If only I could have it look like this again!

I have had my 510 for 17 years now. It will be 18 years on September 20th. I got this car before the internet was available to me for information. I sometimes wonder how I ever got anything done on the project. All I had was the 510 again club and I still sometimes go back to those old issues for reference. Back then I could still go to the Nissan dealership and get a taillight for $14.00 or a brand new gas cap for $17.00. I left the gas cap on top of the car and subsequently on the side of the interstate more than once so I remember the price.

The deal was for my Dad to buy me a car, pay to make it safe and then turn it over to my molestations and use. The day I went see it was a nice September day. We heard about the car the way everyone did back then, someone spotted it in a backyard and called us. They told us there was a 510 wagon in a backyard in Elmer, LA. We had too see it. We showed up that morning and met the energetic and spirited Viola S. Barge. She was about 70 years young and was the original owner of the car for it's first 15 years. She told us it wouldn't run and had been sitting in her yard for a few months. The "we" I speak of were myself, my dad, and hid dad. A little gas poured into the carb, a battery and bam, she sprang to life. No bad sounds, smells or smokes and we were ready to negotiate. To the best of my knowledge, we went back to Cottonport to think it over. We called her later that day and she gave us a price of $130.00 for the car. She felt bad and asked if it was too much. I didn't think so. The next morning it was back to Elmer. Viola met us outside and showed us to the car. She had gone in and cleaned it out and vacuumed the interior. She informed us that the night before she had cried a little as her car was about to leave home after 15 years of service. we readied a few last minute items and were ready to leave. But wait! Viola remembered she had forgotten to give us the spare tire (pronounced ex-tree by her) so we loaded that up and were on our way. I drove alone with my dad and grandpa in tow. They drove the 1987 Volvo 240 I was to later own. About twenty minutes into the trip I was feeling a bad vibration in the steering so I pulled over. Turns out there was a bad bubble developing on the front right tire. Thank God for the extry! That was exchanged an we were on our way. The rest of the 100 or so miles were uneventful.

I have driven many miles delivering pizzas with two 15 inch woofers booming in the back. I have driven around Houston for a few months. I camped in the back of it numerous times in the woods. I lived two years in England with a 20x30 poster of it on my dorm room wall while the car sat idly waiting for me in a barn in Cottonport, LA. There have been 3 engines, three paint jobs (soon to be four), interior twice, three different transmission types, two different A/C systems. I drove the car down I-10 from Valdosta, GA to Maringouin or Lafayette, LA about 10 times at 1100 miles round trip each time. The only times I have been stranded by her it has been my fault for shoddy maintenance or cutting corners. Even when the engine blew I made it home where it belched out a pool of oil in the driveway never to start again. This engine is a story in itself. Wanna hear it? Here it goes.
I bought an 1800cc (L-18) from someone we knew in Baton Rouge. It was built by a reputable engine builder. It was a race engine but supposedly stock except for balancing and blueprinting. Unknown to us the engine was not all that stock. It had flattop high compression pistons in it and because of that it pinged excessively. This, in conjunction with the builder aligning the ring gaps, caused a piston to burn through. This piston hangs on my garage wall to this day.
I took this engine out and installed the original 1600cc plant (L-16) back into it. I am currently working on installing a Ka24de engine from a 1992 Nissan 240SX into her. That should be fun once completed. The saga continues..

Ok, the engine has been in for almost a year now. It runs fine and is a blast to drive. It is in the garage now and in need of a restoration and I hope to do it soon.    Paul

Lookin' good