how old were you when you got your 1st roadster?

[Datsun 440]

Garth, I just thought it would be cool ot have a 67.5/2000 Solex and a 68/2000 Solex.
The pictures I had Emailed to me from the gentleman you purchased the car from didn't look all that bad. Cars always look better in pictures.
Send me some pictures of your resto,my Email is
akboles@telus.net

Arnold Boles

69-510
73-240z
67.5-2000

[Datrock]

Garth, back in 1980 I decided to take a 1200 mile roadtrip in my 68 spl. I ended up in Reno after going through eastern Oregon. It was the first major trip in the car and out thru the desert.

I stopped in Wagontire, Or on hwy 395 and noticed the coolant level was low and the guage was reading higher than normal, I though it was just from the desert heat. Then about Lakeview I seen some steam coming from the left hood area. Yes, I blew the headgasket out in no-wheres land. After about a dozen radiator refills I made it to Reno on 2 or 3 cylinders. Got a room and went gambling.

The next day I found a City Park and tore into the engine and pulled the head. I took off the valve cover on the 1600 and the set screw that holds the rocker arm shaft inplace was just sitting on top on the head, lucky me, so it could have been worse.

I located a machine shop that would mill the head, they also had an overhaul gasket set they sold me. Also had to buy some tools at the nearby Sears store.

Once I made it back to the car, about 4 hours later the car was on the road again, with a new headgasket.The car ran better than when I started the trip. Another night of gambling and off to the Coast. I drove over thru the bay area and up Hwy 1 along the Northern California coastline. That was the best part of the trip. Only 1 speeding ticket .

Another story is when I threw a 4 blade metal fan doing 75 in the fastlane on I-5. It came apart in 3 pieces. Still have the little bulges in the hood. It also involved a blown headgasket while limping the car another 35 miles to get home. Enjoy the stories.. Bill

[RoadsterYosh1]

Gee I feel like such a noob! I just got my first Roadster, for that matter Datsun, this last April at the ripe old age of 48. I’ve spent most of my time salt water sport fishing, boating and motorcycles/quads since i was a kid. Fell on my head one too many times with the motorcycle hobby, been selling off my bikes. Been looking for a new hobby replacement ever since and thought older cars would be fun.

The Roadster, 1970 1600, was from an ebay add and the guy was in Torrance. He had just painted it and was planning on a 13b conversion. Because of family matters, had to sell. He thought the engine was a basket case and was overheating. A new temp sensor and tune up took care of that. I liked the car, but more importantly my wife like’s it .
Yosh

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

Good stories, the most I have done to my roadster in the middle of the road is put the driveshaft back on with no tools (had to drive it a 1/2 mile home)..... but me and my dad did an "emergency" brake/rotor/wheel bearings job on a 92 mustang GT.... in the advance auto parts store in florida in the summer. That was the only time on that trip I happen to be wearing my new pink polo

[dbrick]

Yosh, do you think a set of rocket launchers on the roll bar for summer surf fishing would be too much?

[RoadsterYosh1]

Yosh, do you think a set of rocket launchers on the roll bar for summer surf fishing would be too much?

Hey Dave, I like the way you think! How about a Rapella on the antenna too

[ppeters914]

Another 53-year old youngster new to roadsters. But first, I'll bore you w/ my background...

1969 (17-yo): Learn to drive in '66 Corvair Monza. Yup, rocket sled w/ auto shifter on the dash.
1970: '68 Suzuki 250cc X-6 Hustler
1971: '71 Suzuki 500cc Titan
1972: '72 Suzuki 750cc watercooled triple
1973: '70 Chevy El Camino
1975: '75 Dodge Van
1979: '76 Harley-Davidson 900cc Sportster
1980: '76 Harley-Davidson 1200cc FL (rebuilt from a wreck. Mistake #1 was selling this in '89).
1984: meet Debbie
1986: marry Debbie and acquire '71 Porsche 914** and '68 Datsun 510 Wagon (Mistake #2 was selling the 510 in '89).
1989: '89 Isuzu Trooper
1995: '70 Ford F100 (351C from somewhere, running on 7 cylinders. Swapped in rebuilt 302 when it dropped to 5 cylinders).
1997: '76 Suzuki GS750
1998: '83 Suzuki GS1100E**
2002: '02 Ford Ranger**
2004: '93 Chysler Concorde** (acquired from father-in-law), '02 Miata Special Edition**

** still have

...and now the story begins. In May 2004, prior to getting the Miata (Dec '04 Xmas present), I remembered Debbie had mentioned Rosie, her '66 1600 that she had owned in the early seventies. Figuring it would be easier to get a running Roadster than fix the 914 (yeah, right), I started researching Datsun Roadsters as I didn't have a clue about 'em. Discovered the 311s.org site and started reading...

One of the first posts was by Alvin:

http://www.311s.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1248

For some reason, I was captivated by this particular roadster. When the buyer (Rob Fuller of Z Car Garage http://www.zcargarage.com) decided he needed money for a different Datsun project, I jumped on it. Had my brother-in-law check it out, but wish I had remembered to ask those California dudes to check the wipers and heater!

Car is delivered, I drive it around a couple blocks...and fell in love. I'm thinking how the heck can I talk Debbie into two roadsters so I could have one? Well, I made serious good husband points for getting her the car, but after she drove it twice, she said the memory was better...AND IT BECAME MY CAR! woo-HOO!

Anyway, without making this shaggy dog any longer, struggling to finish kitchen remodel and empty the garage of all the kitchen cabinets so I can get the roadster in to fix the brakes/heat/windshield wipers so I can make it my daily driver.

Still wanna get another roadster...plus a 510 wagon...and another Harley...

[dbrick]

Oh, don't start on bikes, I'm trying to stay out of trouble. But I was thinking a 305 Honda Dream or a SuperHawk would go nicley with the Roadster, maybe a little trailer, matching paint...

I still miss my Yamaha Seca 650 Turbo, not as scary as a Water Buffalo, but what a rush.

[ppeters914]

I originally wanted a Norton 750 Commando, but didn't want to wrench 2hrs for 1hr of riding. Would still love to have a Bultaco Metralla or a Hodaka Road Ace!

Now we're -REALLY- dating ourselves.

[67 1/2 1600]

My uncle had a norton damn that thing was sweet!! Sold it for about 7k?? It was a awsome bike! Very clean unrestored http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... egory=6714

That is the acutall listing.

[Conner]

Okay, here's my story, as I remember it (which may or may not be the facts).
I got my first roadster earlier this year, at age 27. But this story begins much earlier than that.
When my mom finished college, her father bought her a new Ford Mustang as a graduation gift. Shortly after finishing school, she and my father were married. Once the contract was inked and their property joint, my dad wasted no time in trading in her car on a 1970 Datsun 2000, yellow. He sold that car in order to buy a van to move all of their possession from Maryland, where they grew up, to Florida, where he went to graduate school.
While in Florida, he owned a purple Datsun 510 sedan, which he autocrossed while completing his PhD. I have only vague memories of that car from when I was young; I encountered it just as the floorpans were rusting out. I was born after they returned to Northern Virginia and then Maryland, were the salt on the roads in the winter is unkind to untreated sheet metal.
While growing up my dad had first a brown 260Z and the an orange 74 240Z, which mostly sat in the garage. He worked on it but only rarely drove it. As an aside, he now owns two "classic" SE-Rs, which he has heavily modified and takes to the track whenever he can.
So as you can see, my fate was sealed at a young age.
I began searching for a project car around the time I had a two car garage for the first time. At first I wanted a Z, but I got serious thinking about a 2-door 510. The geeky-coolness appealed to me and I had visions of dropping in a modern Nissan 2.5L powerplant. The allure of the 510 is lost on my girlfriend who, it turns out, is not immune to the draw of the roadster.
I shopped around for roadsters, inquired about a couple of listings I saw. Then one Monday a red 68 I'd been watching on ebay was close to ending at $3900. As I left the office I placed a bid for $3950, figuring I was willing to pay that much. When I got home the auction had ended and the car was mine!
The car arrived from Seattle and I drove it only up my street and into the driveway. The brakes were very soft and the transmission pretty loose. That first day I discovered the interior carpeting was wet and moldy and, fearing rust in the floorpans, I tore out the entire interior. My project was underway.
Since that day I've learned a lot about the car and had help from a lot of good people on this site and the mailing list.
Without this site I'd be in bigger trouble than I already am with this car.

[RoadsterYosh1]

Would still love to have a Bultaco Metralla or a Hodaka Road Ace!

Hodaka! Now that’s really scary! I had a 1971 Hodaka Super Rat and almost bought a new 1973 Combat Wombat 125, both before I even had a drivers license.

[dbrick]

This would work for me, perfect accessory to the Roadster

[Import_sounds-of-mid-GA]

TOO many old cycles Ive never heard of!!! lets just leave it at the fastest production bike..... Suzuki Hayabusa 1300R!!!!! what a bike, 9.9 et in the 1/4 off the showroom floor.... again i say, what a bike!
Went to the local dragstrip to watch my dad race, once again, no datsuns . But I did find out I might be getting a honda Prelude Si

[dbrick]

Speed isn't everything, you need something with style, the proper sound and of course an engine with a chain driven centrifugal oil filter. If you really try, you can repair anything on the bike with only the factory tool kit.
Also, might just be me, but the colors on 60's and 70's motorcycles were the coolest shades of blue and burnt orange. And let's not leave out the bicycles we all wanted...I'd kill for a nice Schwinn Orange Crate or Lemon Peeler.
Damn if I'm not on Ebay right now searching pre 1975 motorcycles.