Meet Ms. Moneypenny

[stevec]

I finally got myself a Roadster!

Roadster.jpg

Picked her up last Friday in Phoenix, and spent the weekend driving her to her new home near Seattle (about 1650 miles). I think it was the first time I got sunburned in February in about 20 years! Only issues were a broken throttle return spring and the gas and temp. gauges stopped working. $9 at the local auto parts stores got me two new springs, some wire connectors and some dilectric grease, fixing both problems.

For now she is going into the garage until the weather gets a little better. She was restored in the past, and is still in great shape, but needs a few things to be just right: The windshield washer tank is missing, the original seats need restoration, and some of the rubber seals had dried out in the Arizona heat. Hopefully I can get everything ready for summer! BTW, if anyone has a windshield washer tank for a '66 1600, feel free to contact me!!!

No, she's not reallly a James Bond car, but I can't afford a DB5 yet, and I had a few "Bond" comments on my drive home, so the name stuck.

[jamesw]

Welcome - that is a great looking car. My first roadster was a '66 so I am partial to them still.

Cheers
James

[spl310]

That's what I'm talking about!! Awesome for you!! Great road trip report!! Any photos along the way? Nice looking car!

[stevec]

It was a great trip, wish I was still on it! My only mistake was leaving the top down a little too long on Saturday - I finally stopped near Mt. Shasta to put it up, and it was about 45* and windy. It took me about 10 minutes to get it latched! Didn't take any other pictures on the way home, but here are a couple more of the car taken by the seller:

66 Datsun Roadster.jpg

66 Datsun Roadster Dash.jpg

Note: the horn button pictured is not the one that is on it now; the one I have is just the letter "d".

[peter]

Very nice looking car, are that miata seats?

[notoptoy]

Looks good, welcome!

[stevec]

Yes, they are Miata seats, not sure what year. I got the original seats with it (bottoms in the trunk, seatbacks on the floor on the passenger side.) After 1600 miles, I've decided I don't like the Miata seats that much (not enough lumbar support for me), so I'll be restoring the originals this spring.

[spl310]

You likely won't be excited about the lumbar support on the stock seats, but they DO look WORLDS better in a low windshield car (any Roadster to me actually) than Miata seats...

[stevec]

The foam is shot on the stock seats, so they'll need to be completely redone. Good time to add a little extra foam/support in the lumbar region...

[spl310]

You can add seat heaters too. Women love that stuff...

[mraitch]

Let's hope she doesn't become Ms. MoneyDollar (G)

[stevec]

You can add seat heaters too. Women love that stuff...

Way ahead of you on that one (yes, I'm married!) Just need to find some switches that look vintage, and figure out where to mount them!

[dbrick]

Let's hope she doesn't become Ms. MoneyDollar (G)

I was thinking Ms Moneypit, you beat me to it. That is a very nice car, and a great drive home.

You can add seat heaters too. Women love that stuff...

Way ahead of you on that one (yes, I'm married!) Just need to find some switches that look vintage, and figure out where to mount them!

You can get small latching pushbuttons or toggles and hide them on the bottom edge of the dash. You will need to upgrade the alternator, IMHO. Not a major thing.

Think RED on the interior

[greydog]

I like the look of stock seat much better too. In the meantime, you might consider something like the inflatable lumbar supprts this comany (and many others) sells.
http://www.drivingcomfort.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dan

[mraitch]

On the subject of Miata seats - I get that that they may not 'work' on a low windshield car - due to height - but for driving - especially for the passenger - they work SO much better. AND they tilt - being of a certain age - I like the fact that I can let the seat down and take a few 'winks' when I feel like it. Went to Monterey Historics last year - no room in the inn - parked under a tree - put the seat fully back - and slept for a bit - can't do that in stock seats.
fwiw