10 Cool Cars That Gained a Cult Following

For decades now, Datsun (Nissan) has been a fixture of the American automotive landscape. But in the 1960s, Datsuns certainly weren't as common as Fords or Chevys. So the company built the 510 Sedan, at least in part, to be the breakthrough car for Datsun in the U.S. And it was a hit.

The 510 used a tough yet lightweight chassis, and it became known as the bargain BMW because of its fully independent MacPherson strut front and semi-trailing arm suspension (though the wagon version did use a solid axle and leaf springs for its rear suspension). The 510 was a blast to drive, thanks in part to its double-overhead-cam, four-cylinder engine. The Datsun won numerous racing championships around the world, including two SCCA Trans-Am Championships and an East African Safari Classic. This racing pedigree gave rise to a full catalog of performance parts from Datsun and a healthy aftermarket from other outlets.

Many Japanese cars from the 1970s and 1980s are now collectable, but the Datsun 510 was the first one to hit cult status. Even though these popular cars are cheap and were produced in large numbers (400,000 globally), finding one in good condition here in the U.S. is a challenge?and there are many folks hunting for them.

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