VIDEO: Jay Leno drives another Datsun 510

On the latest episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, the host welcomes the prototypical hot rod for our generation. Leno mentions that for his era, it was the ’32 Ford, but for Millennials, it’s the Datsun 510. He may have been off by a generation depending on how you look at it, but Jonathan Lessner’s 1970, a archetypal build with a KA24E swap, is the kind of car JCCS used to be swarming with.

A self-proclaimed Honda guy who once owned a JDM front end, Jonathan always wanted a Datsun 510 as a kid. However, it wasn’t until December of 2015 that he acquired as more or less a shell and spent the years since building it. This is not the first time the Denim One has featured a 510, but this is exactly like the type of car that built the 510 cult following on the street, and its plethora of custom parts is a testament to the versatility of the platform.

 

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7 Responses to VIDEO: Jay Leno drives another Datsun 510

  1. Courtney Shove says:

    Yeah, it’s a Gen-X car.

  2. Jesse C. says:

    Millenials 57 Chevy? Really? I thought it was us GEN X types that really took off in these back in the 80’s. Yes, I think Jay might be a bit off.

    But what do I know, I’ve only owned one since ’87!

    • MattD says:

      Guess it depends. I’m 24 and I’ve owned one since I was 15, and more people within my generation are buying into them every day — the 510 is intergeneratinoal at this point.

  3. BREfan says:

    More like Boomers.

  4. Dave Patten says:

    @MattD I have to agree in the broad generational appeal. These cars were hot in the 70’s into the 80″s during Datsun’s Road Racing hay days. They fell into cult status for 2-3 decades and have now returned in spades.

    I bought my first one in 1983 and still own it.

  5. RayZ says:

    My 70 510 has stock L20B, one weber, Robello manifold, Rota wheels, and a Momo steering wheel, everything else is stock. Looks like the 510 on ‘Classic Japanese magazine cover. Jay Leno saw it at Laguna Seca and wanted to sit in it. Stated, “Now this is the next car that everybody wants inexpensive with excitement” He took a selfie with my 510.

  6. Erwin Lee says:

    Can anyone tell me where I can find these same wheel
    Arches ?

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