REALISTIC value for a 510

[jdub]

Hey guys just want to get some opinions on 510 values, as I want to get back into datsuns( ihave been without one for WAYYY too long personally I have owned 6 trucks 5 620s 1 521 1 610 goon 1 510 2dr.  It seems to me that the prices on some of these cars is getting pretty inflated, 10-15 years ago you could buy a decent 510 with a few mods for $1k to $2500. I bought my first 510 12yrs ago (71 l16 w/webber allstock in primer for $500). Plus I do realize that popularity and demand plays a part here. It does however seem crazy to me that a beat up lowered 510 with some wheels and a weber is going for $5000 in some cases. Not trying to offend anyone trying to sell their dime. Even the trucks are a little much. I may just be hard headed and cheap. Any thoughts?.......................jdub

[philcas1987]

that is what they sell for. Quit whining . And keep looking. Be ready to jump

[DISLEXICDIME]

datsus are no longer cheep throw a way car's they are getting fewer and fewer and more and more sought after . they are not cheep to build and not easy to find all that went out the window in the 90's prices will only go up

[thatguy]

I bought my house in 1999 for 245k. At the peak of the market it's value was 700k. Now it's valued at around 500k. Supply and demand.

[datzenmike]

There is also be a perceived value that is actually false. http://community.ratsun.net/topic/54120-the-leno-effect/

[john510]

These cars are worth what someone is willing to pay for it.I agree that prices seem to be a little high especially for some beat up,hacked up with modifications that need to be fixed.Ive owned 5 two door 510's since my first one in 1980.I paid a total of $ 6400 bucks for all of them.3 of those were factory stock untouched rust free cars,i wish i had them all now.

[jdub]

Well a family member knows a guy who has one that is a non runner, apparently motor needs rebuilt. I will find out next week. He is a Toyota mechanic so hopefully he is into Toyotas instead of datsuns maybe its a decent deal! ill find out next week..............ill post when I find out

[jdub]

Thanks for the input guys like I said ive been out of the loop awile.

[Ranman72]

good luck with the friends car the values of these have gon up and keep going up

I sold a well built 72 510 needed some body work and drivers floor patched for 1600 in 94

I bought a 72 automatic 510 IN 2007 that was no where near the car I had in 94 for 1200 and drove 450  miles to get it and I got lucky at that price

[RTB]

I just bought a totally stock 2 door 510 with rust only behind the doors for 2500. That's also without an engine. But the guy also sold me all of his parts from when he was racing for an extra 2k which included a l20b with weavers and solex carbs, 3 complete suspensions, pretty much all sorts of goodies to make it a top notch 510. So 4500 with lots of assembly required. I noticed a lot of these kinds of cars have gone up in price a lot. Just look at the BMW 2002

[TheShagginWagon]

Too many guys in their 40's wanting back the car they had and beat up high school. Only now they have more $$$, and there are less 510's out there.

[TheShagginWagon]

No offense to the older members on here :D

[yellowdatsun]

The nice 510's have really gone up in value over the past few years. With $8-$15k cars being a lot more common. But those are the ones that are finished, nicely.

 

The problem that is now every joe-shmoe thinks his rust bucket it worth $2500 now too. The prices that people are asking for a lot of the junkers is probably far different than what they are actually getting. Just because you see a bunch of piles listed for big money, don't assume they're actually selling for that much. The reality is that you can still find an ok driver for $2500. A good driver that needs work will probably be around $4-5k. Anything above $6k had better have either nice paint, a nice engine (or swap), or some other nice work like suspension, or a combination of these things. Last year I spent $1k on a mint 2dr rolling shell, and about a year-and-a-half ago we bought a complete car in decent shape for $1100 (which we got running that afternoon, but it needed the roof replaced due to rust from the vinyl top). So just be patient, and don't let someone jack you out of money for a junker.

[datzenmike]

Well a family member knows a guy who has one that is a non runner, apparently motor needs rebuilt. I will find out next week. He is a Toyota mechanic so hopefully he is into Toyotas instead of datsuns maybe its a decent deal! ill find out next week..............ill post when I find out

.

The trouble with a non runner is it very hard to see how well the brakes, electrical, suspension and the rest of the drive line components work. You'd better know what to look for and even then can you tell if the differential howls? If non running, consider it a shell and pay according to how complete the body and interior is. Point this out to the seller also. 

 

Generally it is cheaper in the long run to pay more for a car that is closest to complete.

[hang_510]

Too many guys in their 40's wanting back the car they had and beat up high school.

:fu:

NONE of my 510s survived to be resold. :rofl:

 

 

i do remember junking a 510 or 2 w/a blown head gasket because i could get another runner for less work/money.

[zianian]

Too many guys in their 40's wanting back the car they had and beat up high school. Only now they have more $$$, and there are less 510's out there.

Yup... Sorta.

 

With my first 510 a younger guy wanted to trade his "showcar" Acura RSX something or other for it.

It wasn't his car as a kid but his Dad had one. Dad hated the Acura... and Dad wasn't doing too great health wise.

It was a way for this guy to relive them days when he was younger and also to help bond with his Dad.

They ain't around forever.

Deal feel through.

Kid saw what I "paid" for the 510 here. Got miffed.

Thought I was gonna rip him for his $30,000 "invested" "show car".

Oh well.

 

Me.... 40s with $$.

Bingo.

 

But when I was younger I wouldn't have known a 510 from a Corona. They just wern't on my radar.

Mopars and big V8s were. I think around 1989 or 90 I may have read the first magazine article on the 510.

Been in the back of my mind ever since. Been on my iPad home screen for maybe 4 years now. Been in my wallet for 5 months maybe.

In the garage since.

 

40s with money.

Yup.

Life is OK.

 

Btw... Thinking last night.

Who says money can't buy you love?

I LOVE my car.

[DanielC]

I wish I was in my 40's!

 

As it was pointed out, a car is worth what some fool will pay for it.

 

Consider this, too.   A dollar is not worth what it was even a few years ago.  I can remember when Gas was way less than a dollar a gallon.  Not anymore.  Remember, $500 is only ten fillups on a lot of vehicles, (Not Datsuns)  I could spend a hundred dollars filling the gas tank on my boat, and it is a 19'6" ski boat.