Hello, my name is Dave and I'm a new subscriber to the Roadster list. I
have recently acquired a 1966 Datsun 1600 Roadster. I bought the car from a
man in Oakland, Ca for $600. The body is rough, no major damage just an
accumulation of dents and dings from 35 year of life. I believe it even has
the original arctic white paint, with the addition of two narrow black
stripes down the center of the body. The frame is straight, and the engine
is good, needing a new alternator. The compression on the engine is
acceptable, better with a squirt of oil. I don't have the numbers in front
of me, but all cylinders were in the 145 - 155 psi range, if I recall
correctly. The VIN number of the car is SPL311-03295, and the odometer
reads 127,141 miles. The body has some rust holes in the floor near the
junction of the trans tunnel, floor, and fire wall. It has a red interior,
carpets and all. The Soft top is shot, but the frame is in excellent
condition, with no bends or dents, and minor surface rust. The man was
selling the car because his uncle had given him a 67 1600. That appeared to
have had better care taken in regards to the body. I am hoping to be able
to drive this car through the summer and then tear it down in the fall to
straighten out the body and get it painted.
I have been a fan of Datsun cars for a while. Ever since I had my first 71
510 right out of high school in 1990. I had that car for three years before
it was totaled. I bought my current 510, a 69 two door, in early 2000.
Before I started looking for another 510 I remembered that parts were cheap
and available back in the early nineties. I have since learned that is no
longer the case, as many items from the dealer are NLA. I also remember the
reaction of many of the people working behind the parts counter used to be
"I had one of those, I loved that car". Now the majority of the people say
"What is that again, nothing in the computer like that" Still I love the
old Datsuns' and I wouldn't trade a single one for all the ricer Hondas' in
the world. I know the roadster is an entirely different beast than the 510,
but I'm pretty sure it'll be just as fun to drive. Plus there is still
nothing in the world quite like sitting in the seat of your car looking up
and seeing nothing but the sky.
Thanks,
-Dave
P.S. The car I would most like to see appear in my driveway would be a
Ferrari 330 P4.
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