Carspotting (58): Datsun 510

I spotted this a block away from the Earthroamer (see previous post).  I like this 510 because it has not been modified and seems like a daily driver with just one owner since new.  Can someone tell me what B&W Full Automatic means?  I assume it's some kind of automatic transmission.

B&W?

Earthroamer in background

Las Vegas Imperial Palace auto car collection review

The car collection at Imperial Palace is an institution.  I've been going there since I was a wee boy in the 1980s.  Back then, the highlights of my trips to Vegas involved visiting the collection and being given a $10 roll of quarters to use at the video game arcade at the oh-so-pink Circus Circus.

Most of the cars on display are for sale.  If you visit once a year, I guesstimate the turnover of cars is around 20%.  My biggest complaint involves the display.  This place seriously needs freshening up.  The fluorescent bulbs and ugly 1990s high school classroom blue carpeting have got to go.

Without further ado, here are my favorite cars:

1963 Ford Thunderbird Italien concept car

Engine bay of 1987 Buick GNX ($95,000; 5,480 miles)

Lancia 037 bought new in Guatemala

1 of 2 RHD Ferrari Superfast Series II ($1.8 million) (and look at that atrocious lighting!)

1968 Toyota Corona RT-52 Coupe with 2,274 original miles ($25,500).  I love the diversity of the collection.  So long as the car is cool and interesting, it's in!

Yugo!

1980 Peugeot 505 sedan with less than 8,000 km for $39,500

1954 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Vignale Saloon ($450,000)

Ford RS200 traffic jam

1956 Lancia C10 Appia panel van ($65,000)

1954 Alfa Romeo 1900SS Ghia coupe ($325,000)

Jaguar XJ220

Ferrari Daytona and Datsun 280ZX

1961 Aston Martin DB4GT Superleggera

1966 Bizzarini P538 Spyder prototype (red) and 1967 Bizzarini P538 Coupe (white)

Spy Photos: Nissan Fuga, Infiniti M37/M56/M35 Hybrid

I saw this today near the Bay Bridge.  It's got Michigan manufacturer's plates, is right hand drive, and has the front end of a Maserati Quattroporte.

Formula 1 Datsun 280ZX Turbo pace car Las Vegas Grand Prix

I'm reading Analysing Formula 1 and lo and behold, there is a snapshot of the 1982 Las Vegas Grand Prix (in the Caesar's Palace parking lot) and the pace car is a 280ZX Turbo!

Image courtesy.

Carspotting (55): Datsun pick-up truck

Here is another old beater I saw in Port Townsend, Washington.

Leonid Brezhnev's Nissan President

The former Soviet leader was a true car aficionado.  He even owned a Citroen SM ($1 to anyone who can send me a link to a picture of him with the SM).  Here is his 1973 Nissan.  It was the second one made.  The first went to the Japanese PM.  Brezhnev even gave Nixon and Kissinger a ride in it in Moscow once.

1993 Toyota Supra Turbo review road test

Go ahead and skip to the 1:30 mark.

Here is a comparo between the Mitsubishi 3000GT Turbo, Nissan 300ZX Turbo, the Supra Turbo, and the Mazda RX7 Turbo, just before their collective demise.  Go ahead and skip to the 0:55 mark.

Canepa Motorsports Museum review and pictures (Part 2)

(Part 1 is here.)

On the second floor is the museum proper.  The great thing about the Canepa Motorsports Museum (and showroom) is that there are no velvet ropes to separate you from the cars.  The experience is intimate and private.  It also helps that for the entire time you are there, there may only be one other visitor present.

The centerpiece is this Porsche 917 in Gulf Oil livery.  I have never said this about any inanimate object, but I wanted to lick this thing.

Note the unique two wiper design.

Next we have a 1985 Formula One Tyrrell 012.  It is in immaculate condition as it has undergone a 3,000 man-hour restoration at Canepa's on-site facilities.

When I think early 90s race cars, this red, white, and blue Nissan GTP ZX Turbo always comes to mind.  Asking price-- $750,000.

This 1983 Lancia LC-2 Group C competition car in Martini livery has a 246 mile per hour top speed.

I'll end this piece with this Porsche 956 engine.  If you ever have to be drive to/through Santa Cruz or Monterey, I strongly recommend visiting this collection.