Draker Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) 0. The day Chuck arrived Edited December 13, 2019 by Draker Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) I bought this car in 2018 from the son of Chuck Smith. I met chuck years ago when I bought my 69 and 71 510 from him in 2013 (story below). Quote Back in the summer like many others, I was actively searching for a 510.. I was mainly looking for a 2 or 4 door sedan and would search craigslist almost every day. I'd search the entire pacific northwest trying to find a diamond in the rough, but always came up empty handed. I didn't have a ton of cash to blow on a project because I had just purchased my first house and most of my money was going to updates and repairs to the house. I eventually pulled the trigger on a blue 71 wagon and have been working on it ever since. Fast forward to February 13th, 2013.. I just got off work and was driving to my Wednesday night bowling league. I pulled in to the parking lot and checked my phone to see what time it was as I was a little early. I noticed I had an email and checked it.. It was titled 510 Datsun Station Wagon. I was like... wtf? Because I had not been talking to anyone about my wagon. I read through the email and it looked like I had emailed them at some point and they were replying. They basically were saying: sorry for not getting back to you. I've got a 1969 beige 510 4 door and a 1971 black 510 2 door. Apparently what happened was they listed the wagon for sale and mentioned the had some others for sale. I replied asking "Just curious as to what other 510 cars you might have?". The owner then fell very ill. He had a stroke earlier in the year and then had another stroke right after they listed these cars on craigslist. He was layed up in the hospital for 3 months and didn't even know where he was. They just happen to stumble across my old email from the summer and took a chance and replied. When I saw the email, naturally I almost shit my pants. Which would have made for an awfully long night of bowling.. lol. I called them up right after I read the email and got some details. I ended up driving up to take a look at the cars on the following Sunday. Over the years chucks health deteriorated and he passed away. This was his personal daily driver. I had chatted with him several times about this car and helped him source a few parts for it. In 2018 I sent a text to his son asking about some parts. He told me he was trying to get a hold of me for some time because Chucks wife wants to know if I want to buy this car. There was no way I could say no. I drove up and took another look at the car, it was beautiful. It drove amazing. I ended up dragging it home along with another 4 door. I bought all of their 510 and as of this update, I still own all of them. I plan to clean up the car cosmetically, and just drive it. It could use some new wheels, but that will come with time. Edited December 13, 2019 by Draker added story. Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 (edited) The day Chuck arrived at home! Edited December 13, 2019 by Draker 7 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 10, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 L18, SUs, a87, automatic, front and rear sway bars.. other rare nuggets here and there. 4 Quote Link to comment
125 CSL Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 Overall looks damned good. Going to be interesting to see what you do with this one. 1 Quote Link to comment
five1oh Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 Car looks sweet!!!!! Nice score ? 2 Quote Link to comment
NICKLE&DIME Posted September 10, 2018 Report Share Posted September 10, 2018 My car is a 70 as well, 546 color .. Every 70 510 that I’ve seen has had the map light, su’s, parcel tray underneath the dash and the one wire fuse block.. also 70s had the white needle tach. 2 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 Drove this car around the block last night. It drives great! The tranny is a little slow to engage from a stop, but otherwise steering is nice and tight, the brakes feel good, and it's pretty damn quiet inside. I may have to get this thing on the road and put some serious miles on it! 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted September 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2018 Anyone happen to know what badges mount on the c pillar? I've never seen any factory badging here. These are perfectly aligned holes and look very factory. Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted October 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2018 (edited) Got Chuck moved over to the new place today. Will be bolting the 4 door back together and driving it over soon. Maybe next weekend. Edited October 29, 2018 by Draker 3 Quote Link to comment
Duncan Posted October 29, 2018 Report Share Posted October 29, 2018 Looks like a real straight car to start a project. ? 1 Quote Link to comment
spriso Posted November 3, 2018 Report Share Posted November 3, 2018 (edited) On 9/17/2018 at 11:14 AM, Draker said: Anyone happen to know what badges mount on the c pillar? I've never seen any factory badging here. These are perfectly aligned holes and look very factory. Those holes are for the factory SSS badges found on the 1970 models. This was mostly a trim upgrade, but I see you have the factory tach and map light (almost always found on those models), so that would support that as well. The badge is the rectangular SSS emblem that was also shared on the 411 SSS models (on the grille and tail light panel). This is the emblem that would be located there: Michael Edited November 3, 2018 by spriso 8 Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted November 3, 2018 Report Share Posted November 3, 2018 Very sweet Sedan. 1 Quote Link to comment
That4doorKiD Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 Love me some LS-X vintage seats! Those are awesome 1 Quote Link to comment
Fetch Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 The picture of the rear, wouldn't it have had the BW Automatic emblem on the drivers side under the brake light? My '71 auto did. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted November 9, 2018 Report Share Posted November 9, 2018 On 11/2/2018 at 8:57 PM, spriso said: Those holes are for the factory SSS badges found on the 1970 models. This was mostly a trim upgrade, but I see you have the factory tach and map light (almost always found on those models), so that would support that as well. The badge is the rectangular SSS emblem that was also shared on the 411 SSS models (on the grille and tail light panel). This is the emblem that would be located there: Michael Thank you Mr. Spreadbury. 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted April 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2019 On 11/2/2018 at 8:57 PM, spriso said: Those holes are for the factory SSS badges found on the 1970 models. This was mostly a trim upgrade, but I see you have the factory tach and map light (almost always found on those models), so that would support that as well. The badge is the rectangular SSS emblem that was also shared on the 411 SSS models (on the grille and tail light panel). This is the emblem that would be located there: Michael Well I guess I need to buy those badges then! 1 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted December 13, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2019 On 4/1/2019 at 7:48 PM, Draker said: Well I guess I need to buy those badges then! I bought those badges, but haven't put them on. I still haven't seen any 510s with the badges in this location. I really haven't done anything to this car other than clean it up a bit. It runs and drives great!! Has a few oil leaks that need to be addressed. At some point I'll pull the engine and get cracking on fixing those leaks. 1 Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted December 14, 2019 Report Share Posted December 14, 2019 That is a sweet 2 door. May he rest in peace knowing his friend has it. That's kinda how I got the Orangish 2 door car I have from an old lady I met back in 84 when I moved to Pricedale, MS. It was in a barn almost 20 years later she called me to ask if I still wanted it. Was surprised she still had my number. Take care of her. Quote Link to comment
edekalil Posted December 14, 2019 Report Share Posted December 14, 2019 20 hours ago, Draker said: I bought those badges, but haven't put them on. I still haven't seen any 510s with the badges in this location. I really haven't done anything to this car other than clean it up a bit. It runs and drives great!! Has a few oil leaks that need to be addressed. At some point I'll pull the engine and get cracking on fixing those leaks. Good deal, I've never seen a car with those badges on it. Your a lucky man. Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 (edited) This car has been tucked away but will likely be my summer cruiser this year. I noticed the stereo didn’t work and the existing speakers were old paper cones. Decided to upgrade a bit. Nothing too fancy. Edited May 4, 2020 by Draker Remove pic 2 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 Also this has a cool rear window defroster installed from a mercury? It’s just a little fan. this still has oil leaks and needs a bit of love. My first order of business is to swap in an electronic dizzy. Finish the stereo install and just drive it. 3 Quote Link to comment
Draker Posted May 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2020 Also the door speakers were already installed. Not a factory door card anyways. 4 Quote Link to comment
KoHeartsGPA Posted June 18, 2020 Report Share Posted June 18, 2020 (edited) Got to see this datto couple weeks ago, looks way better in person, good score! 👍😉 Edited June 18, 2020 by KoHeartsGPA Grammar 1 Quote Link to comment
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