With pricing for the iconic Japanese sports cars becoming more and more ridiculous, JDM enthusiasts are having an increasingly hard time finding an attainable classic. You only need to look at the Mk IV Toyota Supras, which even with well over 100,000 miles, are well into the six-figure price range. Things may be slightly better if you are looking for an affordable Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R, but even that’s pushing it. However, there are still (relatively) reasonably-priced options for JDM icons, and this 1971 Datsun 510 looks like one. Moreover, it has GT-R roots…sort of.

The little brother of the original GT-R

The Datsun 510 was the predecessor to one of the most iconic Japanese cars of all time – the Nissan Skyline 2000 GT-R “Hakosuka”. While the Datsun 510 is the much smaller sibling, it shares much of the aesthetics of the Skyline C10 chassis, including the boxy design, quad-headlights, and even the taillight design. More importantly, like the GT-R, the 510 was a successful race car.

It was Australian racing driver, Peter Brock, who managed to utilize the full potential of the Datsun 510, which boasted an exceptionally nimble chassis, rugged engine, and tight handling. The 510 proved capable around the Trans Am racing circuit, earning it the nickname “The Giant Killer”. This particular example, listed for sale in Lavergne, Tennessee, pays homage to that racing history by scoring parts of the Brock Racing Enterprises (BRE) livery on the sides.

Powered by an L-series engine

Under the hood, there’s a peppy, 1.6-liter SOHC, carbureted inline-four that produces 96 horsepower (71.5 kilowatts) at 5,600 RPM and 100 pound-feet (135 Nm) at 3,600 RPM. The engine is part of the L-series family, which is known from the Datsun Z-cars. Those, however, were equipped with the inline-six versions. A four-speed manual sends power to the rear, resulting in a 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) time of 1.6 seconds. Contributing to the car’s exceptional weight is the curb weight of 2,105 pounds (955 kg).

The perfect spec

This particular one is also a two-door and bright red, and has the dual four-spoke wheels fitted. The interior of the Datsun 510 is quite spartan, but this one has been updated in a very neat, two-tone color scheme in order to celebrate the 510’s racing heritage. On paper, the performance figures of the small Datsun aren’t anything to write home about, but as the saying goes, “It’s not the size of the dog in a fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog”, and this one, with just 24063 miles (38725 km) on the odometer, has plenty of that left inside. As for the asking price, it’s set at $22,995, which all things considered is not too bad if you are into classic JDMs. These used to go for just a few grand back in the day, but those days are long gone.