Just a quick reminder for those of you from or visiting NorCal this weekend. Be sure to check out the Z Owners of Northern California’s Blackhawk Datsun/Nissan Extravaganza in San Ramon on June 28. All manner of Datsuns are welcome - 510s, Zs, and Roadsters. Doors open at 10 AM. For more information, check out the ZONC website.

For months JNCer Datsunfreak has been tempting us with updates about how his very own Datsun 510 was recruited to star in a movie. At last, the shooting has taken place and now he’s spilling the beans. His writeup on the experience is a very entertaining read, and an excellent behind-the-scenes peek at how a car is prepared for filming. Cleaning all the dirt off so you can spray on fake dirt? That’s showbiz, baby!

And while “it’s a wrap” here in the US, the film crew heads to Australia next for more shooting, where Aussie JNCer SX-510 will be waiting for them with a matching 510, in LHD no less. It’ll be interesting to see if we can tell the difference between the two cars in the final product.

The movie is called Mao’s Last Dancer and is based on a true story. It doesn’t come out until 2010, but you can be sure we’ll post a reminder here when it opens so all you JNCers can go see Datsunfreak’s car (and a bunch of other actors and stuff) on the big screen. Congrats, DF!

May 10th is 510 Day. We went out to Doheney Beach to hang out with the guys from Dime Quarterly. Click here for more pics. How did you celebrate?

This Saturday is May 10, known to Datsun sport sedan owners across the world as 510 Day. Check out DimeQuarterly’s calendar for a list of events in your area. Oh, and get your mother something nice for Sunday!

[Image: no281750gtv]

A while back, this Datsun 510 sold on eBay for $13,000, a steep price for what appeared to be a BRE-themed Datsun 510 replica. Only, it wasn’t a replica. According to the seller, it’s a one-of-a-kind prototype for a Datsun factory program that would have allowed buyers to put together their very own street-legal BRE Trans-Am 2.5 510. Goodies include a Nissan factory performance 5-speed, BRE suspension package, mild cam upgrade, high volume oil pump, raised compression, American Racing Libre wheels, 1 of 3 alleged hand-built LSDs, and a slew of BRE badging.

This could have been Datsun’s equivalent of the Boss Mustang or Camaro Z/28, but unfortunately the program never got off the ground. The aftermarket parts developed for it ended up being sold through BRE or Interpart. The seller also says that there were several of these prototypes built, but this is likely the only surviving complete, 100% numbers matching example.

The original owner was purportedly once a middleman between Nissan USA and BRE. The car also comes with an explosion of memorabilia and some very nice NOS spare parts. But get this. With the car exactly as it was when it sold for $13,000, the price tag is now $65,000 with a BuyItNow of $79,000. That’s almost a 600% increase in price with just the discovery of its proper bloodlines, the passage of a few months and a yellow 240Z upholstered with a wetsuit (if that’s your thing). Google stock, eat your heart out. Thanks again to David of Motoring J Style for the tip!

[Source: Motoring J Style]

First it appeared on album covers, now there’s a casting call from Hollywood. Is the Datsun 510 the next big thing? It seems that whenever a classic Japanese car is called for, the 510 is becoming quite the sizzling ticket. Better grab ‘em while you can, guys and gals.

Here’s our on-again-off-again thread about J-tin on film. Here’s some more screenshots from various movies on IMCDB, including the flipping 510 pictured from A Special Magnum for Tony Saitta.

We were just checking in with our compadres at grandJDM and nearly died laughing when we came across this post on rapper Snoop Dogg’s new album cover.

If you’ve had your eye on one of these cars you’d better grab it quick, cause once the MTV crowd figures out exactly what ride this album is pimpin’, Datsun 510 Wagons will be selling like they’re made of gold, and probably end up plated in it too. Clearly, the utter old school coolness of a five-tizzle is what the label in the bottom right corner is advising parents of.

We have to wonder, is this Datsun what Mr. Dogg was talking about in his 2000 composition, “Hennesey N Buddah,” featuring his colleague KoKane, when he said:

I never ever dropped a dime, sheeeit
Nigga might cop a dime
Never hesitate to pop a 9, bah
And always come up with the proper line

A modern-day Chaucer, if you ask us. How long before the garages of MTV Cribs are teeming with Datsuns? Place your bets now. Thanks for making our day, mates.