Greetings from Texas

[spl310]

They have hit a lot of it. The dash pad is a home grown cover - it should just be vinyl over the fiberglass base. The back seat is missing. When you get it, look it over carefully and decide which way you want to go. If you want to go stock, there is not a lot that needs to be sourced. Hubcaps were missing in the photo, and they are likely the most spendy items. I have some hubcaps that are very close to stock. The grill is wrong as noted, but there are 1500 grills available (I have one of those as well). It looks like you have the side trim which is great as it is hard to find. It appears to be a solid base and can be made to be fairly close to stock pretty darned quickly. 1500s are fun!

[jamesw]

Welcome to the roadster bug Brandon! You will be hooked immediately

You are lucky in that there are already a few 310's in Houston. I know of at least 2, a '64 and a '65

I'm in Houston and I have a 67 2000 if you'd like to come take a look.

I can't get the pictures to open at work as my company has blocked the content but I will have a look tonight.

Regarding the restomod question, I feel that there are so few 310's left that it would be a shame to cut on one. If you keep it stock for your resto you will end up w/ a decently valued car I think. If you do want to do a restomod I recommend a later model SPL 1600 as they are very common and you can find a lot of them as "rollers" for pretty cheap.

Once again, good luck and welcome.

James (In Houston)

[publiclinks]

What about the shackles in the back... They look upside down... Common to add clearance in the wheel wells. Become Ted Heaton's friend - Ted's car is what your car wants to grow up to be... Same colour too.

I will have to keep his name in mind. The stance has to be right for this car so suspension is one thing I will be paying particular attention to.

[publiclinks]

They have hit a lot of it. The dash pad is a home grown cover - it should just be vinyl over the fiberglass base. The back seat is missing. When you get it, look it over carefully and decide which way you want to go. If you want to go stock, there is not a lot that needs to be sourced. Hubcaps were missing in the photo, and they are likely the most spendy items. I have some hubcaps that are very close to stock. The grill is wrong as noted, but there are 1500 grills available (I have one of those as well). It looks like you have the side trim which is great as it is hard to find. It appears to be a solid base and can be made to be fairly close to stock pretty darned quickly. 1500s are fun!

Thanks for the insight on these items as well. I will have to take all of these down so that we can get them straightened out during the money burn....uh, I mean restoration.

[publiclinks]

Welcome to the roadster bug Brandon! You will be hooked immediately

You are lucky in that there are already a few 310's in Houston. I know of at least 2, a '64 and a '65

I'm in Houston and I have a 67 2000 if you'd like to come take a look.

I can't get the pictures to open at work as my company has blocked the content but I will have a look tonight.

Regarding the restomod question, I feel that there are so few 310's left that it would be a shame to cut on one. If you keep it stock for your resto you will end up w/ a decently valued car I think. If you do want to do a restomod I recommend a later model SPL 1600 as they are very common and you can find a lot of them as "rollers" for pretty cheap.

Once again, good luck and welcome.

James (In Houston)

James, I would really like to come and see your car! Having a nice example to take photos of will be a great help. I also see your point on keeping the 1500 original since they are somewhat of a rare bird. Being able to source the correct parts will help out a lot and it sounds like I have found the right group. I appreciate your offer and you can bet I will follow up with you!

[Gregs672000]

Take a quick look at the 1500 posted under the "roadsters on craigslist post".

I'm with James on the desire to see it restored vs modded, but if you check that thread here you will see the passion about that issue and you will find support either way!

Like i said, really dig the Puma. Please do post more pics when she's done... Looks like it will be a kick, and some wonderful work has been done. I know nothing about them so I'm gonna start doing some Internet searching cause I like this stuff...

[dbrick]

Welcome to the club, think there are only about 10-15 on the road, but mine isn't one of them yet.
For info, not just to nit-pick, but the Cougar emblem is just plain wrong
Unless it's a weird 64/65 310 thing, the windshield frame and hardtop are for a later car, so you would need a later model softtop, which is a good thing.
Rear bumper is a 69/70 with light drilled into it
It has 1600 carbs and only 1 choke working/connected
Radiator overflow is going into the washer reservoir???
Distributor cap and rotor are almost impossible to find, save the old ones!!

I see an alternator, so I'm assuming it's + ground or has been converted

as far as restore/modify, a 64 has a smaller trans tunnel, smaller rear axle and drum brakes, so a later car is easier to work with in many ways. It also has more value un-modified than some later 1600's. My 64 was already chopped up and molested when I got it, so I'm continuing the sacrilege

[publiclinks]

Welcome to the club, think there are only about 10-15 on the road, but mine isn't one of them yet.
For info, not just to nit-pick, but the Cougar emblem is just plain wrong
Unless it's a weird 64/65 310 thing, the windshield frame and hardtop are for a later car, so you would need a later model softtop, which is a good thing.
Rear bumper is a 69/70 with light drilled into it
It has 1600 carbs and only 1 choke working/connected
Radiator overflow is going into the washer reservoir???
Distributor cap and rotor are almost impossible to find, save the old ones!!

I see an alternator, so I'm assuming it's + ground or has been converted

as far as restore/modify, a 64 has a smaller trans tunnel, smaller rear axle and drum brakes, so a later car is easier to work with in many ways. It also has more value un-modified than some later 1600's. My 64 was already chopped up and molested when I got it, so I'm continuing the sacrilege

Dave, it should be interesting to see what is revealed during deconstruction. Let's hope I can find a path forward that brings this little hot rod back to it's true glory.

As far as the windshield and convertible top goes, do you mean that it is fitted with 65-67.5 parts that would accommodate a later year model convertible top assembly? This may not be period correct but could prove helpful in finding replacement parts.

[spl310]

Yes, that is what Dave is saying. If you want to go back stock, I have spares of the top frame, header bow and windshield top frame (which is all you really need to convert back). Easy to do!

[publiclinks]

Yes, that is what Dave is saying. If you want to go back stock, I have spares of the top frame, header bow and windshield top frame (which is all you really need to convert back). Easy to do!

Sounds great! I am sure I will be sending you some $ in the near future!

[publiclinks]

So the '64 made it to the restoration shop today. They sent me a few photos which I posted to the gallery link in this thread and I will have them start on the disassembly once my other hot rod is outta there. Should be an interesting experience.

[RCMike]

My good friend in high school had a Puma.. That little thing was quick as could be.. Probably the wrong car for a 16 year old in Laguna Beach, with the twisty roads and hills, but we survived..

Welcome to the roadster addiction...

[publiclinks]

My good friend in high school had a Puma.. That little thing was quick as could be.. Probably the wrong car for a 16 year old in Laguna Beach, with the twisty roads and hills, but we survived..

Welcome to the roadster addiction...

Yeah, this Puma should be pretty quick too. I had a built type IV motor and 5 speed transaxle to replace the existing set up. 180 hp and 1600 lbs should be a pretty fun combo.

[master-o-turbonics]

Wow, my 64 that I bought(barn find out of Alabama) is 4 SPL310-02402, Just 107 cars before yours!
Mine is in nowhere of as good shape.

[publiclinks]

Getting geared up to start my restoration for the Datsun. Finishing up the Puma so let the focus shift. Here is a rendering of what the Puma will look like come December....

Can't wait to start on the '64