M2 Machines 1:24 1971 Datsun 510

If you think M2 Machines was done with the Auto-Japan models in 1:64, think again as they offered a bit later on the 1:24 scale line with only one model so car, the 510 2-door sedan in either stock or racing setup. I had the chance to find this Grabber Blue version when the set first came out, a very popular one out of the three car set and since then other releases of this casting has followed the setup found on this blue version.

The blue paint really sets this car off as attractive compared to the pale green stock or black and red Advan versions, with gold 6-spoke wheels with narrow Advan/Yokohama white-letter tires and a flat black hood with black fender-mounted mirrors. Despite the custom race look it still retains the stock car look, like up front with the round quad headlights with chrome outer rings, black grille with Datsun badge, signal lights below the headlights that are barely visible in smaller scale models, and a chrome bumper with cool Datsun rising sun license plate and lower chin spoiler. On the sides you get a lower white Datsun stripe, chrome wiper blades, chrome C-pillar vents, and a compact size compared to the larger American car offerings from M2 in this same scale range. At the rear is rectangular taillights in red with chrome outer ring, Datsun badge on the trunklid, 510 badge to the left of the black license plate with chrome plate lights, and a chrome bumper just above the small exhaust tip on the left side. The trunk does open, but like every other M2 model in 1:24 scale does not show much at all.

At least the doors open, though the flush fit windows will require hooking onto the chrome door handles carefully to open the doors. Once inside the interior is upgraded from the stock one with Recaro racing front seats and the rear seat ditched for the full-length rollcage bar that is colored blue to stand out from the interior and to match the exterior paint. Up front the dashboard remains stock with a small 3-spoke steering wheel, gauges in silver (could use some detail numbers and dials), radio in the center, 4-speed shifter on the floor, three pedals, and door panels with detailed handles for the door and window crank. Even more surprising is opening the hood where the stock SOHC I-4 is discarded and replaced with a turbocharged DOHC I-4 likely from a 1990’s 200SX with Nismo performance tuning, red valve cover, chrome intake and turbo housing, and even with its larger size still fits comfortably in the 510’s engine bay with visible strut towers. I can imagine this car being launched like a rocket on the track with excellent cornering abilities, and it feels that way even though the larger size restricted my test tracking ability that I do in smaller scale models. The metal base does show the downpoint of this casting as the base is one unit as opposed to the separate components found in other 1:24 scale M2 models, though with that the engine, transmission, driveshaft, and exhaust system are separate components that stand out from the flush unit, and as if you haven’t noticed yet there are solid pin axles front and rear and no front steering, though the former is a good thing as I found the individual wheels on other M2 models tend to be secured too loosely at times.

While there are other 510 models out there, growing by the minute, I give props to M2 for keeping the stock look and making the custom racing cars as realistic as possible and I’m glad the success and popularity of this blue 510 has resulted in other releases of this casting following the same setup.

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