Spotted: 68 SRL for sale in Maryland

[FairladySPL]

I don't need a project, but this one is worth posting here for any East Coast folks who might be in the market.
Not my car, I have not called the number, I don't know anything else.
Found this car at a corner in Annapolis. Turned around, stopped and had a look. Looks recently run, since the parking space has not accumulated bits of gravel and trash around the tires.
Additional notes: No softtop frame seen in the back deck area. Non-stock seats. Dashboard cover. Rust in usual rear fender spots. Rust in rocker panels. Looks straight and un-crashed. Did not open door, I think the odometer was showing 21K, but hard to see.

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[notoptoy]

Those fender marker lights scream 70. It may have seen some rust or collision repair in it's past.

[SteelCity311]

Thanks for the tip! That's pretty close to my parents in PA. I'll call them up tonight to get the story on the car and how much they're asking.

[fj20spl311]

The rear is 68, LP lite is the bumper, No side markers. Might be replacement fenders or common to add side marker to the front for safety..

[SteelCity311]

I spoke to the gentleman selling the car and everything sounds good.
No modifications apart from non standard steering wheel and seats. Master cylinder, brake lines, clutch cylinder, and tires replaced during 4 years of ownership.
It has been reliable since he's owned it and has never left him sitting. 76,000 miles on the clock.

I'm going to go take a look at it and, if everything is as clean as it appears, (taking care to inspect rust trouble areas as per the buyer's guide) it will be coming home with me.

Thanks for the tip Paul!

[bajaroadster]

Best of luck with the purchase. Keep us updated. Would be interesting to know the selling price if you are willing to share that info.

[SteelCity311]

Absolutely. I'll be sure to post an update after I take a look at the car.

[FairladySPL]

Ah, this is great that the car may soon head to a good home.
Possible back story: Many years ago I used to live near this location, and would ride my bicycle all around that area. Once I saw a red roadster in a fenced back yard. By the time I got around to tracking it down again, I couldn't remember where exactly I had seen it. This could be the same one, if the seller bought it in Annapolis four years ago. THAT would be something! Back then, I already had one, and maybe two Datsuns, and it would not have helped domestic harmony to even think of having another one follow me home.
Anyway, feels like good karma that I should see this one and now connect it for someone like yourself.
Please update us.

[SteelCity311]

I did not end up buying the car.

I hauled a trailer down from York (1.5 hours, so not too bad) and took a look. I should've asked more questions because a lot of the car has been patched with fiberglass. Fenders, rockers, near the battery tray, and all I saw when peeling back the carpets, was fiberglass resin. The carpets were also wet inside. The engine block was painted blue and oil mist was all over the engine with dirt stuck to it. About 1 million red flags were there. I had negotiated $7,250 on the phone and I politely told the man that many things on the car scared me... especially for something I plan on owning for the next 30+ years. I told him I may be able to do $5,500, but I was still terrified. He said that was too low and we parted ways. I got a text 5 min later saying he could do $6,250, but I told him I had too many concerns.

A cheap lesson learned on not trusting a bunch of pictures. I'll keep saving up and look to get something from a less rusty region.

I still appreciate the tip on the car and don't have any serious regrets.

[FairladySPL]

Ach, well, I admire your determination to have gone all that way and remained clear-headed after seeing all that.
The seller certainly must have been convinced you were serious, what with the trailer, distance, phone negotiations.
And you know the advice many have offered on here -- spend the money on the best condition at the outset, not what you plan to spend restoring it. This one did not meet that standard.

Now that Autumn is here, you watch that price fall well below your final offer. It doesn't sound like he is being realistic.

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A trio of us who have been sharing Datsun ownership for more than 40 years were talking this weekend, and at the time I wasn't aware your deal was not coming to pass. We reminisced on some "deals" we three had teamed up on, including an outrageous trip to Pennsylvania for a non-smog '68 2000 that had been imported directly by a US service member.

The poor thing had been sitting and settling in a back yard up to its differential, so first we had to tow it up to the surface again. But we already had seen old-style FACTORY Solex and other highly prized bits, including the firewall plate marked 150hp, and among us we knew it was coming home one way or the other. We had a bumper-type tow bar, but this one seemed to have some promise.

Sure enough with an old "jerry can" and a fuel line right to the fuel pump we lit it off and it ran strong! Made sure all four brakes moved, put our set of spare tires/wheels on there that we had brought with us, and I had the great honor of driving this thing more than 100 miles home. The top was tattered within 40 miles, and gone the rest of the trip, and it was right about this time of year or colder, because we could see our breath, driving along.

But hey, it made it despite a slipping clutch, and went on to local fame as a winning autocross car and road warrior.

I think we paid a few hundred bucks for it, making forlorn noises and skeptical faces as we negotiated with the owner.

Maybe you'll get a story like this someday too.

Best wishes