Datsun Dreamland: Tom finds a large collection of 510s and Z Cars | Barn Find Hunter Ep. 98 - Hagerty Media

Of all the crazy-valuable and hyper-rare cars Tom Cotter has uncovered in his time rooting around barns and dusty garages, nothing lights him up like a Datsun 510. Wait, why does Tom get a thrill from picking through hoards of Japanese economy cars? This latest Barn Find Hunter episode may clarify it for you.

The Datsun 510 is a car that follows the same formula as the venerable BMW 2002. A simple four-cylinder engine in the front, bolted up to a manual transmission to power the rear wheels, independent rear suspension, and a couple different body styles. The trick here is that the 510 was $1996 off the lot while a BMW would set you back over $5000. A smart buyer who is chasing the driving experience, not the panache, would likely save that $3000 in price difference for maintenance items—or track prep.

One person who can relate is Peter Brock, the same man who penned the Cobra Daytona Coupe. Brock is such a staple in the 510 community that the paint scheme you recognize is attributed to him. Brock campaigned multiple 510s in Trans Am 2.5-liter class under Brock Racing Enterprises—better known as BRE. The red, white, and blue BRE color scheme matched with 13-inch American Racing Libra wheels and slight fender flares to really muscle up the looks of this econobox.

Looks are one thing, but the 510 backed it up on the track. The Alfa Romeos and BMWs were no match for the humble little Datsun. Unfortunately, the 510 only lived six years before production ended in 1973. The fans have never forgotten about the little car though, and Tom counts himself as one of the faithful.

There is plenty of additional iron in and around this North Carolina hoard, and all of it is rooted in the small local area. As Tom points out, the cars are still out there and hiding just about everywhere—you just have to look. Whether you want a classic Buick Riviera or a race-storied Japanese economy car, it’s up to you to go out and start searching. Or as Tom calls it: hunting.