Hey everyone, heres a good story I want to tell on my way to pick up my new 66 1600. Me and 2 buddies left from Santa Ana, CA to Santa Cruz. Well there we were 3 p.m. on our way to Santa Cruz to pick up the 66. At around 11:30 p.m. we arrived at Matts house (Surfllama) to pick up the roadster. We decided to be brave and drive back to Buena Park (my house). At around 4 a.m. we did not notice that we had no gas at all (@$!#$!#%@#%) So we pulled over at the first exit we found where there was a gas station. Luckily the gas station was closed.....(@$#%!#). We slept there till about 6 a.m. (2hrs of sleep!) till the gas station opened again. 3 big guys including me had to sleep in a single cab Ford truck in the 50 degree cold.... Boy this was one of the worst/best trips I have ever had. All that to pick up a roadster.
Anyone else have a story about when picked up their roadster? LOL, cmon lets hear it!
This is no $%#*, there I was.....
Moderators: notoptoy, S Allen, Solex68
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67 1/2 1600
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Wrenchands
Long Trip
Just thought I would share my roadster retrieval experience.
I lived in Nebraska at the time, and the lady was in Pheonix. I unfortunately only had a couple of days to go get my roadster, and over 44 hours of driving time to cover. My father and I decided to spend some bonding time together and make the trip over a weekend.
We drove straight through to AZ without any trouble, and had the roadster loaded in less then an hour. Everything seemed like it was going according to plan until we were crossing TX at about 3 AM. I guess TX and CA have the same policy about not having anyone working at the gas stations at night. We were running low on gas, so we pulled over in a small town to fill up. Of course, no one was awake, and the pump would not take a credit card. We were not too low on fuel, so we continued down the road. This senario repeated itself multiple times until the gas light was on. We decided to try and make it to one more town before just stopping for the night. As we approached the next town, we could see a gas station was open!!! We couldn't believe our luck...that is until we sputtered to a stop 1/2 mile from town.
Of course, being the younger man I drew the short straw and had to walk to town to fill up the gas can. Once we got rolling again, we made it home without any more mishaps. Total time for the trip was 44 hours without sleep. Some people will do anything for a Roadster!
I lived in Nebraska at the time, and the lady was in Pheonix. I unfortunately only had a couple of days to go get my roadster, and over 44 hours of driving time to cover. My father and I decided to spend some bonding time together and make the trip over a weekend.
We drove straight through to AZ without any trouble, and had the roadster loaded in less then an hour. Everything seemed like it was going according to plan until we were crossing TX at about 3 AM. I guess TX and CA have the same policy about not having anyone working at the gas stations at night. We were running low on gas, so we pulled over in a small town to fill up. Of course, no one was awake, and the pump would not take a credit card. We were not too low on fuel, so we continued down the road. This senario repeated itself multiple times until the gas light was on. We decided to try and make it to one more town before just stopping for the night. As we approached the next town, we could see a gas station was open!!! We couldn't believe our luck...that is until we sputtered to a stop 1/2 mile from town.
Of course, being the younger man I drew the short straw and had to walk to town to fill up the gas can. Once we got rolling again, we made it home without any more mishaps. Total time for the trip was 44 hours without sleep. Some people will do anything for a Roadster!
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Ldino21
- Roadster Fanatic
- Posts: 333
- Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2003 10:23 pm
- Location: Vacaville, CA
When I first got into Roadsters I thought I had made this great deal for a 68-2000 in Seattle Washington for $250. Since I had a free plane ticket for anywhere in the US I thought I would just drive up there rent a trailer and tow the car back, no problem!!
Wel I made the reservation about a week in advance, and flew up to Seattle without a hitch, got to the Rental agency and they didn't have truck or trailer waiting for me.
Finally about an hour and a half later they got a truck for me and my buddy to drive that was a mess trash every where, hadn't been cleaned only had about an 1/8th of a tank of gas in it.
So as we get on the road we realize we had to pull over and get gas, after we start pumping the gas for about 5 minutes we realize we are putting Unleaded gas into a Diesel Truck! Oh$%@$##
I go to turn the key and it won't start, we call U-Haul and complain to high heaven about the fact the car is not working (never do we disclose that we put the wrong gas in the car) They tell us they will send someone out to fix the car. After about 2 hours wait we notice that a lot of U-Hauls keep driving by the Gas station we are at, finally we walk about 1/4 mile up the road and notice another U-haul right there.
Finally about 6:30 at night we finally get on the road to drive back to California. Pissed off and stinky we get home the next day, realizing there was a reason this car was only $250.
Needless to say we never did anything with the car!!
Lou Smaldino
66-1600
67-2000
65-1500
Wel I made the reservation about a week in advance, and flew up to Seattle without a hitch, got to the Rental agency and they didn't have truck or trailer waiting for me.
Finally about an hour and a half later they got a truck for me and my buddy to drive that was a mess trash every where, hadn't been cleaned only had about an 1/8th of a tank of gas in it.
So as we get on the road we realize we had to pull over and get gas, after we start pumping the gas for about 5 minutes we realize we are putting Unleaded gas into a Diesel Truck! Oh$%@$##
I go to turn the key and it won't start, we call U-Haul and complain to high heaven about the fact the car is not working (never do we disclose that we put the wrong gas in the car) They tell us they will send someone out to fix the car. After about 2 hours wait we notice that a lot of U-Hauls keep driving by the Gas station we are at, finally we walk about 1/4 mile up the road and notice another U-haul right there.
Finally about 6:30 at night we finally get on the road to drive back to California. Pissed off and stinky we get home the next day, realizing there was a reason this car was only $250.
Needless to say we never did anything with the car!!
Lou Smaldino
66-1600
67-2000
65-1500
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datsun65
- Roadsteraholic
- Posts: 1873
- Joined: Wed Nov 19, 2003 11:55 pm
- Location: Texas
- Model: 2000
- Year: Low Windshield-64-67.5
Hey lou...Can't forget last year's car pickup of my 67 2000.
I purchased the car in Fresno, Ca but, I live about 200 miles away. Lou was kind enough to store the car for me until the Annual Mt Hamilton Roadster Run. Lou drove my 67 2000 from Fresno to Mt Hamilton (aboout 160 Miles) to the very top of the mountain @ the observatory. Alvin & I met Lou and the fresno/modesto clubs at the observatory.
From the top of the Mountain, it is like 30-40 miles to the closest gas station in any direction. To top it off there is no cell service in the area & it started raining. Well, after taking the keys back from Lou on the top of the mountain, I start driving with the Modesto/Fresno club back down the hill towards town. About 15 miles into the trip...the car dies.. OUT OF GAS (no gas gauge).
Now it died on a blind corner on a one-laned road.. I was in a slight panic..But, Alvin magically pulled out of the trunck of his little 89 honda civic a tow strap and we TOWED the roadster (WITH THE CIVIC) off to the side of the road to a safer spot.
Without the help of Alvin and the Modesto/Fresno clubs... I would have been in very serious trouble.. I think we were about 12 miles from the closest cell site and about 18-20 Miles from a Service Station.
I purchased the car in Fresno, Ca but, I live about 200 miles away. Lou was kind enough to store the car for me until the Annual Mt Hamilton Roadster Run. Lou drove my 67 2000 from Fresno to Mt Hamilton (aboout 160 Miles) to the very top of the mountain @ the observatory. Alvin & I met Lou and the fresno/modesto clubs at the observatory.
From the top of the Mountain, it is like 30-40 miles to the closest gas station in any direction. To top it off there is no cell service in the area & it started raining. Well, after taking the keys back from Lou on the top of the mountain, I start driving with the Modesto/Fresno club back down the hill towards town. About 15 miles into the trip...the car dies.. OUT OF GAS (no gas gauge).
Now it died on a blind corner on a one-laned road.. I was in a slight panic..But, Alvin magically pulled out of the trunck of his little 89 honda civic a tow strap and we TOWED the roadster (WITH THE CIVIC) off to the side of the road to a safer spot.
Without the help of Alvin and the Modesto/Fresno clubs... I would have been in very serious trouble.. I think we were about 12 miles from the closest cell site and about 18-20 Miles from a Service Station.
Dan
Houston, TX
Houston, TX
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67 1/2 1600
. Seems like we roadster fans are willing to do anything for these cars 
, but once in a while problems occur. -
DatsunBucky
- Roadsteraholic
- Posts: 665
- Joined: Sun Jan 19, 2003 6:09 pm
- Location: Taylorsville, UT
I feel bad. I don't have any kind of horror story about getting my first Roadster. I just went down to the Datsun dealer in 1967 and bought it...brand spanking NEW!!! 
I even had a choice of colors! Traded in my V8 '57 Chevy 2-door on it. Man, I wish I had both those cars back now.
The one I've got now I got from Will and nothing went wrong when I picked it up. I even towed it right through L.A. at night with a truck with a paper plate, no registration or plate on the trailer, and no brakes on the trailer.
I even had a choice of colors! Traded in my V8 '57 Chevy 2-door on it. Man, I wish I had both those cars back now.The one I've got now I got from Will and nothing went wrong when I picked it up. I even towed it right through L.A. at night with a truck with a paper plate, no registration or plate on the trailer, and no brakes on the trailer.
Bucky
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Datsa 66
My story is not quite as bad as some I have read here but I think it is interesting enough...
My first roadster was a 67.5 1600 I bought from Mike Young and drove home with no problems. I drove it for a year when I decided to take the plunge and look for a 67.5 2000. I saw SRL311-00489 on www.datsun.org listed as being for sale and located in Huntington Beach, Ca. but no contact info. I later learned that many other people were looking for it as well and even driving around HB in the hopes of seeing it! Luckily for me the car was put up for sale on another web site and this one had contact info. I went to look at the car and bought it.
In order to buy it I had to sell my 67.5 1600 and I put it on the internet. A guy from Denver bought the car site unseen. I picked him up at LAX in the roadster and he had his girlfriend with him so she had to wait in the bar at the airport while I drove back down to Orange County (about 30 miles) so we could do the paperwork. He then drove back to LAX, picked up his girlfriend and then proceeded to drive the car home to Denver.
When I picked up my car at Sports Imports after its restoration, I had to drive the car across the border in driving rain, then put the car in a covered trailer and drive 200 miles South to get below the weather. Thank goodness Ross helped me out with that one!
Andrew Murphy
SRL311-00489
My first roadster was a 67.5 1600 I bought from Mike Young and drove home with no problems. I drove it for a year when I decided to take the plunge and look for a 67.5 2000. I saw SRL311-00489 on www.datsun.org listed as being for sale and located in Huntington Beach, Ca. but no contact info. I later learned that many other people were looking for it as well and even driving around HB in the hopes of seeing it! Luckily for me the car was put up for sale on another web site and this one had contact info. I went to look at the car and bought it.
In order to buy it I had to sell my 67.5 1600 and I put it on the internet. A guy from Denver bought the car site unseen. I picked him up at LAX in the roadster and he had his girlfriend with him so she had to wait in the bar at the airport while I drove back down to Orange County (about 30 miles) so we could do the paperwork. He then drove back to LAX, picked up his girlfriend and then proceeded to drive the car home to Denver.
When I picked up my car at Sports Imports after its restoration, I had to drive the car across the border in driving rain, then put the car in a covered trailer and drive 200 miles South to get below the weather. Thank goodness Ross helped me out with that one!
Andrew Murphy
SRL311-00489
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Datsa 66
My story is not quite as bad as some I have read here but I think it is interesting enough...
My first roadster was a 67.5 1600 I bought from Mike Young and drove home with no problems. I drove it for a year when I decided to take the plunge and look for a 67.5 2000. I saw SRL311-00489 on www.datsun.org listed as being for sale and located in Huntington Beach, Ca. but no contact info. I later learned that many other people were looking for it as well and even driving around HB in the hopes of seeing it! Luckily for me the car was put up for sale on another web site and this one had contact info. I went to look at the car and bought it.
In order to buy it I had to sell my 67.5 1600 and I put it on the internet. A guy from Denver bought the car site unseen. I picked him up at LAX in the roadster and he had his girlfriend with him so she had to wait in the bar at the airport while I drove back down to Orange County (about 30 miles) so we could do the paperwork. He then drove back to LAX, picked up his girlfriend and then proceeded to drive the car home to Denver.
When I picked up my car at Sports Imports after its restoration, I had to drive the car across the border in driving rain, then put the car in a covered trailer and drive 200 miles South to get below the weather. Thank goodness Ross helped me out with that one!
Andrew Murphy
SRL311-00489
My first roadster was a 67.5 1600 I bought from Mike Young and drove home with no problems. I drove it for a year when I decided to take the plunge and look for a 67.5 2000. I saw SRL311-00489 on www.datsun.org listed as being for sale and located in Huntington Beach, Ca. but no contact info. I later learned that many other people were looking for it as well and even driving around HB in the hopes of seeing it! Luckily for me the car was put up for sale on another web site and this one had contact info. I went to look at the car and bought it.
In order to buy it I had to sell my 67.5 1600 and I put it on the internet. A guy from Denver bought the car site unseen. I picked him up at LAX in the roadster and he had his girlfriend with him so she had to wait in the bar at the airport while I drove back down to Orange County (about 30 miles) so we could do the paperwork. He then drove back to LAX, picked up his girlfriend and then proceeded to drive the car home to Denver.
When I picked up my car at Sports Imports after its restoration, I had to drive the car across the border in driving rain, then put the car in a covered trailer and drive 200 miles South to get below the weather. Thank goodness Ross helped me out with that one!
Andrew Murphy
SRL311-00489
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Eric Corwin
I bought my '69 1600 near the end of last summer from a guy up in Lake Zurich, IL. The car was in really great shape, low mileage, everything good so I ended up paying quite a bit for it. The first half of the trip back to chicago was tons of fun, I had a grin a mile wide and was super excited about my new car. Then I hit some bad traffic and sat there watching the temperature gauge creep ever higher, a few hundred yards (and 10-15 minutes later) I turned off onto a side street just as huge billowing clouds of steam began pouring from under the hood. I sat there, waiting for the engine to cool down enough so that I could add more fluid, thinking the about what an aweful decision I had made buying this car. Interestingly, the guy who's house I'd pulled in front of had had an old 2000 back in the day and was very helpful (let me use his hose, etc.). I managed to nurse the car home and it turned out to be nothing more than bad rubber on the radiator cap gasket but it was certainly a bit of a roller coaster introduction to the world of roadsters.
--Eric
--Eric