Check out Daniel Wu’s Porsche inspired Datsun 510

Mega star Daniel Wu has a very recognisable face, not only has he starred in more than 40 Hong Kong blockbuster movies, he was also part of the cast of the Tomb Raider movie in 2018. Little did we know that Wu is also a car enthusiast, but instead of super cars and high-performance machines, he was more into nostalgic restorations and he started his restoration journey with a Datsun 510.

Wu was born and bred in California but returned to Hong Kong when he started pursuing a career in acting. Having a car restoration project has always been on Wu’s To-Do list but having to live in Hong Kong’s space constrains and the restrictions placed on modifying cars, he had put his ambitions on hold until his return to the states.

Wu recently starred in Hoonigan’s video to show off his first fully restored car and that is a Datsun 510 which he lovingly christened Tanto. His reasons for choosing a Datsun 510, in particular, as a restoration project was largely influenced by his years in the States growing up among skaters who drove around the neighbourhood in 510s.

The Datsun 510’s restoration is carried out by 510 restoration specialist, Troy Ermish, and is largely inspired by Porsche aesthetics. From the car’s paint job to the Tanto’s strap interior door handle, it is obvious where Wu got his inspiration from.

Wu was very much involved throughout the restoration project claiming to have spent his time in between shooting in South Africa shopping online for car parts to restore on the Tanto. And his intimate knowledge of each part of the car’s new parts is proof that he was a hands-on restoration owner.