ed from albany ny

[ed B]

Hello everyone. I am a new member to your org.
I am looking for a 1600 flat dash car, preferably a 67.5 that may need some work, to get a little sweat equity. I know from my research that this may bad idea. I hear most folks saying buy the best car you can for the amount of money you can afford or you will regret it, but I just can't afford to buy a show piece right now but will would still like to own one.
I owned a 69 2000 about 35 years ago. It was in rough shape, body and electrical. Bought it from a friend in high school for $40 after the carbs backfired and burnt up the engine compartment. There was no ebay or internet back then and we are on the east coast (Albany NY area) so there were no parts here. We did the best in getting the plastic parts replaced from other datsun models. We could not source an engine compartment wiring harness (as it was a burnt/melted mess) so my brother re-drew the wiring diagram to a larger scale and re-wired the entire engine compartment by hand. This was an amazing amount of work. I later gave the car to a relative who was a body man. He was going to fix and restore it. Unfortunately he never did and sold it as is to someone. Not sure if it is still around the vin was 9664.
So now years later I would like to get another roadster, but hopefully one in much better shape and one I can enjoy.

Ed.

PS If I find one on the west coast (because it seems all the good ones are there), I may ask someone to help out with a visit to check it out for me before I buy.
PPS I have met one really good guy already from your your org named Rick from the Seattle area. I bought some nice cyclone wheels from him in anticipation of buying a roadster. He was really helpful and gave me a lot of good tips and suggested that the idea to me that someone from the org may be able to help out with a pre-buy look.
Again, glad to be a member and looking forward to being an owner and researching all the incredible amounts of ideas and info you have on your site.

[S Allen]

Welcome Ed and thanks for sharing the memories. Hopefully your roadster quest turns out well. That roadster with your name on it has to be lurking out there some where. Checked the registry and 09664 is not there. Keep us posted on the hunt progress.

Steve

[notoptoy]

Welcome and good luck with the hunt. You are starting the best way possible, here doing your research and making use of all the resources here.
Looking forward to your search results!

[spl310]

Welcome! I sent you a private message

[Rodster]

Welcome from the other coast and good luck with search. Enjoy the ride.

[ed B]

Thank you all, it like a family!

[Gregs672000]

Thank you all, it like a family!

Yep, and a good one, not the ones that always ask for money, steal your beer, and blame you for all their problems!
Welcome!

[ed B]

Exactly !!!

PS
Wow 67 2000, impressive!

[jrusso07]

I know someone in Rochester who has a lot of project cars and parts...PM me and I can share contact info. Don't think he has a 67.5

[dbrick]

Ed, welcome to the asylum. Do you have a basic purchase budget and total you could spend for a nice one? Going with a west coast car will add maybe 41500.00 in transport, but delay the rust monster, so it's a good bet.
I have a total project 64 1500 3 seater, its a modified car, body done, disc brakes and late axle in, rest is there but needs assembly. Comes with stroker motor and just about everything you would need to finish. It's in Northern New Jersey and I could deliver. It's a West Coast car, San Diego, I've had it for years and simply can't find the time.
There's also a 2000 engine removed running for sale near us.

New Baby (Small).JPG

[notoptoy]

Wow Dave, $41,500.00 for transport? It must be a Jersey rate!

[ed B]

Thanks for the laugh you folks have a sense of humor! The 64 looks beautiful, but at the moment have my heart is set on the 67.5 due to the better frame and the wider fender flares and mostly due to the dual brake system. I actually had a full failure on the 69 and it was no fun ( and this was a dual system, so I just can't see myself going to the single system, just a mental thing for me.
Actually I found a couple of companies that would transport the car for a $1,000, yes extra cost to me, but if the car has no rust, that is a good thing in the long run as you said. Of course even rusted cars are hard to come by in my area.

[raggs53]

Hey Ed Welcome to as i've been told ' The Addiction' ! Thought i would throw this out there, it may not be what your looking for and i never seem to be very good at making any money at it, but just for the love of seeing something that someone has lost interest in and knowing its just going to set and waste away. Its just something i enjoy doing in my spare time. I will find a car needs work buy it get it running and fix everything i can, get a clean title, tag, insure it and drive it around work all the bugs out and sell it. This 1 is gonna be the 1 thats i wish i kept. Its a 67 1600 311 i found local here in OKC on craigslist about 6 mo. ago. It was sitting on a trailer, it had no title, No interior, no top, starter and gas tank in the trunk i couldn't even see if it would turn over. I had never seen or heard of a Datsun Roadster, But i looked at this little car and said 'I can fix it' ! I Bought it $3200.00 and thats where the story begins. I will save that for later if ur interested but the best part is that the only rust i found on the whole car was a Qt. size hole in the trunk and under the battery tray. I sanded the car by hand down to bare metal , fixed a couple of dings and dents epoxy primer,sand and primer about 6 times and painted it with a single stage enamel but when i looked at it i could see the sanding spots through the paint. Thats when i knew i wasn't a pro. body guy. I should have put a primer coat before i painted the car. So i sanded it down again , this time primer seal and used a base coat, clear coat. Looks great i drive the car every sunny day, I just put a new soft top on. I till have a few things to do and its by no means finished but its a daily driver and i'm at that point where i want to let the next person take over and put another chapter in the new life of this little Roadster. I've taken pitchers from start till now . let me know if this peaks ur intrest. I could have just said ' hey ed i've got a roadster 4 sale' ha,ha,

[ed B]

Both great cars. You are a very talented and patient person! The project car you had would have been way over my head I am afraid. I had visions of doing some minor work on these cars possibly when I retire in about 2 years, but there are two problems with that at this time. First I don't have a garage and need to build one, which I am not sure will every happen. And second I am not very good with the mechanicals or the bodywork. I have done some body work in the past and thought of maybe taking some courses in that when I retire.
I'm still set on the 67.5 at the moment, but who knows I may change my mind in the future. I see both cars have the head rest. What kind of seats are they? Are they Miatas or from a later model datsun roadster? I know a lot of the purists like the low back seats, but I really think I would have to put some in with the head rests to protect from whiplash.
I thought I had found a 67.5 in Ca in harbor city but it had no title. The owner said he would go to DMV and sort it out for me but it never happened. NY state is very strict and will not accept a bill of sale, you need to a title or a registration to sign over, so that limits my choices to some of the cars out there as well.

PS would love to see your progress pictures some day. Where did you learn to do the bodywork and the painting? I don't even know which type pf paint uses clear coat and which does not. I know they did not use clear coat on the older cars but they do on all the newer ones. I assume you can do it either way if you know what you are doing when trying to say match an original color of a car.

Ed.

[raggs53]

Sorry i through u for a loop Ed. Thats the same car in both pictures, 1st bottom pic is after body was sanded to bare metal and has an Epoxy primer to keep any rust from starting. Like a sealer before paint. 2nd is after paint. Body work is just trial an error. U have to have a feel for it, something that may look straight may have a dip u can't see. I call it the Ray Charles feel. Ur hand will tell u every inperfection. This is the 1st car i have ever painted. It cost a bunch these days for supply's and paint and primers,sandpaper, bondo it adds up quick. This was a learning phase on this car. Base coat, Clear coat is the only way to go. Cause if u have a problem its only miner, then u put clear over the base coat. I'm think n this is the last car i'm going to restore. There's just no money or glory after its all said and done. Right now adding up what i gave for it and parts plus paint its close to $6k and that no labor. If i get 6 i'll be lucky. These guy's on this forum will become ur best friend. lots of luck on ur jurney into the roadster world.