By Robert Emslie
As I mentioned last week, I am now the proud and grease-covered owner of a Datsun 240Z. Now, not counting my wife’s cars, I’ve only ever owned one previous Japanese car, and I’ve never had a Datsun before, so I had to do some checking out of the community, now that I do. As it turns out, it’s a pretty big one and there’s an occasional swap meet/car show that is held right in my neck of the woods.
Come on through the jump to check out some of the amazing sights from this month’s Eagle Rock Datsun-Nippon Car Show and Swap Meet.
Eagle Rock – yes, there really is a rock with what looks like a majestic eagle upon its face – is an eclectic community hugging the foothills of the Verdugo mountains, just north-east of downtown LA. The event was held in the community recreation center parking lot, under both the eponymous rock and the 134 freeway. The lot is small, and as there was a greater mix of amazing complete cars to tableaus of their disassembled parts, it was also a bit crowded. No worries there though, we’re all friends, right?
The swap was primarily Datsun, parts for 510, Zed-mobiles, all the way to 620 pickups, all spread under the toasty Southern California sun. But the big D wasn’t the only brand representing, just the most ubiquitous. The above Mazda wagon was totally drool worthy, as were a slew of Dimes that showed what’s possible with a boxy old family car and a butt-load of money.
It wasn’t just an opportunity for owners to show off their iron, as befitting its name, there were both parts and cars for sale at the meet. I happened to pick up a replacement hazard switch for the Z, and there was a very cool Datsun 411 wagon on a trailer that would make for an awesome project – only $3,700!
Check out the slide show below for more pics,including a bunch of the cars I saw on the street outside the meet.
All Photos ©2013 Robert Emslie, All Rights Reserved
Kamil Kaluski 
Jeff Glucker
I hear they have similar Japanese car-collector meets in Eastern Canada. Everybody brings a jar of their favourite machine.
In L.A., they appreciate oriental vehicles. In Eastern Canada, oxidental.
The big issue is that it's possible to include more than one make/model's worth of iron oxide in the jar. Makes for some tough judging.
(Shout out from Freddy Beach)
It's so unfair that people on either coast get to go to fun things like this locally. Of course, in comparison to the enthusiast wasteland of the Midwest, they also have to deal with overinflated real estate costs, higher crime, draconian emissions regs…
…nevermind. I withdraw my first statement.
Emissions are really only a problem on Malaise and Turbo Mullet era cars. Pre 75 or pre-96 Diesel, it's a free-for-all.
KC Vs LA crime rates: http://www.bestplaces.net/crime/?city1=50644000&a…
…but you're definitely right on real estate. Ain't no way I'm doing anything but my day job as long as I want to live anywhere near civilization in this state.
Illuminating statistics and a very interesting website. Of course, you have take into account all the nuances of the metro areas as a whole. Although, if you compare Independence, MO to Compton, Compton is more violent, but there's a whole lot more property crime in Independence (7-9 vs 9-4). Perhaps things of value are a whole lot more locked down in Compton?
FWIW, Overland Park, KS is comparable to Burbank (2/4 vs 3/4).
Yeah, I did LA Vs KC because KC was the only big city I knew of.
LA is huge, so you're kinda just looking at the average. Step over the city limits to smaller communities of South Pasadena, Burbank, Pasadena, Montrose, La Canada Flintridge or San Marino (all are northeast LA and Rob's stomping grounds) and the numbers get pretty darn good. Prices go up, though.
Grand Canyon. Great movie.
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I've spent quite a bit of time in both Kansas City and L.A.
They both have some desirable and unsavory neighborhoods, but the best and worst that LA has to offer are more extreme than the best and worst of KC.
Independence, a great place to get meth…
I kid, I kid.
3BR/2BA home near my employer — asking price? $90K.
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Ow, my wallet.
In my town, that would be at least 750k.
The disparity of home prices blows me away. What town is that, by the way?
Moraga, California. 3/2s on the Peninsula (tech money) go for over a million.