Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Thanks everyone! I'm really excited to have scored this car. The rockers need attention as well as the driver side floorboard, however, I've found and ordered patch panels already. I do have the title as well, I'm very fortunate to have gotten such a cool Datsun to add to the collection.

Nice find.
Your VIN plate does raise some questions. From what I understand, the 63s started at 00073 and went to 00400. And then at the end of 64 00001-00072 were used for some reason. But those numbers should have been marked SPL310-4-XXXXX where yours has the 3, signifying that is was produced in 63. Also, your plate is marked 85 HP which would need the dual carbs and you mentioned that you have the single.
I would be very interested to know what the C means. I have also seen them with a D and an A (not positive if I am remembering the A correctly, though)
Would you post some pictures of your engine compartment? Especially water bottle, air filter housing, carb, fuel pump/filter.

Dann mentions that 00001 - 00073 were possibly built after the other 1964 roadsters according to Japanese sources.
(1964 model vins; SPL310-4-00501 to 03816 and 00001 to 00073).

Chrome valve cover (63) vs. aluminum (64, 65), starter, starter solenoid, and alternator differ according to Dann between the 63's and 64's but all those are engine related. Is it possible yours is a 64 but came from the factory with a 63 engine ??

Alternator (64, 65) vs. generator (63) and aluminum brake master cylinder (64, 65) vs. cast iron (63) plus design of the clutch master may also help identify the year. Steve mentions the water bottle too which if you car has the correct round one and you also have the correct single carb air filter housing, well, there are going to be a few early roadster owners that are going to be very jealous (but in a good way).

You might want to email Dann as I believe he has the most information on these early cars VIN's and ask if the 00001 - 00073 he mentions on his website is a SPL310-3- or SPL310-4- number.

Any of you early car guru's know what the "C" at the end of the VIN means?

Eric, PM me for some additional information that might be useful to you.

Paul

I will get engine bay pictures today. Chrome valve cover though, generator, cast iron brake master. I also found that my engine number is lower than any other that I've found.

Here you go people. Numbers matching, defies all logic.

Hey there! Welcome to the group!! Also can you post some more pictures of the exterior? It looks like a solid car!

I will post more exterior pictures tomorrow. I'm currently in the middle of doing an engine and diff swap on my 68 510 in the time I have after work so between that and family time, I'm a busy guy. Thanks for the welcoming, this forum seems like a great place to be.

If I recall, the 63 and 64 vin numbers were not completely linear, with numbers before and letters after and nobody really knowing what they mean. There are 64's with lower numbers than 63's etc. Either way single carb and matching engine is 63 and not common. If you feel the urge to do anything but restore it and don't want to modify a rare car, contact me and buy my 64, it's already been molested far from stock.
As Sid said, most parts are available, some expensive.

Going to restore for sure. Especially after all the information I've gathered so far. No molesting at all with this one.

63 it is and sold in 64. You have some rare parts.
What about pictures of the air filter housing and carb?
From what I have heard from people that used to work at Datsun dealers, if a car was not sold in the model year, then Datsun would send out a replacement VIN plate with the current year stamped for the dealer to swap. That could explain why the 85 HP would show up on your VIN plate (since in 64 the SPL310s were 85 HP).
I am a little surprised that the dealer wouldn't upgrade it to dual carbs though, as that was a common thing to do by 64. But, you are lucky they didn't.

As promised. Pictures. The previous owner removed the carb and air filter housing and set them in the trunk for some reason. Oh well, engine needs to be completely gone through anyway.

Wow, this is really cool! We all get to share in your find, the restoration, history gathering... This is gonna be fun! As you can see, we are all about helping out a family member, so welcome to the family!

Thank you so much! I'm super excited! Be warned, I will not be tearing apart anything until our move. I am going to start cleaning everything so I can get a closer inspection as to the condition of the car but I do not want to move a car that is in pieces, with something this rare I cannot afford to lose any parts. The vibe is good here, I'm happy to be a member of the family.

That's one of the rarest of all roadster pieces. When you restore the car, I would get a single carb ID plate.

Congrats!!! You have one of the first ones!

Cheers
James