New Roadster owner from Pacific Northwest

[Trav]

I'm a "Subaru Guy" but have always had a special place in my heart for Datsuns. I came really close to buying a roadster about a year ago, but after coming back from a two day fishing trip the car was gone.

Recently, I was finally able to pull the trigger on this little thing! I figured since I'm turning 26 in a couple weeks, I better get a project car before I'm too old to move .

Its a '66 1600 with a pretty solid engine. The body has a few rust bubbles in the rear quarter panels and stuff, but I will deal with that in the future . I've never had a classic/project car before so this will be a pretty big learning curve for me. But I'm super excited to have this thing for a long time and hopefully pass it down through the family.

I'm excited to be apart of this community and ready to learn as much as I can.

Ok, so my first stupid question here... where is the cheapest option for a soft top? I basically need it for those "emergency rain" situations.

Thanks for looking.

[notoptoy]

Welcome! Great looking car and I'm glad to see you are doing the first thing right - Driving it! Enjoy the ride before jumping into any major projects.
As far as a top, cheapest might be used, otherwise the vendors have some good options, none which I would consider "cheap". Preference for me would be a canvas top, but vinyl will be much cheaper.
Looking forward to seeing more of your car and posts!

[Toptech360]

North west fresh! Welcome.

There is a website that sells Robbins soft tops for a not too much $$. I can't think of the name but Google Datsun roadster soft top. I feel like I should think about getting one also...

Enjoy the ride!

[OldYeller]

Welcome!


Great looking car! Great selfie!

When I got my car in 1990, I was just a year older than you and it needed a top. I tried to have the original repaired but it was waaaay too tight. Drove it to Seattle with the hardtop and my friend somehow convinced me to drive it back topless. I discovered that you stayed pretty darn dry as long as you were driving above 35.


Do you just need fabric or are you needing the frame too? They pop up
On eBay now and then. Be sure to get the low windshield version.
Also, you can install it yourself but the common wisdom is to have it done by a pro.
You want it what I call 3 Bears (...just right).

Speaking of just right, you're close to Shasta, one of the big roadster events of the summer
where they are celebrating their 30th year.
http://mtshastaroadstermeet.311s.org

[Trav]

Thanks everybody!

Good info here... I will begin my search for a soft top and frame. I appreciate the help, and I hope to make it to some datsun/roadster events this summer!

[Gregs672000]

If my bikini top comes out good on weds, I MAY have the frame minus the front bow available, in perfect condition I believe. Welcome, look forward to some runs!

[Copterpilot]

If my bikini top comes out good on weds, I MAY have the frame minus the front bow available, in perfect condition I believe. Welcome, look forward to some runs!

Greg,
Not sure how a bikini top would look on you...you may want to go topless or at least a T-shirt!

[Gregs672000]

If my bikini top comes out good on weds, I MAY have the frame minus the front bow available, in perfect condition I believe. Welcome, look forward to some runs!

Greg,
Not sure how a bikini top would look on you...you may want to go topless or at least a T-shirt!

Ha! A few years back I was hitting the gym regularly and hard... then the late 40s happened, then 50, and then my wife got hurt (work and car accident) and we kinda lost our motivation (at least, that's my excuse...) so I would be better covering up!

The Roadster on the other hand HAS been to the gym and will hopefully look hot in the bikini!

See you there!

[Trav]

So... I have some heartbreaking news... After 11 days of owning the Roadster, and maybe driving it about 7 times. The roadster caught fire last Thursday when I went to pick up my wife from work. Thankfully nobody was hurt, and I was only in the parking lot ready to turn out onto main highway when it happened.

But the Roadster on the other hand is pretty toast. Its taken me a few days to just breathe and reassure myself that at least nobody was hurt, and that "It's just a car" (I've heard that way too many times these last few days).

The car engine literally bursted into flames... I was about to pull out onto the main highway when I hear that familiar sound that you would hear when start up a cooking grill. Then smoke started billowing out from underneath the hood. I then tell my wife to get out of the car, as I stand outside my car, ready to pop open the hood to investigate. At that moment I see the hood bubbling upwards and the paint melting. Thats when I knew this wasn't good at all and I called 911. The fire truck got there pretty quick, and the rest of it was a blur for me. As I stood there helplessly watching my car burn, and the fire team take a skill saw to my hood.

I'm still not even sure what went wrong. There wasn't any warning signs of this happening. I've had my automotive savvy father-in-law and friend who is a mechanic look at the car when I first bought it. Everything looked great, the motor was strong and showed no warning signs.

So right now I'm just praying insurance goes through (thats another long story).

[Linda]

Very sorry to hear about your awful event. The Roadster community is a helpful one so after Shasta I'll bet there will be some help available.

Linda

[Skyman]

I'm guessing fuel overflow from the carbs that caught fire on the manifold. This happened to me once back in the 80's. I was lucky I had a fire extinguisher with me. I ended up with only a few burnt up wires. It may not be that bad when all said and done. Hoods are easy to find.

[pebbles]

Glad you and the wife are ok. Sounds like you did all the right things to avoid catastrophe.
Honestly the car does not look that bad. These are stubborn little cars that do not like to go away easily.
We can fix anything from the crack of dawn to a broken heart.
I have a very useable wiring harness for a 66 that you are welcome to.
Keep us posted on your progress with the ins co.

[Trav]

I'm guessing fuel overflow from the carbs that caught fire on the manifold. This happened to me once back in the 80's. I was lucky I had a fire extinguisher with me. I ended up with only a few burnt up wires. It may not be that bad when all said and done. Hoods are easy to find.

Yea I've learned my lesson about keeping a fire extinguisher with me now. Somebody in a nearby convenience store came running out with one and we tried, but it was too late. Im not even sure it it would have been helpful either.

The fire also reached through the firewall and melted the dash and most of the passenger side including the seat, carpet, and door panel.

[Trav]

Glad you and the wife are ok. Sounds like you did all the right things to avoid catastrophe.
Honestly the car does not look that bad. These are stubborn little cars that do not like to go away easily.
We can fix anything from the crack of dawn to a broken heart.
I have a very useable wiring harness for a 66 that you are welcome to.
Keep us posted on your progress with the ins co.

Thank you. I will definitely keep this thread updated with the progress of things.

I won't let this end my journey with these cars. I instantly fell in love with everything about the car the day I got it. Which was the the very first time ever driving a Roadster.

[notoptoy]

What a major bummer. Hopefully Insurance will come through. This too can be fixed! I have seen here in these pages much worse be brought back to life. Consider it a minor setback and tackle the challenge!