It's possible you're being too cynical. I've heard the same or similar comments
many, many times over the years, and they usually continue with "I sold it when
I got out of college. Biggest mistake I ever made. Man, that car was fun!" I
just smile and say "Yeah, they are."
The frequency of those comments is one of the truly amazing things about these
cars. Only 50,000 or so were built, but it seems like half the Western
hemisphere has owned one at one time or another.
Gordon Glasgow
Renton, WA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Paul Bauman
> Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 10:35 PM
> To: 'John Peak'; Autox (E-mail)
> Subject: RE: Originality (kind of long)
>
>
> John:
>
> There is a lot of truth to what you say. however, I have come to the hard
> realization after twenty years of roadster ownership that our poor little
> rides are not cultural icons. No '57 Chevy, no GTO, not even bug-eyed
> Sprite. Bug-eyed, yes, but more frog than sprite. Many people that see my
> car since it's restoration say "I used to have one of those" or "My brother
> had one back in the '70s". I sometimes get a feeling that the unspoken
> ending to these comments is "But then I/he dumped it and got a REAL car".
>
> OK, so maybe I'm being a little cynical there. But the fact remains that the
> roadster will likely never be as sought after as Healys, or Aston Martins or
> Ferraris. To me, it's a fun little sports car that's still affordable to
> drive and maintain. Stock roadsters are as fun to be around as customs to
> me, cause it's not the cars, it's the people I have met restoring and
> showing mine that makes it all worthwhile.
>
> Oh yeah, that and the wistful looks we get from couples in minivans full of
> kids when Pam and I go blasting by them top down on a sunny afternoon :)
>
> Keep em stock, keep em custom, but keep em on the road!
>
> Paul Bauman
> Westminster, CA
> 67 1600
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of John Peak
> Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 8:34 PM
> To: datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
> Subject: Originality (kind of long)
>
>
> Roadster list,
>
> Does anybody here care about originality? As a long time roadster owner, I
> joined this list in the hopes of connecting with likeminded enthusiasts.
> What I have found is people who see the roadster as primarily a platform for
> customization. Engine swaps, body mods, wheel and suspension changes seem
> to dominate what few technical threads I have seen. Please do not view this
> as being critical of what you are doing. I know that many of these cars
> have been spared from the crusher by your work. I just feel that something
> valuable may have been lost in the process.
>
> I bought my roadster when it was a relatively new car. I wanted a car that
> was built from the factory to perform well. I also needed a reliable car
> that was economical to drive on a daily basis. The roadster filled the bill
> perfectly. Over the years many cars have come and gone but the roadster
> remains (Actually I did sell it once and bought it back, but that is a
> different story). I love the car for what it is, not for what I can turn it
> into.
>
> When I was in high school back in the early 1970's, I owned a '56 Bel Air.
> I replaced the original engine and transmission with a built 327 and 4
> speed. I eliminated the side chrome and painted the car a solid color. I
> put on mag wheels and installed a custom interior. If the car is still
> around, I am sure that someone went to considerable expense to undo all my
> hard work and return the car to its original configuration. Sometime in the
> future someone may want to do the same with one of your cars. Will there be
> any reference that will guide them back to originality?
>
> I am currently restoring an Austin-Healey. Despite a considerable amount of
> documentation, there is still an amazing amount of dispute about what was
> original on any specific car. Given that the roadster has existed all these
> years in relative obscurity, I am afraid that any notion of what was
> original in these cars may be gone forever.
>
> I would like to preserve the originality of my car if for no other reason
> than because it is such an important part of my life. It has been the only
> constant for nearly a quarter of a century. If anyone out there shares my
> desire, please let me know.
>
> Thank you for your patience,
>
> John Peak
> '70 2000
>
>
>
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