1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

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bertvorgon
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Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by bertvorgon »

Hello Bob,

Welcome back! Your name cropped up in a book I'm reading about the history of sports car racing and rallying in Canada, said you were driving a Datsun 240Z, very cool. Have you read; " The Chequered Past"?

I have found it amazing and fills in a lot of holes in the motorsports politics in the late 60's and 70's, of which I participated in during the early 70's. What a journey.

Take care,
Keith
"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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RWD_NissanMan
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Location: Poncitlan, JAL, Mexico

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by RWD_NissanMan »

Good to hear from you Keith. I have not seen the book "The Chequered Past" so I will see if I can find it.
1969 Datsun 510 4-door (donor shell for below)
1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET (sort of broken right now)
1998 Suzuki Escudo (JDM Sidekick Sport) 2.0TD 4x4 (daily driver)
2006 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 3V 4x2 (wife's ride)
2005 & 2006 Targa Newfoundland Entrant
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bertvorgon
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Location: White Rock, B.C. Canada

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by bertvorgon »

"Racing makes heroin addiction look like a vague wish for something salty" - Peter Egan

Keith Law
1973 2 Door Slalom/hill climb/road race / canyon carver /Giant Killer 510
1971 Vintage 13' BOLER trailer
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RWD_NissanMan
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Location: Poncitlan, JAL, Mexico

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by RWD_NissanMan »

This fall I decided to move the "bits & pieces" of the Grasshopper down to my home in Mexico so I can do some more work on it. I no longer have a place to work on it in Canada so am setting up a little shop down here. Since Mexican "customs" will not allow permanent residents to own and drive non-Mexican registered vehicles - I have to bring it in in pieces and reassemble down here. First load was all I could cram into my little 5' x 10' cargo trailer. I got everything except for the motor, seats and remaining portion of the shell. That I will have to build a little flatbed trailer to bring it down with because it won't fit in my cargo trailer. It took me 2 minutes to clear US border entry and 10 hours to clear the Mexican border (long story) with my load. Here are some pics of the "load" at Mexican "Aduana" at Puente Columbia in south Texas/Neuvo Laredo.
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1969 Datsun 510 4-door (donor shell for below)
1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET (sort of broken right now)
1998 Suzuki Escudo (JDM Sidekick Sport) 2.0TD 4x4 (daily driver)
2006 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 3V 4x2 (wife's ride)
2005 & 2006 Targa Newfoundland Entrant
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Byron510
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Location: Maple Ridge, BC

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by Byron510 »

Great to hear that you’ll be moving forward with Grasshopper II, I really look forward to this Bob.
Looks like this was a fun day pictured above....

Byron
Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
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datsuntech
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by datsuntech »

Any updates for us Bob?
Rear Wheel Drive, The way God Intended.
If a car is being pulled from the front, doesn't that mean it's being towed?
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RWD_NissanMan
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Location: Poncitlan, JAL, Mexico

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by RWD_NissanMan »

Yes, I have made a bit of further progress. In June I took another trip up to Ontario and retrieved the rest of the car (in parts). The shell would not fit in my 5'x10' cargo trailer so I built a flat bed single axle (1.7 mtr. x 3.0 mtr.) to use to go get it. Worked out really well and I had no problems at either the US or MX borders this time. I was assessed only $1,000 pesos in tax at the MX entry point I used - the customs inspector just wrote it up as repair parts.

I now have everything I need to rebuild it at my new home in Mexico. I am currently working on getting a bit more garage space because it is a very small area that I currently have (25 sq. mtrs.).
1969 Datsun 510 4-door (donor shell for below)
1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET (sort of broken right now)
1998 Suzuki Escudo (JDM Sidekick Sport) 2.0TD 4x4 (daily driver)
2006 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 3V 4x2 (wife's ride)
2005 & 2006 Targa Newfoundland Entrant
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Byron510
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Location: Maple Ridge, BC

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by Byron510 »

That’s great to hear Bob, we'll certainly look forward to the updates here on the Realm.

Byron
Love people and use things,
because the opposite never works.
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datsuntech
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Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by datsuntech »

That's not a lot of space. Basically a single car garage. I'm sure that filled up quickly. Glad to hear you had no issues at the border. I can't wait to see how the new build goes.

Brock
Rear Wheel Drive, The way God Intended.
If a car is being pulled from the front, doesn't that mean it's being towed?
yenpit
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Joined: 07 Jul 2006 20:14
Location: Denver Colorado

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by yenpit »

Updates? Did you come down from Canada to Michigan to buy some parts from me a number of years ago......maybe a roof panel or two?? I'm still buying & selling, but I've been out in Denver for 7 years now! Hope all is well!

TJ
1973 510 2dr
1972 521 flat bed
1972 510 Wagon parts car
2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD

LOTS of 510 parts!
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RWD_NissanMan
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Location: Poncitlan, JAL, Mexico

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by RWD_NissanMan »

Yes yenpit - I'm the guy. I am living in central-west Mexico now near Guadalajara, since 2012 so also about 7 years. Retired and living the good life! Currently working on building a 72.5 sq. mtr. garage extension so I have a larger and secure area in which to work.
1969 Datsun 510 4-door (donor shell for below)
1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET (sort of broken right now)
1998 Suzuki Escudo (JDM Sidekick Sport) 2.0TD 4x4 (daily driver)
2006 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 3V 4x2 (wife's ride)
2005 & 2006 Targa Newfoundland Entrant
yenpit
Posts: 1700
Joined: 07 Jul 2006 20:14
Location: Denver Colorado

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by yenpit »

Hello Bob! Thought of you the other day, just ran across this post again! We have a 510 street car owner looking to have us do metal flares, if I recall correctly, you had done something pretty cool, using Rabbit/Golf fender arches! I found the necessary info on josh.k's build thread, so we have presented the idea to our customer, will see what he thinks!

Hope all is well! Life here in the States has been "difficult", with all of the Covid mess, hope not too bad down in Mexico!

Any updates on the project?

TJ
Denver CO
1973 510 2dr
1972 521 flat bed
1972 510 Wagon parts car
2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD

LOTS of 510 parts!
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RWD_NissanMan
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Joined: 01 Oct 2003 14:13
Location: Poncitlan, JAL, Mexico

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by RWD_NissanMan »

Hey TJ. Good to hear from you. Yes everything is all fine down here at Lake Chapala, Jalisco. Where we are we seem to be quite isolated from the pandemic thing and life has been fairly normal here with the exception of limited travel and gatherings. I personally don’t know anyone who has had the virus or any cases of it in our little circle of contacts. No progress on the Grasshopper rebuild yet but I am making good progress on building a new workshop of about 72 sq. Mtrs.
1969 Datsun 510 4-door (donor shell for below)
1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET (sort of broken right now)
1998 Suzuki Escudo (JDM Sidekick Sport) 2.0TD 4x4 (daily driver)
2006 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 3V 4x2 (wife's ride)
2005 & 2006 Targa Newfoundland Entrant
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andrew.lori
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Location: Ottawa Canada

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by andrew.lori »

Hey TJ I'm about to use VW Golf wheel arch flares on an RX3 race car I'm doing up. I bought a test arch and it sure looks like a good fit. Didn't even cross my mind to see how it would look on a 510. May have to look at that :)

Andrew
1966 Sunbeam Tiger MK1A
1970 Datsun 510 KA24DE
1973 Toyota Celica
1972 Triumph GT6 SCCA Vintage Race Car
1974 Mazda RX3 former IMSA race car
yenpit
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Joined: 07 Jul 2006 20:14
Location: Denver Colorado

Re: 1973 Datsun 510 SR20DET Targa Rally Car

Post by yenpit »

RWD_NissanMan wrote: 09 Dec 2020 13:15 Hey TJ. Good to hear from you. Yes everything is all fine down here at Lake Chapala, Jalisco. Where we are we seem to be quite isolated from the pandemic thing and life has been fairly normal here with the exception of limited travel and gatherings. I personally don’t know anyone who has had the virus or any cases of it in our little circle of contacts. No progress on the Grasshopper rebuild yet but I am making good progress on building a new workshop of about 72 sq. Mtrs.
Great to hear Bob! Keep us updated!
andrew.lori wrote: 09 Dec 2020 16:26 Hey TJ I'm about to use VW Golf wheel arch flares on an RX3 race car I'm doing up. I bought a test arch and it sure looks like a good fit. Didn't even cross my mind to see how it would look on a 510. May have to look at that :)

Andrew
RX3......cool! So your sig states "money pit" on two of your cars? How do you think I came up with yenpit?? :lol: Was into Honda's from 1998-2006, built an 1989 Si, which WAS a money pit, although it was a cool car!! 8)

TJ
1973 510 2dr
1972 521 flat bed
1972 510 Wagon parts car
2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD

LOTS of 510 parts!
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