I have read with interest the thread about the Frankenroadster. It was
interesting to see the comments. Well, since a lot of folks have chimed in,
I guess this is my chance to give a sermon on Roadsters....
I think that a lot of valid points have been raised about this car in
particular and Roadsters in general. If you read 311.org, you will get the
impression that I am a full purist - only wanting roadsters kept stock.
That is not entirely true. I believe that if a car is a clean original,
then it is best kept stock and given a sympathetic restoration. If you have
one that you want to do a frame off, more power to you! For the cars that
have been molested, I would rather see them kept on the road rather than
destroyed. I am disappointed when a nice clean car is cut to have some
other drivetrain installed - especially since there are so many documented
bolt in swaps that require no torch work.
Does this mean that I am denigrating those that have done that? No, but it
is disappointing to see another good car eliminated from the probability of
a proper restoration. At least the Roadster is still on the road.
Now, about that car in particular. It was a salvage titled 67 2000. OK, so
now it does not have the correct engine and there are a few other oddities
about it. Last time I checked, that is STILL a 67 2000 - the VIN and title
tell the tale. Yes, it would take more to get it back to where it would be
stock, but it can be done. The fenders and side trim caused a stir. Well,
in the head on photos, those flares are too big to be 1500 flares. I think
that they are early 1600 front fenders with some aftermarket side trim
placed a bit higher than normal to give the 1500 appearance. The seats look
nice. The shifter has an aftermarket boot (not a 1500 unit) so it looks
different. Even the console is out of an early 67 (it appears to have the
washer pump). The fact remains that this car was saved. It can be returned
to stock by swapping parts. Will the numbers match? probably not - the
block is most likely a Campbells soup can somewhere right now. Does that
matter? Not really. With the low production of these cars and the modest
pricing, that will not be a deal breaker for someone that really wants the
car. It may for a purist - but I would not turn my nose up at the car.
Someone (Craig?) made a comment about almost no cars being 100% original
anymore. He is right. Heck, some of the extensively restored cars have had
modifications. Some have incorrect engines. Some have had more extensive
mods done to them. I appreciate a dead stock car, and I appreciate a
modified car. I champion keeping the good ones stock (good being rust free
and unmolested for the discussion here), but am intrigued by the modified
ones as well.
The person selling that car did save a Roadster and for that we should be
glad. The ones that are solid that are disassembled for restoration and
then chopped into bite sized pieces like the 67 2000 or the 64 1500 that
was on Ebay a couple of years ago are the ones that are the most
disappointing. They will never again roam the streets. We have experienced
a loss - even if we don't know it. The less of these cars that there are,
the less recognition. The less stock ones, the less collectable.
(collectors RARELY want a reengined car - unless the cars are so rare and
unique that they warrant correcting - that ain't a Datsun Roadster though)
I guess that I have rambled enough.
Sidney Raper
1964 1500 (still a project.... sigh....)
1967 SRL311 00076 (alive again!)
Jacksonville Florida
http://www.geocities.com/roadsternut/index.html
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