Over the last several days the state of California has been hit hard by a series of cold rainstorms coming off the pacific – covering the mountains with snow and bringing chaos to the usually sun-drenched freeways of Los Angeles. Fortunately, the weather cleared up yesterday morning just in time for a gathering of Datsun and other old school Japanese car fans in Eagle Rock.
One draw of the event would be the selection of vintage cars in the car show…
…but the main highlight was the swap meet. While swap meets have been going on for ages among the hot rod and domestic crowd in SoCal, the same can’t be said for the Japanese car community. It was pretty refreshing to see people out there selling things like hop up parts for L-series motors and old school JDM wheels.
What better vehicle to bring to a swap meet than a Datsun 620? There’s just something cool about one of these trucks sitting on slot mags.
Need a project car? This 510 wagon was up for sale for a reasonable sounding $1500.
The event was open not just to Datsuns, but to vintage Japanese cars of all types. This black Celica liftback looked pretty tasty.
The Mazda crowd was also out there with a small selection of rotary parts up for grabs.
The swap meet itself wasn’t huge, but it was well stocked. Everything from those hard to find original stock parts…
…to modern performance parts. Hmmm, are those some SR components I spy?
There were also tons of cool sets of wheels and tires up for sale. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the swap meet at the JCCA New Year Meeting in Tokyo.
This 240Z looked clean and mild on the outside with retro four-spoke mags.
But under the hood? Good old LS1 power. This thing sounded pretty burly when it pulled out!
All of the sidestreets around the Eagle Rock Recreation Center were filled with cool old cars. Do you remember this Cressida from the spotlight I did a while back?
This little Datsun 210 sedan is definitely something out of the norm. Very cool.
Clean and mean 70-chassis Supra. These cars are well on their way into the “classic” realm.
Wonder what the story with this 510 is? Looks like a pretty straight car to be so hacked up.
Another very clean Datsun 620 on late model truck wheels.
This immaculate ’72 Honda CT70 trail bike was sitting in the bed.
In this day of Craigslist and huge forums, getting parts for your project has never been easier. Still, there’s something special about holding the parts in your hand and wheeling and dealing face to face. It was very nice to see the SoCal community coming together for an event like this.
That will do it for part one. I’ll be back soon with a little more of this old school fun.
Stay tuned!
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
quality.. you need these events, you can generally find something you've been looking for, not always on the first turn out but.. eventually! love the devils horns on the Supra bonnet badge!! cool
So the 16th picture down. The one you wondered about the story on the mint green 510. I can tell you the whole story behind it cause it used to be mine.
Was on my way to work on a fine sept day and low and behold for no reason a E3590 work van stops. Light was green, he wasnt turning right, and you couldnt go left. So I hit my brakes.....and the brake pedel went straight to the floor. I dumped a gear and grabbed the E-Brake but all it did was slow me down enough not to kill me.
Had lap belts on. Went head first into the steering wheel, dash, and windsheild. Left me with a completly shattered nasal cavity, a 5x3 inch hole in my forhead, a fucked cheekbone and laceration above my eye.
So now I have a few metal plates in my head (biggest one covers the hole in my forehead) To get everything fixed they cut from eaar to ear over the top of my skull and pulled the skin down over my face.
And yes I do have pictures to prove it.
Drewfus!
You should email Speedhunters (and/or Mike Garrett) and tell them your story. Hopefully, they'll do an interview.
You should send pictures. I'm sure your story would help others to learn more about vehicle safety.
I think a lot of enthusiasts today are spoiled by modern vehicles and how they perform dynamically and in terms of safety.
If your story inspires one person to equip their car with three point belts or a roll cage, etc, etc it could save the life of a member of our community!
I know your story had an impact on me!
Man, sincerest hope for your recovery.
Dude, if they don't run your story I WILL on my blog! I'll check back on this comments section to see.
Your story should be told and could genuinely SAVE A LIFE!
Shocked
The car actually had a cage. The brakes had NEVER givin me any issues before that, and the funny thing is that I was actually going to do the brakes (redo the SS lines and throw new pads and shoes rotors and drums and master on) That was going to be my project for that weekend....the accident happened on friday.
Its Deff made an impact on how I look at things with cars. I see alot of people doing motor swaps and going faster and faster but not addressing things likes brakes and suspension. Then I see buket seats with improperly mounted harnesses and on and on. I'm in the process of building a 1927 Essex from the ground up and the accident makes me look at all that stuff alot harder.
As for the recovery I'm am running at 110% now.....actually the weekend they let me out of the hospital I was at a track event and the following weekend I was out wheeling. Im to damn stubborn to stay down and out!
Holy shit! X2
1 @ LS1 240Z
1 @ Drewfus!
Speedhunters: story, pix, interview STAT
Honestly, it is a ripe old time to do a feature on why these cars have cages and belts.
I thought that Matt, the moderator of Japanese Nostalgic Car site ( low traffic site.) was supposed to show his new 610. Apparently he is keeping it a secret.
Woah, Drewfus! That's pretty heavy. We've upgraded the full brake systems in our 1600s and got 3 points everywhere (6 points in the rally car). Glad to hear you survived though.
Looks like a great meet, the Datsun life is a good life!
RIP Roscoe (Drew's 510)
hi please anyone knows i have 18 inch rims on my car and i want to buy new tiers if i made the rear tiers with big profile like 50 and front 40 would it made my handling better or worse ??
now i have 235 40 18 for all the tiers
pls reply me on my email mallah656@hotmail.com
many thanks
sweet coverage!!
As I'm the one who sold it to the guy who brought it to the event, I wouldn't recommend fixing that green 510 without a trip to a frame rack. It took quite the hit to the front end and bent the body at the base of the A pillars, even transferred some damage to the C pillar, lol.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc246/StumpyFinger/Vehicles/IMAG0054.jpg
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc246/StumpyFinger/Vehicles/IMAG0056.jpg
Drew, people need to see how Roscoe used to look back in his glory days!
And what he did to your face!
Maybe there should be a "Life of Roscoe" spotlight. Eh? EH?
Nothing quite like a swap meet.
Nice to see some 620's .
Not a bad idea, guys. Whaddya say, Mike? Speedhunters has had a slammed month, a retro month, a build month... how about a safety month? Cover not just the types of equipment, but how it's properly installed too. Show how rally cars, drift cars, drag cars, grip cars, etc., are modded to keep the drivers alive and safe. I bet the owners of some of these "build month" cars are at that stage in their builds now.
-
One thing I learned early on is that a stiff suspension doesn't necessarily mean a car will always grip better. There is such a thing as "too stiff", as the suspension's first job is to keep as much tire surface on the ground at all times. When building a street/track car, the same suspension setting that gets you an extra half-second of the lap time can toss you in the air on a bumpy curve on the way home from the track.
Hi, I noticed the wheels in your picture look awfully similar to my 14x6 Momo's. Do you think they're the same wheel? I can't find any info about them so if you know anything please let me know! 81cabriolet at g mail dot com.
Here's one of mine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNkp4QF3we8&feature=related
Thanks! Tyler
Nice swap meet. I enjoyed it very much. Hope they find a nicer area next time though. About Matt, that guy is so secretive, it is actually weird.
Drewfus!
That's terrible, man.
I hope you can tell your story for a larger audience (larger than just we humble commenters) because I see the same thing (in regards to safety oversights), but few people consider the consequences. If other members of our community could be able to understand what a fellow hobbyest went through, then maybe they'd educate themselves and their friends about how crucial their tuning decisions are...then your story could have the power to save a life...or a few lives.
That's the power of the internet. I could tell the two or three people I see that make mistakes, but you could tell thousands...in a day.
I think your story is an incredible lesson for all of us. We're all pretty young (or young at heart) and a lot of the times, in our zest, we overlook safety. I say this with the greatest sensitivity in regards to your situation because it could happen to ANY of us at any time.
I hope that Speedhunters does an interview with you. It would be HIGHLY educational for people to know the story behind that beautiful car. Just the look of that car resonated with Mike Garrett.
Your recovery and rebound back into the driver's seat is also inspirational!
That's incredible, man. Your story should be heard.
Nice market day. I enjoyed it, although I did not find what I was looking for. I was surprised at the RHD 610 that was pruchased on US land for only 45 hundred.
I would had payed up to 7 thou. The seller must have been an inexperienced rookie. Lucky buyer.
That is funny, the comment on Matt, from JNC, some guys are werid, he hides his 610, shows no photos ( not even at his site, JNC ) and apparently enjoys his ride in solitude. Plain bizarre.
This looked really awesome. I wish I knew about this sooner, I would have went, rather than travel all the way to Fullerton for the Nismolism thing that let me down....
was there a 240z there, 4x4? on the bronco frame?
some idiot forgot (not SH) to tell me about this meet...such a nice small event that I would've checked out so close to home.
I know a safety month might not be the "popular" thing todo but but it would be cool to see. I think a good mix of safety for street and track machines alike would be great. For every type of car enthusiast there is a different type of safety. I've seen full on FD spec cages and fire suppression systems in some of my friends FD cars down to just having your harness mounted right in you daily driver. Then you have hotrods and ratrods that have a different type safety.
We all love slammed street rides and and weekend racers but I'm pretty sure we all like being alive a little more then slammed and fast cars.
Anyways, for those interested in what Roscoe (my old 510) looked like here you go. It was a great car and my favorite 510 to drive on a daily basis.
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/l_d34a9773ebc04e53ab5c2b5cf93d406d.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/l_39ef7c11d2444776ad2a4fa0b4d246b9.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/l_46404c65f25b41229e56a59022fbfdb8.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/12.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/l_9f9efbe805e9412e8cd0eb0e0d1096b4.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/l_e44ba110f35a4e5ab9ceb4bf9b9dd899.jpg
And this is Roscoe and Me after the crash
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/l_0cde800eb2c24701855e5618a1b1ba40.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/19254_101634896532343_100000574993573_43733_5336408_n.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/19254_101634899865676_100000574993573_43734_5299184_n.jpg
http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m113/clinkerton/19254_101634903199009_100000574993573_43735_6073342_n.jpg
Any questions or anything feel free to e-mail me
myhoagie@hotmail.com
Censport had a PHENOMENAL idea above! ^^^^^^^
This just made my Tuesday morning, thank-you! Always something cool about Datsuns, and this was no exception!
Hey Rewfus,
I've added your email to my contacts list.
I hope that Speedhunters runs your story because of the MASSIVE audience, but I frequent this blog and if they don't feature you and your story. I'd be glad to on my blog.
You've already shown an incredible amount of courage in your personal life and you've shown even more by sharing your story with we commenters! Keep on keepin' on, man!
Nice meet. I was far away ( TX ) . Perhaps next time.
About Matt, from San Diego, funny how many people wonder about his Datsun 610. He reminds me of his buddy Demetri, of San Pedro, both are hoarders, compiling and gluttoning in on parts, afraid of their own shadows. Hope they sell their cars to happier people that could drive and enjoy those 610s ( about 6 total between those two.)
Yeehah!!!
About the roll cage. Was some talk on about the dangers of hitting your unprotected head on the full cage bars since we don't street drive with helmets on. Full cage is better in a rollover for sure, but that is a pretty rare event next to side impact.
Perhaps a rollbar is good middle ground? Just a thought if SH does a series about it.
Drewfus,
That's an insane story! Hit me up at SpeedhuntersMike (at) gmail.com if you'd like to share it in guest blog format.
-Mike
Hmmm ... It looks like an engine swap is easy thing to do in the USA ... Here in France, it's simply considered as an illegal modification as long as you don't pass the DRIRE tests ... Of course you can do without, but have an accident with that and you'll get serious problems ...
yeah there was a 4x4 z there.....still trying to forget
I'm big into pre-nissan-aged-cars 240, 260z's and the original fairlady, 510 especially the wagon
Why not have not one but 4 or 5 of these swap meets in So Cal?
Plenty of nicer areas too. Eagle Rock is not that good, location and access wise. To those talaking about Matt, the san diegan from JNC. Please do not get him over here, that guy only posts nonsensical things and anything but nice stuff. Keep him away, here at speedhunters we have a nice forum going on.
Would love to have been out at this meet! old school JDM cars are amazing, you just don't see them out here in chicago! That CT70 reminds me of my childhood, I learned to ride on one when I was 7.
What wheels are those in the third picture, the ones with 4 spokes? In the Initial D manga, Iketani's Silvia had them.
@Drewfus!: That's quite the story, dude! I'm glad you came out of that alive (and without some severe wound in yor neck!). Serious stuff, really.
@Censport: A safety month could be a great idea, as you explained. But somehow, I don't see it too feasible. As important as safety is, that wouldn't bring too many "exciting" content, aside from showing the sick cars that those safety equimpents are installed in. I don't think too many readers would find that interesting for a whole month, so to say.
Good luck Drewfus.
I know your story will positively impact many people!
I know it's already had a positive effect on me.
Oh shit, somehow I linked YouTube earlier? -___-
Here is one of my Momo's for comparison. Any info on these wheels would be greatly appreciated!
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5008/5200312911_b6688888a6_b.jpg
Hi !
I would like a Datsun 620 cargo box to my truck , anybody can help ?
I would have to bring it to Portugal , maybe there is an association as this in Europe that i don´t know ...
Regards
Luis Ramos