free roadster

[Darwin2000]

Gotta share an amazing thing that happened a few years ago. I was out garage sailing and turned down a cul de sac road (wrong road) garage sale was up another street but I started doing the loop around to go back to the main street, I noticed what looked like a Datsun roadster relatively covered by sticker bushes out in front of a house, parked on the side but right on the road where anyone could see it, really.

You could tell it had been sitting there a long time, probably years. The homeowner noticed I had stopped and was looking at it and came out. He told me a friend of his had parked the car there about two decades earlier and never came back to get it. it had a tarp over most of the car, the front end being visible only and the bramble had grown over the tarp.

Car was totally complete, no dents, straight, and the last time the tabs had been done was 1980! it was a 1968 2000 so in essence only 12 miles of driving done on the car. I immediately started wondering how much he might want for it, and figured too much and that is why it sat so long.

I asked him what his plans were and he said nothing, that he had not heard from his buddy since he parked it. Then he said.....if you want to tow it out of there I could have it! my jaw dropped! I forget about garage sales and had a tow truck there within an hour! no keys and no title but no problem. I still haven't opened the trunk, maybe there is a stash of cash in there my wife keeps saying, lol.
The tow cost me 50 dollars. So an entire 1968 Datsun 2000 last tabbed in 1980 for 50 bucks. Original paint even.

One of the better experiences in the roadster world worth sharing. You never know what you might find when going to garage sales.

[jacksonfdny]

What a find , wish you lots of luck with your new Roadster

[S Allen]

Well, you cannot beat free. Hopefully you can get it titled, licensed and running for a reasonable amount. We need pictures of your roady as proof. Welcome to the fray.

Steve

[notoptoy]

Welcome aboard! It doesn't get any better than Free!

[AidanDawn2000]

Wow @Darwin2000,
You just described my favorite classroom daydream!
Thanks for sharing a great story and welcome to the family.

[GoldHawg]

Nah...didn't happen. No pics. Come on, don't tease, show us the score!

[goldbug]

What is the legal situation around something like this? I know mechanics can take ownership over an abandoned/unpaid vehicle, but unsure about private owners/"friends". Could be legit... or you could have technically stolen someone's car for $50. Hoping it's the former.

[SDkvrd]

I love it. I want it. Too bad it wasn't me! Please post pics! A 2 litre no less, man what a find!

[spl310]

I was coming back to get it this week.

[bakerjf]

Let us know if you find the PO in the trunk.

[Natenate4s]

Nice!

[68DSU]

So I had my 68 2000, sitting in front of my house under a tarp stashed in the bushes and I saw this guy driving slowly looking at it. My neighbor, who just walked out my front door, stopped to talk to the guy so I figured he knew him. I went to the back of my house to finish the great American novel I had been writing and when I looked out the front window again, my Datsun was departing on the back of a tow truck and my neighbor was waving goodbye to it.
He never did like that car.

Just kidding.

[Linda]

Or,
A guy says there is a abandoned car under a tarp at his house, from a friend. Cash changes hands but no paperwork. You fix it up, it looks and runs great.
A knock at the door, a cop says the car was reported stolen, by the guy you got it from. You have no proof of sale. Ouch.
Linda

[vorpal]

So I had my 68 2000, sitting in front of my house under a tarp stashed in the bushes and I saw this guy driving slowly looking at it. My neighbor, who just walked out my front door, stopped to talk to the guy so I figured he knew him. I went to the back of my house to finish the great American novel I had been writing and when I looked out the front window again, my Datsun was departing on the back of a tow truck and my neighbor was waving goodbye to it.

Reminds me of the old joke:

Does your dog bite?
No.
*bark*bark* CHOMP!
Aaaaaaahhh I thought you said your dog doesn't bite?!?

*shrug* it's not my dog

[Dano]

Its got a trunk full of Cocaine and fire arms I just know it!