Datsun Cars
JDM · 11 models
Nissan export name from 1933 to 1986. Built the 240Z, the 510, and made Japanese cars credible in North America.
JDMDatsun was Nissan export brand for most of the twentieth century. The name was retired in 1986 in favor of the Nissan badge globally, but the Datsun era produced some of the most important cars in the company history. The 240Z (called Fairlady Z in Japan) launched in 1969 as a 1970 model and was an immediate hit in North America. Light, fast, beautifully styled, and inexpensive (under $4,000 new), the 240Z gave buyers Jaguar E-Type performance for less than half the price. Half a million Z cars were sold over the original S30 generation (240Z, 260Z, 280Z), and the chassis is still actively raced today. The 510 (1968-1973), known to enthusiasts as the BRE 510 after the racing team that made it famous, was the four-door sport sedan that established Datsun reputation among club racers. BMW 2002 dynamics for less money. The 510 is one of the most successful SCCA Trans-Am 2.5 class cars ever, and clean examples are valuable today. The Datsun 1200 and B210 were the affordable economy cars of the era; the 620 and 720 trucks were the workhorses; and the late-era Datsun 200SX bridged the gap to the Nissan-badged 240SX of the 1990s. On WhipJury, Datsun submissions are heavy on 240Zs (especially L-series engine swaps and RB-swap restomods), 510s in BRE livery, and the occasional 620 truck. The community treats Datsun as the foundational JDM-adjacent brand and tends to vote restomod builds particularly well.
Datsun models we cover
The 240Z origin story
Yutaka Katayama (Mr. K), the head of Nissan US operations in the 1960s, pushed for a sports car that could go after the British roadster market. Nissan engineers built the S30 chassis with a two-liter L20 inline six in the JDM Fairlady, and a 2.4-liter L24 in the export 240Z. The car was light (around 2,300 pounds), front-engine and rear-drive, and produced 151 horsepower (gross) in stock 240Z trim.
The 240Z became the best-selling sports car in the world by 1972. It launched the Z car name, which has continued through 280Z, 280ZX, 300ZX, 350Z, 370Z, and current Z. Restomod 240Zs (often with RB26, LS, or modern VQ swaps) are now a meaningful subset of the Japanese restomod scene, sitting alongside more famous American restomods.
The BRE 510
Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE), led by Pete Brock, raced 510s in the SCCA Trans-Am 2.5 series in 1971 and 1972, winning championships both years. The orange and red BRE livery became iconic. The 510 was a four-door sedan or two-door coupe, with independent rear suspension (rare for the price), an L-series inline four, and curb weights under 2,200 pounds. Today, clean BRE-tribute 510s sell for amounts that would have been laughable when the cars were new.
Datsun on WhipJury
Datsun submissions are dominated by 240Z restomods and BRE 510 tributes. The community appreciates period-correct livery and tasteful engine swaps. The occasional bone-stock 280Z or 1200 also shows up and tends to do well precisely because of its rarity in unrestored form.