THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: A DELIGHTFUL '72 DATSUN

Every year there are cars at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale auction that make me wish I was there but because I stayed home I missed the opportunity. This is one, a 1972 Datsun 510 Wagon that sold for $8525. At that price it was a real bargain although if I'd been bidding the numbers might have gone higher. And yes, you are correct. If I'd paid more attention to the 2012 B-J catalog that I was recommending on this very site I'd have known about the Datsun and could have bid by phone. I might have even persuaded Marque1's Nigel Matthews, who was there, to check it out for me.

Ah well, hindsight, etc., and the world is full of "what ifs" and "I wish I had," along with too many "wait 'til next years." Put me in that latter category as I don't expect to be any wealthier then and nice cars at the bottom end of the price scale will still attract me.

The good folks at WindingRoad.com found the Datsun Wagon while they were perusing cars that humble folk like we auto journalists can actually afford. The writer said he tries to stay away from modified or unoriginal cars "but this one was too hard to pass up." Judging from the photo and the specs it appears that any modifications must have been minimal, for it still has a 1.6-liter engine in US specification plus its original rear-wheel drive. The wheels are not stock but I don't have any problem with that, nor with the green paint job. Or was the 510 available in that colour when new?

Nissan/Datsun enthusiasts, along with vintage race fans, will be well aware that the 510 was a fast, chuckable, and fun car that could easily be modified for competition. Paul Newman, the actor and race driver, drove a Datsun 510 when he began his racing career in 1972. Of course a wagon was not likely to be seen on a track, but as a street car the one featured in this blog would be a delightful combination of practicality with good times. Well, there's always next... no, no, I won't say it.