1978 Datsun 510 Wagon Very Clean Original California Car 104K Miles Time Capsule

1978 Datsun 510 Additional Info:

This is a very original 1978 Datsun 510 Wagon. This car was bought new at Santa Cruz Datsun and has lived in this area its entire life. Earlier this year, it came out of the estate of the son of the original owner. It has a clean title in my name and a current California SMOG inspection. I bought this car on a whim earlier this year and it has been a pleasure to own. The day after buying this wagon from the estate, I drove it from Santa Cruz to Pasadena, California with my son for a AC/DC concert at the Rose Bowl which was about 750 miles round trip. It did an amazing job on the trip and got nearly 30 MPG. This Datsun wagon is a blast to drive and get attention everywhere it goes.
Overall:
This Datsun has been well cared for all its life. It was garaged in Capitola, CA and has always been well maintained and driven. The body, paint, and interior all look very nice with some aging as expected. The car starts, runs, drives, and stops very well. All buttons and gadgets works as they should including the clock, horn, key buzzer, etc. The front windshield is cracked on the far passenger side which does not obstruct the driver's view and would benefit from replacement. This is a very nice survivor Datsun 510 wagon that could be even nicer with some detailing and personal touches.
Body:
The body on this Datsun is in good condition overall. The original paint has excellent shine and reflection. The factory installed woodgrain trim is all intact with nice coling and light wear/aging. There are scattered dings, light dents, and touch ups as expected from a car that has been used for almost 50 years. All doors open and close well. The glass is all in good condition except for the windshield and the side windows roll up and down fully and smoothly. The weather stripping is all very nice and seals well. The factory roof rack is intact and complete. The bumpers shine well with a few dents and the front bumper is missing the plastic passenger side cap. This Datsun looks amazing overall and gets compliments and thumbs up everywhere it goes.
Interior,The factory dark green interior is in good original condition as shown. The dash is very clean with a crack free pad. The steering wheel is in amazing condition with no wear to the grip. The stereo is a vintage Blaupunkt cassette player that works well. The seats are in very nice shape with wear to the driver's side seat bottom from use. There is one tear on the driver's side rear door panel which would be a simple repair. The carpet is original and in good shape with no rips or tears and light wear. The rear seat folds down for more storage/cargo capacity. The headliner is in good condition with no rips or tears. The inside of this car is a trip back to the 70's and really adds to the driving experience.
Engine:
The engine is a 1952 cc L20B 4 cylinder that I believe is original to this wagon.. It starts quickly and runs smooth with no knocking or smoking. The engine runs cool and has enough power to get down the road and maintain highway speeds with no issue. The engine has been well maintained over the years and the recent California Smog Inspection shows it is a very clean running engine. The underhood is very clean as shown and looks to be completely original.
Transmission:
The transmission is a 3 speed automatic with floor shifter. It operates smoothly and shifts through all 3 forward gears and reverse smoothly and firmly as is should.
Undercarriage:
The undercarriage of this car looks nice overall. The suspension looks all original and intact. The gas tank, rear end, transmission, and steering all look original and undistrubed. I see no significant corrosion damage or past repairs to the undercarrage. It is what you would expect from a garage kept car that has spent its entire life in California.
Wheels/Tires/Brakes:
The wheels are the original Datsun 13 inch steel units that originally came with full wheel covers. The wheel covers were missing in action when I got the car and I didn't mind the look. Rather than buying originals(they are on ebay routinely), I figured I would leave that choice to the new owner. The tires are have great tread and drive nicely. The brakes have been well maintained over the years and I have some receipts for recent brake work done in the last few years.
Overall:
This Datsun 510 has spent its entire life in California with the original family owners. It is a blast to drive and gets attention everywhere it goes. With some detailing and personal touches, this wagon could really be taken to the next level. When the right person sees this wagon, they will know it is the car for them. Are you that person?
I made a couple videos to show you this wagon. One is a walk around and one is a quick test drive. To watch the videos on a PC or laptop, simply click the play icons in the pictures below. To watch on a smart phone or tablet, copy and paste the links below the pictures into your browser.
Feel free to contact me with any questions through Ebay. This car has a clean California title in my name and is located in Santa Cruz, CA 95060.

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