Building a car from the ground up isn’t an easy task to do – physically or mentally. Some might already know exactly what they want to do, while others may have a general idea and focus on one thing at a time. Plans always change (which is the exact reason why my S14 has been sitting for over a year) but one thing that all these owners have in common is…Dedication.
This Datsun 510 project was started 13 years (and three owners) ago. The original owner (Joe Smith – sounds like an alias), had the body and paint done. He also accumulated a lot of NOS (new old stock) parts though the Nissan dealer he worked for but the car was never finished. Eventually the car ended up seeing two other owners before Dom Stokes bought it.
Dom bought this Datsun 510 as a rolling shell that was already painted Volkswagen Green. Not knowing exactly what was hidden in the car, Dom and Ray Stonehocker decided to strip the whole car to the bare shell. Since everything was apart, Ray modified the struts to accommodate the Ground Control coilovers, adjustable shocks, and Ermish Racing Wilwood brakes front and rear. They also installed Datsun Comp sway bars and VG30.com adjustable control arms. This car can handle as good as it looks!
The wheels that everyone wants! Yayoi Sakura in 14×6.5 +9 wrapped in Yokohama Advan 185/60/14 tires. Yes! Dom told me it took him about a year of begging the previous owner to sell him the wheels (with lots of cash on top of that as well). When he finally got the wheels he wanted, they weren’t in the perfect shape that he wanted – so he stripped and refinished them. It goes without saying but I’ll say it anyway – they look hot!
Not only the outside of the car looks good, but even the under-carriage looks amazing! Garage Autohero custom exhaust, Subaru LSD with a Perrin differential cover, Datsun Comp sway bars, and Wolf Creek CV axles.
The rear panel was replaced with a nos panel for proper fitment of the SSS coupe taillights. Even the license plate is era correct.
I was truly amazed by how nice and clean the interior was. I’m really diggin the old school Tomei steering wheel and Recaros. Even the headliner and carpet were custom made for this car! It was also fitted with an Autopower roll cage and Autometer gauges.
Since everything else was modded, why not fit the 510 with a built motor? Dom picked up this FJ20 that was stoked to 2100cc with a knife edged crankshaft, Saenz custom billet rods, custom JE pistons, HKS cams and cam gears, HKS intake manifold with 44mm Mikuni carburetors, Nismo distributor, Ron Davis radiator, Garage Autohero custom oil pan, and a header that’s 1 of 4 made for Bob Herold…The maker of the Datsun Comp headers back in the early 80s. Bob was also the designer of the header.
Everything in this engine bay looks amazing! Ray did an incredible job putting everything together while keeping everything understated and minimalist. It seems that the “less is more” credo is alive and well.
This car might not be the lowest, or have the best stance, but it’s period-correct for the late 90s and that’s the point of the build – authenticity. Could you imagine owning this car back in the 90s? Even these days owning a 510 this sick is awesome!
Dom and Ray did an amazing job on this car. Honestly, this is one of my favorite Datsun 510s of all. So much detail has been crafted into this car that it would take me days to find everything. Seeing restored 510s like this makes me want to scrap my S14 and finish my 510!
As most of you know, the annual Japanese Classic Car Show in Long Beach took place this past weekend. The judges there also showed Dom love by awarding him with 1st Place in the 510 class, 1st Place award for the Japanese Nostalgic Car Magazine Editor’s Pick, and 3rd Place in the Open Modified class! Congratulations Dom!
::Yoshi Shindo
OMG, SAKURAS! Beautiful car!
Ha, we have the same steering wheel
this car is even sicker in person…good stuff yoshi
Beautiful.
sweeeeeetness
Love the old Dattos! Thanks for sharing this one Yoshi! Cool engine setup.
More gold coming from outt the NW….
These five and dimes are one of the most visually pleasing cars for me, this is a very proper build!
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read the thread on this car on the510realm, it’s so perfect
Carb’d FJ is the perfect choice…. awesome build, and it just goes to show that cars built to this level aren’t just slapped together overnight.
Yes, this was one of the coolest cars there. My damn camera had given up the ghost about 5 minutes before I saw this car, and I’m quite bitter
Thanks for getting better pix than I would have!
i realize that alot of the sick 510’s are coming from washington, pnw represent!
knife edge isn’t a company. its just what you do to a crank to create less surface area that’s exposed to oil to cling to.
Yes I am aware of that. I never mentioned that it was a company.
Pink and green should not be seen, unless they’re on this limosine 😀
Major heart for the Sakura Yayoi! Can’t wait for the spring cherry blooms.
Thank you all for the compliments. It was a worth while 2500 mile round trip journey to JCCS to have the 510 judged among it’s peers. It was my first time there to JCCS. I had only seen pics and heard about it. I was amazed at the amount people and cars that showed up. I was also very suprised the car did as well as it did, alot of very very nice high quality builds amongest it.
I also wanted to thank my wife…if not for her, this car would of never been completed to what it is today.
Regards
Damn, I reaaaaally want these sakuras *.* Why there are wheels that are SO sweet?!
Awesome build and awesome story!
Congrats for the win!!!
This is definitely one of my favorite cars that we’ve covered on MM. Love the wheels and how they accent the car. Great build.
looks good but actually driving a car is better. that things a trailer queen
i wish he could rebarrel those wheels. 6.5 wide is just not cutting it for me.
cool 510 though
180sxdrftr…..
Wow if you spent any time in the canyons that weekend you would have seen the car out with a Lotus. Its not a good idea to make assumptions. I could only ‘assume’ your car is not a real 180sx rhd but im not going to be a jackass and say stupid things about you or your user name.
Cali roads suck for low cars and spending good money on a car and driving at a constant speed down to a show makes no sense especially with a meticulous car with a built engine. The car got driven hard while it was down there and yes it traveled the lame constant miles to and from Seattle in a trailer to save the chassis, brakes, engine, and suspension for better uses.
Otherwise good post Yoshi!
well writen, great photos, awesome car.
I just went from six to midnight
<3 Love <3
Pingback : Datsun : : Blog Pimp: Z-Car Blog (JCCS 2010 Coverage) - Car Gallery
great job dom and ray your hard work has paid off , quality build!
Pingback : Madhouse….. « Garage Autohero
Ray you dont know what your talking about. That car is a pure trailer queen……BAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA. Some ppl wouldnt understand the reasoning behind trailering it down to cali.
Ray great job on the car. Dom, damn nice car. Dom’s wife, thanks for letting him build it!!! JCCS thanks for showing this car the love it deserves.
@Drewsclues
So who is it that you are talking about? The person that owns a MINTMINTMINT 36+ year old chassis (let alone as nice as this) and drives it from Seattle to Cali?
People hype about Sakuras but you can still get em new
w says:
September 23, 2010 at 9:24 pm
People hype about Sakuras but you can still get em new
Wait… you can? Are you sure? WHERE???
Pingback : Dopeness!: The Sakura 510 | Kulture Dump
i assume those wheels used to be mattias?
Damn Sweet ride!!!
Would love to have one like that up here in Canada….
FUck dude thats what im talking bout….i love too see old school brought back and make it big like this 510….me im a HONDA4LIFER…but this 510…damm got to give it sooo much respect and love…HEY OUTF***ENSTANDIN
“owning a 510 this sick is awesome!”
This was all that needed to be put surely?
Pingback : Datsun 510
Rarely do we still see these Datsun 510’s on the streets, but every once in a while, it sure is a nice sight to see!
I constantly repost this…this car is amazing. I remember first hearing about this car when I worked at Burien Nissan, and Joe Smith’s 510 was a storied “work in progress”. This car seriously keeps the 510 fam alive with it’s JCCS win. Oh, and the stance…is PERFECT.
Love the car, I just don’ t get the pink wheels, not sure what I would use, but any way awesome job
Gotta love the POS write ups on this site….
You give the car the back-handed factually incorrect compliment with:
“This car might not be the lowest, or have the best stance, but it’s period-correct for the late 90s and that’s the point of the build – authenticity”
How many 510 2-door sedans were ever seen with bluebird badges, bluebird taillights, yayoi rims, CV’s etc. in the 90’s… NONE!!!
TIP: Get some knowledge about the car before you write about it!
DISCLAIMER: I am in no way dissing this build. I love it because the dude has built it for himself, which is what a ground up rebuild is about! When you put in the hours you don’t build according to the current internet trends and net-princesses…
Pingback : Datsun 510-inspired new Nissan Models! - Page 2 - Hyundai Forums : Hyundai Forum
Awesome Car, Congratulations! I once owned a ’69 510 4dr. That car was fun and tough!
What kind of 5-3/4 headlights are running? High and low?
Thanks