The Datsun 510: A Legendary Model that Revolutionized Nissan

Nissan is indeed an awesome company, and one of its most iconic models is the Silvia, the Z, and the GTR. However, what about the legendary model that really started it all? The 'poor man's BMW' blew everyone away with its unique, lightweight style, monocoque design, and unibody construction.

The journey of Datsun began in 1914 when Kaihinsha Motor Car Works introduced its first car, the DAT. However, the country wasn't quite ready for a passenger car manufacturer, and the company struggled for about a decade to stay afloat. The company merged with Jitsuyo Motors and became DAT Automobile Manufacturing Co., which is now Nissan.

In 1930, DAT Auto got a big boost from the government, who declared that cars with engines below 500cc's could be driven without a license. DAT developed a car just under that amount of cc's and called it a Datsun, or Son of DAT. This was the beginning of a new era for Nissan.

Four years later, a new company had formed, Nissan, and they wanted to take over struggling Kaishinsha's business. They fell on line, we value your call, and they wanted to start cranking out Datsuns. However, World War II happened, and Nissan's passenger car production stalled, refocusing its energies on building trucks for the imperial army.

After the war, Nissan's passenger car production ramped up again, and in 1947, they joined forces with British car maker, Austin. Their first collaboration came in 1958 with the Datsun L210 Bluebird, which did nothing for American car buyers. It was a little bit too small and too British compared to its main competitor, the Volkswagen Beatle.

Speaking of ponies, the Datsun L210 Bluebird actually drove like one. It had bad brakes, it shook like crazy, just like Michael J. Fox. Although it wasn't all bad, with some car enthusiasts enjoying its unique features, it was clear that Nissan needed to revamp their design and engineering.

Turo Uchino, a talented designer at Nissan, was tasked with creating a car that looked less Italian or British than its predecessors and had its own unique flavor. He drew up a design that was efficient, clean, and kind of American looking. The only carryover from the 410 was its side crease or supersonic line.

Nissan executives agreed on the name and design changes but put their foot down on the car's engine size. Although rival Toyota was offering a 1.9 liter engine in its largest American model, Datsun capped out at 1.4 liters. Mr. K did have one ally in his corner, company executive Kaichi Matsumura, who also thought engines should be bigger.

With the help of newly acquired automaker Prince, they approved the creation of a 1.6 liter engine, which was two tenths of a liter more than the original 1.4 liters. This would provide an improvement in power and performance. The Datsun 510 made its US debut in 1967.

This car was something that Katayama was passionate about and believed in so much that he required all employees, from executives to cafeteria workers, to take the new car for a spin just to prove his point. And guess what? They freakin' loved it! The 1.6 liter four-cylinder engine produced a claimed 96 horse power and 99.8 torques.

And it went from 0 to 60 in 13 seconds, reaching a top speed of about a hundred. Americans bought about 45,000 510s in its first year, and by the end of its run in 1973, Nissan sold an incredible 400,000 510s worldwide. The world finally saw what Mr K had envisioned from the get-go. It was an instant classic from the day it rolled off the assembly line.

The Datsun 510 was a car that offered a bit of sports car in its daily drive. Plus, Cool Hand Luke had one, and oh, the salad dressing guy! Nissan continued to produce iconic cars throughout their history, but the Datsun 510 will always hold a special place in the hearts of car enthusiasts.

Check out this episode of Up To Speed if you like Nissans or check out this episode of Wheel House if you don't. It's donut season, and we got a ton of new shows coming this summer. Make sure to subscribe to our channel for more content, hit the notification bell, ding ding!

WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: en(car engine revving)- Nissan, they're freakin' awesome!The Silvia, the Z, the GTR.But what about the legendary modelthat really started it all?The 'poor man's BMW' blew everyone awaywith it's unique, lightweightstyle, monocoque designand unibody construction.Here's everything you need to knowto get up to speed on the Datsun 510.(computer game music)In 1914, Kaihinsha Motor Car Worksintroduced it's first car, the DAT.But the country wasn't quite readyfor a passenger car manufacturerand the company struggledfor about a decadeand almost went out ofbusiness in the mid '20s.I struggled for most of the '90sto get my boy band off the ground.To all the former members of Boy Talk,hit me up, I think it'stime for a reunion tour.To stay afloat, theymerged with Jitsuyo Motorsand became DAT AutomobileManufacturing Co.In 1930, DAT Auto got a bigboost from the government,who declared that carswith engines below 500cc'scould be driven without a license.DAT developed a car justunder that amount of cc'sand called it a Datsun, or Son of DAT.If you're a Son of DAT,make sure you hit that subscribe button.Back to the story.Four years later a newcompany had formed, Nissan.And they wanted to take over struggling--- Pleaseremain on the line,we value your call.- And they wanted to takeover Kaishinsha's business.Now it fell to Nissan tostart cranking out Datsuns.It was well on it's wayto car making successwhen a little thing calledWorld War II happened.You ever heard of it?Nissan's passenger car productions stalledand it refocused it's energieson building trucks for the imperial army.After the war, Nissan'spassenger car productionramped up again, and in1947 they joined forceswith British car maker, Austin.Hi, Austin.Their first collab came in 1958with the Datsun L210 Bluebirdwhich did nothing for American car buyers.It was a little bit toosmall and too British.In comparison, it's main competitor,the Volkswagen Beatle, was a lighter carwith the same horsepower,give or take a pony.Given the option, I would take a pony.And then I'd eat it.(horse neighing)And speaking of ponies,the Datsun L210 Bluebirdactually drove like one.It had bad brakes, it's ride was bumpyand it shook like crazy,just like Michael J. Fox.Sure, it wasn't all bad.It got great gas mileage,but this was the 50s.Gas was, like, 23 cents a gallonand nobody really worriedabout fuel economy.Nissan's designers wentback to the drawing boardand in 1959 dropped theDatsun Bluebird P310.The P310 was larger,with a roomier interior,updated styling andindependent front suspension,which was a monumentalinnovation at the time.In 1960, 20,000 unitswere shipped to the US.The Bluebird performed a little better.But the car was still deemedtoo English for American taste.Like blood pudding.Then, President ofNissan, Yutaka Katayama,wanted to change all that.Mr K had faith in hiscompany and it's productsand believed beyond a shadow of a doubtthat his company could build a carthat US buyers didn't justsettle for, but really wanted.Mr K was Nissan's outspoken wildcard,which earned him a badrep among company execs.Your boy can relate, mon cheri.(singing)So, they sent him to Los Angeles in 1960because they wanted him toget the hell out of Tokyo.It turned out to be the perfect timingbecause Nissan's agreement with Austinexpired that same year,giving Mr K If You're Nastya clean slate with whichto do his damn thing.Nissan's next releasewas the 410 Bluebird,and while it was animprovement on the 310,Nissan still wasn't there yetas far as Mr K was concerned.Some say Mr K was too much of a rebelbut he was a rebel with a cause.He was Japanese James Dean.Facing an uphill battle convincing Nissanthat American car ownerswere a different breedand wouldn't respond to the gentile waymodels were named in Japan.Bluebird and Fair Ladywouldn't cut it anymore.After a lot of pushing and proddinghe saw to it that Nissan would only usenumerical code names for the US market.He also insisted on a design changefor the next line of Datsuns, the 510.Nissan designer, Turoro Uchina,Ichino, Turo Ichino.Let's go back.Turo Uchino was tasked with creating a carthat looked less Italian orBritish than it's predecessorsand had it's own unique flavor.Jessica.He drew up a design that was efficient,clean and kind of American looking.The only carry over from the 410was it's side crease or supersonic line.(whooshing)While Nissan execs agreed onthe name and design changes,they put their foot downon the cars engine size.Although rival Toyota wasoffering a 1.9 liter enginein it's largest American model,Datsun's capped out at 1.4 liters.Mr K did have one ally in his corner,company exec Kaichi Matsumura,who also thought theengines should be bigger.And with the help of newlyacquired automaker, Prince,which you might rememberfrom our GTR episode,they approved the creationof a 1.6 liter engine.Hey, two tenths of a litermore is better than nothing.And the Datsun 510 madeit's US debut in 1967.Just like my dad.This was a car Katayamawas passionate aboutand he believed in it so muchthat he required all employees,from the executives to theguys working in the cafeteria,to take the new car for a spinjust to prove his point.Uh, can anybody guess what happened?Yes.- They hated it?- Wrong!- They freakin' loved it!- Wrong again.- The 1.6 liter four cylinder engineproduced a claimed 96horsepower and 99.8 torques.And it went from 0 to 60 in 13 seconds,reaching a top speed of about a hondo.Americans bought about 45,000510s in it's first year,and by the end of it's run in 1973,Nissan sold an incredible400,000 510s worldwide.The world finally sawwhat Mr K had envisioned from the get go.It was an instant classicfrom the day it rolledoff the assembly lineand the choice for thosewanting a bit of a sports carin their daily drive.Plus, Cool Hand Luke had one.- Oh, the salad dressing guy?- We release a new video every day.To make sure you don't miss any of 'em,hit the subscribe button.And to make double sureyou don't miss 'em,hit the notification bell.Ding ding!You like Nissans?Check out this episode of Up To Speed.You like cops, you don't like cops?Check out this episode of Wheel House.It's donut season,we got a ton of newshows coming this summer.Again, subscribe.I love you.