Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Hello 311ers,
I am the new owner of a 1969 Datsun Roadster. It appears i have found home!!! My lady is a bit of a basket case as it sits. Missing inner-fenders, firewall, x-member (at the back of the trans) and a hole cut in the hood. all of this removed because the previous-previous owner was going to "slip" a v-8 into it. So I picked it up for a song and i don't understand why the guy I bought it from is still laughing? The good news is it is a rolling chassis with what I believe to be original (maybe not to this car) wheels straight frame and minor exterior bodywork. I am in the process of putting a L16 engine from my brothers 510 and 280zx 5 speed in it. Why you ask? Because I had access to them for a great (free) price. So I have the body off and am placing a new x member, building motor mounts and changing the brakes to Volvo and 200sx. This is a great car to not have to worry about keeping original. I am excited to get this 311 on the road and look forward to all the information available here.

Turin
Pasadena CA

Welcome. you're gonna have a lot of fun with this one.

By the way, it is a 70 not a 69. the telltale signs on the body are the rectangular side marker lights and the big turn signal lights with out a chrome housing. There is the possibility that the original fenders were replaced with ones from a 1970. Do you have the rectangle side marker lights on the back as well?? The 70 has them, and big reflectors to the inside of the rear lights instead of the smaller reflectors on top of the lights.

Welcome,

There a lot of local roadster owners in your area, and a good local all round mechanic in Skip Miller.

Frequently a lot of us turn up on Supercar Sunday on Topanga Canyon. With/without roadster - turn up and chat.
And put the last Saturday in April, 2015 on your calendar - roadster meet in Solvang - we had 85+ roadsters there this year.

Welcome, a Roadster resurrection is welcome in any form!

Roman wrote:Welcome. you're gonna have a lot of fun with this one.

By the way, it is a 70 not a 69. the telltale signs on the body are the rectangular side marker lights and the big turn signal lights with out a chrome housing. There is the possibility that the original fenders were replaced with ones from a 1970. Do you have the rectangle side marker lights on the back as well?? The 70 has them, and big reflectors to the inside of the rear lights instead of the smaller reflectors on top of the lights.

The serial number will tell you if it is a 69 or a 70 for sure. Based on the light, Roman is probably right, it's a 70.
Back in those days the DMV or the dealership would get the year incorrect and it will stay that way from here on. Not sure if that was because the date it was bought or what. The DMV believes my car to be a 69 but the serial number and the trim say it is a 68.

You are going to have fun with it.

68s titled as a 69 are quite common. But a 70 tiltled as a 69???? That one has me scratching my head. Maybe a Delorean from back to the future was involved somehow. My guess is 70 fenders on a 69.

You know what this means don't you??? We need more pictures!!!!

Could have been a body swap...

Thanks for all the responses.
Roman: I did not know that about the reflectors. Awesome, I'm learning already!!!

Mraich: I'll have to get out to supercar sunday, sounds great. as for Solvang I went up on saturday and was very impressed!!!

rear sidemarkers are rectangle as well. no rear reflectors at all, they and the lights are missing. My title says 69. my vin is SPL31127564. So I don't know if I have a 70 titled as a 69 or a body swap and seeing as i have no firewall i have no vin plate on the firewall so its stamped in the frame.

Per the VIN, it is a 70. http://datsunroadster.com/INFO_PAGES/what_year.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; It doesn't matter though.

Hah! I knew we could flush some more pics out of you.

A 70 has the vin in 3 places. The frame, the vinplate and on the left hand side of the dash visible though the windshield.

Did you get this car with a physical title or just a bill of sale?

So far it points to 70....or at least a 70 body.

And like Sid says, it really doesn't matter the year. Get that puppy going!

As previously stated, you will quickly connect with local members and will no doubt get more help then you would imagine.
Creating your own machine, and not needing to stay traditional / stock, opens up a world of possibilities.
The basic lines of our cars is pleasing to the eye....to me, your shell already looks bad ass.
Have fun with it, and share your milestones with pics........we love pics....

grinder96 wrote:Hello 311ers,
I am the new owner of a 1969 Datsun Roadster. It appears i have found home!!! My lady is a bit of a basket case as it sits. Missing inner-fenders, firewall, x-member (at the back of the trans) and a hole cut in the hood. all of this removed because the previous-previous owner was going to "slip" a v-8 into it. So I picked it up for a song and i don't understand why the guy I bought it from is still laughing? The good news is it is a rolling chassis with what I believe to be original (maybe not to this car) wheels straight frame and minor exterior bodywork. I am in the process of putting a L16 engine from my brothers 510 and 280zx 5 speed in it. Why you ask? Because I had access to them for a great (free) price. So I have the body off and am placing a new x member, building motor mounts and changing the brakes to Volvo and 200sx. This is a great car to not have to worry about keeping original. I am excited to get this 311 on the road and look forward to all the information available here.

Turin
Pasadena CA

I wouldn't spend the time making a new x member as I know of a few owners that welded in a piece of box steel across the middle of the frame where the trans mount lines up so they could strengthen the frame and use the new steel as the location for the trans mount. One of the guys that did this runs a 350+ hp KA24 in it so you know it can handle an L16.

I too have precisely a 1970...ish roadster you will have a lot of fun with it....and these guys know their stuff and love to help!!

Welcome to the club of insanity

Matthew