Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

That is a clean unmolested car. If you are going to build a bastard car, why take one of the rarest out of circulation? The records are vague, but the 2 seat 1500s may be more rare than the 67.5 2000. Plus, one that is black and red is even more scarce. The modifications that you would need to make to that car are tremendous. At the minimum, you would have to change the front brakes and do the torching for the engines that you suggested. Then you would need to replace all of the gauges to work with the negative ground that the new powerplant would require. The tunnel on the 1500s is narrower I believe than the later cars - that means body modifications. The small wheel wells means new fenders with bigger flares, or cutting and modifing the sheet metal to get rubber that is up to the task in there. The rear end on the 1500 is MUCH weaker than the later cars, so a rear end swap is in order. The list keeps going and going and going.

My suggestion is to find someone with a Roadster and get a ride or drive. You may find that you don't really like the way that the car rides, or you may love it as is. The roadster chassis is remarkably UNsophisticated. It is fun, but it is archaic in design.

Then look for a solid car with a lunched motor. There are PLENTY out there. If you want a low windshield car, keep in mind their limitations. If you are less stuck on that, the window opens wider. Late 1600s are plenty cheap, and have all of the safety stuff.

Once you have the body/chassis you will need and the drivetrain, build what you want. If you buy the first nice car you find and cut it up to make the frankenroadster of your dreams, you may never finish the project. They are on eBay all the time, and most have the same story. "I bought this car to restore, modify, whatever. As soon as I got it home, I took it apart. The wife, girlfriend, landlord, parents, etc are making me sell it. Selling it for a loss. etc, etc." Heck the 3 seat 1500 in my garage is that story. It will be going up for sale shortly...

you guys are talking me into his and hers roadsters The frankenstein for me, and the pure 1500 for her.

DELETED

I will echo what Sid and others had to say about finding a roadster for an engine swap...

Find a 65-67 1600 if you want a low windshield car, they are easy to find, have the most bright work of any of the roadsters, have flared (albeit small flares) front fenders, and they are very easy to work on.

Cheaper, and easier to find yet are any of the 68-70 high windshield cars. They have improved steering (69.5-70), a safer steering column, even larger flares... the plastic dash and taller windshield is not for everyone, but if you are over 6' tall, you will probably like the protection.

1500s are strange beasts-- I just bought one for the wife (yes, I won't follow my own advice, as this car is going to have a swap), but everything 1500 is going to have to be replaced-- brakes, rear diff, all the wiring-- and electrical bits, gauges converted, etc. Then you have to figure out how you are going to put any rubber under those front fenders...

I always loved a challenge...

Michael
Spriso Motorsports

The frankenstein route is a great one, especially for the engine swap. You can pick what you want, high or low shield, recirc ball steering, disc brakes chrome dash etc. Getting the nice 1500 and keeping it stock is fun and a great investment. This way there is one to drive all the time and the fast one can be an all out effort.

The car in NJ is no longer for sale, I was working on geting it for 2 months, It is 100% stock and unmolested except for a Petronix ignition. Motor needs to be torn down, low compression on #1. The owner is going to restore it, he's $5000.00 into it already (or spend big money on the body and interior and be forced to give up and sell it to me cheap, I hope I hope, I Hope). He does not do his own work, so it will be big bucks.

He also just paid about $7000.00 for another 69 2000 2 months later, kind of a slapped together car with great paint and hidden front end damage and runs OK, but not well, so he's a long way down a bad road. A great lesson on how not to get an affordable classic.