imports in the 1990s are adults with jobs now. Times are changing. The JDM craze lives!

Nice car, for sure. I like when people build cars and drive them.. I really have no use for trailer queens or museum fixtures! DRIVE THEM!

This was my first new car, a 1972 two door. I worked at the dealership at the time, and had Fenton mags with Dunlop radials and an AM radio installed. The mags were stolen from my underground parking shortly after, and I replaced them with 610 wheels (half an inch wider) and a good set of Michelins. Should have done that in the first place. The car in this looks very much 1970 except it has 1968 front park/turn signal lights. Hard to tell but it looks like the tail lights have amber turn signals. They wouldn't have been in North America. Also, it would have had side marker lights. Maybe they were eliminated? Not being picky. Just the observations of an old parts guy.

This might be my new favorite Jay Leno's Garage episode. The Datsun 510 has always been a car I love to see. The owner seems like an everyday enthusiast, like the rest of us, and Jay is as always, a man of the people. Did anyone else notice the BMW E21 320i at 16:36. It appears to be a Baur (targa/convertible) style conversion!

Great car! Always heard that in their day, these were the "poor man's BMW 1600/2000", and I can see why: light weight, 5 speed, appropriate power, good brakes, rigid body... Too much fun!

They were called a Datsun 1600 in Australia. Great car and years later were modified with hotter and more potent Datsun motors, and often suspension and brake parts from the Datsun 240K and rallied for years. I met a bloke with one that would hit 100mph in about 100 metres on gravel. Top speed was about 130 mph, in rally gearing. Probably would have done 150-160 if geared for it.

Small, simple, fun. Perfect!

I talked my mother-in law into one of these in 1970. It was a canary yellow one with chrome wheels and automatic trans that the dealer had "dolled up" for the showroom. I was a big fan of the SCCA Trans Am and drove a '67 BMW 1600 sedan at the time and was amazed when these started beating the BMWs and Alfas in the B production class. The hot ticket to build them in the 80s was to install the 2 liter engine from the Datsun 2000 roadster with it's 5-speed gearbox. Nice feature on this one!

I owned a 1969 510 and I loved that little car. Wish I still had it

Wow! Amazing little Japanese car! Thank you so much for the video!

well done Jonathon, well done. Kudos to your good friend and his garage space!

I'm happy to see regular guys with regular cars on JLG

My pops used to have a blue 510 Wagon with a rusty roof that leaked in the rain but it got us around. Lovely build Jonathan, hoping you get to go to Japan soon!

Those engines are great. Really reliable and easy to work on. I would port it do some other mods and keep that engine.

Jay out of uniform looks like a Spectre henchman from the 70s period James Bond movies !

I miss my datsun 510.. it was just like this in 1982

Thank you Jay for showing so much love to the 510! I've owned two of these and can attest they are fantastic cars. Everything you said is spot on. Light weight, independent suspension, rear drive, manual trans, disc brakes, cheap parts, great looking.

I remember growing up with these 510's back in Barbados 😀

The Guy is nice, Jay is nice and the Car is Beautiful!! Shifter is perfect... Rally heights greetings from Switzerland

Bought a 1972 510 in 1979 while in Italy with the Air Force. Handling was so great I put Pirellis on it, which only made it better. Now I have a 1995 King Cab with the KA24E. Coming up on 283,000 miles and the 2nd owner assured me the head has never been off it. Great choice for durability.

Thank you Jay for this video!!! This 510 gets me out to the garage and work on my Datsun 280Z!! I love this 510 !!!

That's a nice car, but the blue one that the guy who worked on Jay's Tonight show put together was real sweet.

Hi Jay still miss you alot late night . The tonight show is just not the same without you. Thank you for all the times you made me laugh. Love your RU-vid channel you got some of the coolest cars.

I was 12 years old in 1967 and living in a small town in Japan called Hayama Beach. There was a car club that would hang out at the local dance hall about half a mile from my home where I got to know some of the car owners, and more than a few times I snuck out of the house around midnight to get a hair raising ride in one of the nineteen-sixty something Datsun or Toyota hotrods. The streets there were very narrow so although I doubt we were going over 50 mph, it seemed like we surely must have been doing over 100! The cars were very similar to this 510 and to a 12 year old boy they were incredibly exciting to experience. Nice work on your ride sir!

That's what I like about this channel. One extreme to the other. I love em all! Thanks for posting!

Beautiful car. I enjoy these kind of builds, it’s something I can relate to.

Datsun and cherry Blossoms look SO good together in this shot @ 15:52

We had a 1971 510. In Mexico it only came four doors. I learned to drive in this car and one of my dreams is to buy and restore one. By the way, we changed the original 1500 engine and four speed gearbox to a 1800 matched with a five speed box. And put some Recaro seats and a Momo steering wheel. Love the video. Thanks for the memoirs!

Looks great, these are great videos Jay, exactly why I love watching your channel! Thanks so much for all the history and great cars/bikes you share with us!

One of my favorite cars in the world... Thanks Jay...enjoyed the video

That's a sweet ride! Sounds awesome!

What a lovely machine, the guy just loves that car and its great to see the enthusiasm he has for it.

My first car was a 72 510 4dr with 300k miles puke green original motor my mom bought from my uncle for a dollar in 1984.

Two 510s now. One of if not my favorite car. I probably would have stuck with the L series myself. Unfortunately, 510s are getting as expensive as 32 Fords and 57 Chevys.

Yes! They are called Engines, not Motors, tired of people not knowing the difference. Thank you Jay!

I'm going nuts over this thing. This is what I like, especially the nice clean, and clearly laid out engine bay. Very awesome.

Love a 510. Thanks Jay.

I learned to drive stick on a 510. Light car, and with about 140-150 hp you have a screamer.

I'm a boomer that loves the 510. That handsome boxy styling, good handling and reliable power made them successful for BRE and Bob Sharpe Racing (Paul Neuman too). The later ones had independent rear suspension. They were and perhaps are such a cult car. Johnathan, I like it just the way it is. I am not sure I would change much. And that includes the paint. I'm with you. Beige paint wouldn't be the color that would be a first choice, but it looks so good on the car with black accents. Good job on a sweet build.

So great to see. My first car was a Datsun 1600 (which is what the 510 was called in Australia). Loved it to bits.

What a cool car and owner!!

"Friends don't like to go get friends when they're stuck by the side of the road with no spare wheel" 😂😂😂 14:45

Very Nice 510 I noticed the Accelerator&Brake Pedals are set Perfectly for Heal&Toe . 40 years ago I was 16 learning to be Mechanic at my Dads Shop that Specialize Foreign Cars in Silicone Valley Asian cars were selling like crazy I worked on a lot of Datsun 240-280z 510's etc had many Customers and Buddies that owned Datsun 510, 620 Truck and Toyota Celicas I installed many Side Draft or Down Draft Weber Carburetors w/KN Filter, Monza Headers, Isky High Perf Cam and Mallory Ignition systems Lower Suspension Install Rally KYB Struts and Shocks they worked so Good. Install set Cragar Aluminum Mag Wheels / BFG Tires 50 60 series Flare Fenders Install Repco Semi-Metallic Brake Pads all that said you had a Nice Little Rice Grinder/Road Racer these cars were barely 10 years old at that time I had Red 72 Dodge Colt/Mitsubishi that l tricked out had for few years sold it Bought n Still own 2nd gen Trans-Ams n C4 Vetts w/ 500+ hp Engines. Looking back now I was young Pioneer in that Fad and Its Cool to see over the Decades how its Progressed in Asian Hi Perf World and the Extreme HP their getting out of these Engines etc, Another Cool thing about 510s they had IRS Independent Rear Suspension all other Asian cars had Solid Rear Diff/Axle BMW 2002 had IRS too. I have my own gig now Do a lot Sport-Muscle-Euro Car/ Lt. Truck stuff..

Ever since I saw a go-kart custom built with just the bare essentials - tube frame, engine, tires, seat, etc, and found out that it weighed over 1,000 pounds when it was all done, now I'm even more impressed when entire cars are around the 2,000 pound mark. If a bare go-kart (even though it was larger than a kids' size) with nothing but the essentials is already over 1,000, I can't imagine adding an entire body, interior, and all the rest that a whole car requires and keeping it around 2,000. Extremely impressive.

That 510 is really in good condition

Love how jay appreciates everything dude has done

The best looking car Nissan ever built. We’ll disregard the fact the engine is a stellar piece for the day.

I absolutely love that car. JDM big time and it’s amazing. I always wanted a 82 Toyota Starlet... but this Datsun may be my new favorite.

@17:46 I was like "Oh crap!! Jay's gonna get a ticket!"

I actually remember watching these race at the 24 Hours of Sebring (FL).

I'm pretty sure when they were called motor cars, they weren't electric. I'm pretty sure Motortrend Magazine was about gasoline powered cars. I'm pretty sure the hobby is often called motor sports, and I'm pretty sure anyone who gets uptight about such small things needs a life. Thanks for all the history and joy, Jay. You rock.

My brother owned one of these, it was light blue and 4 doors. Great car.

They forgot to mention that the 510 was considered the "Poor Man's BMW." Its rear suspension was a copy of the 2002. I had Tokico BMW rear race shocks on my 510.

Nice, another 510🤗 Jay, you Da man!!🕺🏻👍🏼

In Australia we call them a Dato 1600. Very tidy not over done at all. Very cool 👍🏻👍🏻. A real drivers car. 🤤

This guy always put smile, and make me smile too watching this episode...great car. 👍 Thanks Jay for bring him to us.

My first car was a 1970 510 wagon 4spd manual. Loved that car. I wouldn't mind getting one to restore.

Just love the looks always have. BMW engineering with Datsun costs

Jay your passion for the " home garage builder" has always been strong. Thats what is of your. Generation drum and bugle corps, rock and roll and after school/ work. Building a car out in the garage. Jay your from NewEngland so you remember Bruce Springsteen croning "Racing In The Streets " on the radio while wrenching in the garage. Old cars are almost all gone, time for personal space craft modding...its closer than we all know. But thanks Jay for always bringing to your garage the "car builders from home garage's"

Beautiful, charming video. Thank you Jay and guest for featuring this gorgeous piece of history!

Recaros from Thailand... Seems legit! (Fantastic car though) Go the Datto!