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Article by Mark Warner
Photos by John Roper
The Dime, Quarterly recently sat down with Dave Heeter, a married 40-something blue collar union worker in Texas who has two kids, two dogs, and one really sweet 1972 Datsun 510.
Dime Quarterly: How did you get into 510s?
Dave Heeter: My first experience with "old school" Datsuns was in the early 80s when I was stationed at Nellis AFB, in Las Vegas, NV. I spotted a Datsun 1200 Coupe in a parking lot and found out it was an abandoned car. I bought it, drove it home, and then later towed it to Texas when I got a job transfer in 1986. The problem was that I couldn't find parts anywhere, so I ended up selling it. Later, I bought an early 510 in the mid 90s, after finding out how many parts can be interchanged from newer Nissan cars. The racing history on the 510 was certainly another selling point. Further strengthening my desire to always own a 510 was getting on the information super highway, and of course meeting the "510 guru" here in north Texas, John Roper.
DQ: How long have you owned this one?
DH: This car is my 4th 510. I purchased it in April 2005.
DQ: Who or what inspired the direction of modifications on this car?
DH: The car had been sitting for 2 years prior to my purchase. I wanted to go over the engine and get rid of all the unnecessary lines and hoses and "Jerry rigging." I am also heavily influenced by the ultra clean show car look I see in some local cars. That's definitely the direction I'm heading now. I want the car to be as clean as possible.
DQ: What are your plans for the car?
DH: My plan was and is to completely change everything to make it "my car" (except the color) and create a fun little street racer. I’d also like to take it to some car shows, such as Texas Heatwave, Dust Off, and Spring Bash. It would be nice to see how many awards I can win with it. It probably won't be hard, since it's in a class all its own.
DQ: Tell us about the car. What does it have under the skin?
DH: Well there is a lot, but I’ll mention the highlights of what’s been done to it so far. Up front, there are 280ZX strut housings and brakes, MOG camber plates, 280ZX sway bar, KYB shocks, and Mulholland springs. Out back, there are KYB shocks, Mulholland springs, and a BRE-style sway bar. Engine-wise, it has a Nissan remanufactured L18, dual 38mm SUs (rebuilt by Z-Therapy), chrome Nismo header, and a Mallory ignition system. Inside there’s a Vintage Air A/C system, Honda Prelude seats and seatbelts, Pioneer CD player with 10 hidden speakers and a Pioneer amplifier. A custom console is currently under construction. The paint is the ubiquitous Porsche Guards Red, finished off nicely with some 15x7 Konig Rewinds, new NOS bumpers, and all new NOS trim.
DQ: How would you describe this car in one phrase?
DH: Old-school street racer.
DQ: Who helped you build it?
DH: Charlie Fleming did the majority of the work on the car before I bought it. I also have to give props to John Roper for his time and effort in helping me make the current round of changes.
DQ: What makes your car stand out?
DH: Someone once told me that my engine bay was way too clean for a 510! I really enjoy it whenever I pop the hood and people say "wow!" Just a little bit of powder coating and polishing here and there can make a big difference.
DQ: What don't you like about the car? What would you change?
DH: It doesn't sit quite low enough yet (it's never low enough), and I'm still fine-tuning the engine and the new SUs. As far as changes go, the exterior color is a bit too flashy for me.
DQ: What would you do to the car if money were no object?
DH: It would get a total exterior color change, including some custom bodywork, and a bigger engine, like the VG30E.
DQ: Where is your favorite place to drive the car?
DH: I like to go any place where there are a lot of twisties and ‘S’ curves. There are a few spots on the outskirts of town. No time spent at the autocross just yet.
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