510 Bumper Guide
a.k.a: Everything you've ever wanted to know about 510 bumpers but were afraid to ask.

by Michael Spreadbury

Front bumper -- There are three styles of front bumpers that I have seen. (Variations will be noted in below each section)

Standard two-piece front bumper: This is the bumper that all the versions of 510s imported into North America were imported with. Two-piece, with a seam in the center. Three holes for the front license plate depending on the market where the car was sold.

1973 Front bumper: Different part number, different bumper. How different? Well, for starters, it has four giant holes in it to mount the solid-rubber overriders. It also has double thickness of steel in the bumper mounting areas. If you pick up a bare 73 front bumper you will notice that it is heavier than the earlier version. The 72 and 73 bumper brackets also space out the front bumper further out than the earlier versions.

Australian three-piece front bumper: Think three-piece just like a standard rear bumper-- but this is a front bumper with a solid center section with two bumper caps. These were Australian built bumpers to comply with domestic content regulations for Australian built 1600's. I have never seen the three-piece bumper here in the USA, but I have seen several photos of them on Australian 510s.

Notes: Four-doors and Wagons got the chrome and rubber over-riders, and the Japanese versions starting in 1971 got a very small, solid bumper overrider usually seen on the Coupe models. 1973 510s got the giant solid rubber over riders which are mounted in the afore mentioned holes.

There are just a few variations of the rear bumper for the sedan and wagon:

1968 Sedan Bumper: Standard three-piece construction, with a hole in the center section for an Everwing license plate light. Used in North America for 1968 only, but worldwide through the end of production for International models. 2-door sedans got a rubber plug to fill the over-rider holes, and four-doors got the chrome and black over-rider.

1968 Wagon Bumper: Same construction as the sedan bumper, but with a wider center section, the wagon 68 rear bumper also uses a different 68-specific license plate light (with a shallower profile). Uses the chrome and black rubber over-rider.

Standard Rear Bumper: Fits all years 1969-1972, three-piece construction. Wagons have a wider center section.

What about the coveted one-piece front and rear bumpers-- you ask?

I have had several one-piece front and rear bumpers over the years, and still have one stashed in the attic. I firmly believe that these are bumpers offered by the aftermarket as crash parts shortly after the car was released. Why they are not available any more, I cannot answer. I have never seen a stock 510 with one-piece front or rear bumpers. I have seen airbrushed factory photographs of a 1973 2-door sedan with what appears is a one-piece front bumper, but in their haste they even shaved the front license plate holes, so I think it is an example of someone trying to clean up an image instead of something actually offered.

The Strutless Wonder came with a one-piece rear bumper when I bought it from the original owner, but they told me that the car had been involved in a minor accident shortly after it was purchased new, and it was replaced by the body shop. The bumper stays had Datsun part number stickers still on them, but I could not find any evidence of a Nissan part number on the bumper, nor have I ever seen or received one on the many new bumpers I have ordered from Nissan over the years.

Ok, before you e-mail me with "...but my car has this..." remember that 510s have been running around for 30+ years now, and have had all kinds of modifications done to them. The SoCal boys get very creative and have ALL the holes and all the seams welded and rechromed-- I have even seen front bumpers that have had everything shaved, and a section of bumper welded in to remove the recess for the front license plate-- the creativity of 510 owners never ceases to amaze me!