Francis recently sold his beloved roadster. This is my tribute to his 1968 SRL...
I met Francis in 2000 and he introduced me to the Modesto Roadster Owner's Club. Francis helped me find my first roadster and eventually my current SPL. He also took me to my first Solvang Roadster Show in 2001. I had never sat in or driven a roadster until he let me drive his red '67 SPL. He had already begun restoring a '68 SRL and I visited often to follow progress and learn a few things.
He became my 'roadster uncle". When the '68 was completed he took for me for my first spin in U20-powered roadster...it was memorable.
About the car...Francis painted it Ford metallic blue with white stripes and it still remains one of the best paint jobs I've seen on a roadster:
Francis is a machinist and added his own custom touches to the interior with turned aluminum parts to an otherwise stock setup:
Started with 280zx wheels and ended up with 15" Panasports:
The blue '68 SRL was driven everywhere in the Bay Area as well as on the show circuit including the Mt. Shasta meet, Blackhawk and JCCS shows:
Circa 2002...me, Francis and yes that's Raul(roadsterdude) in Sora Blue!
At JCCS 2006 and a short video of us driving back home:
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Shasta and Blackhawk:
The last time I saw her was at the J-Tin show in San Leandro last month where I shot pictures for his for-sale ad on the blog:
The car is being deilvered to its new owner in Florida as I write this:
He texted me this today as the roadster left:
"Man, buying a car and driving it and then selling is not a problem. Restoring one, keeping it like a baby for 19 years, then selling it. That is a problem."
I told him he's still a proud Datsun owner and he's got lots to play with including the red SPL, still my favorite:
So don't worry too much Francis, you are still my roadster uncle and there is lots of Datsun fun ahead of us!
More pics here:
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