New to forum from the UK

[riceturbo]

Hi all from UK

I've been driving my Roadster since 1997 but only actually owned it since 2006, puzzled looks all round I'm guessing but a simple explanation. Early in 1997 and out of work I was asked by a friend if I could do something with their old Fairlady which he had bought to keep the mechanics busy in his first purpose built Nissan dealership and he didn't know how long it would take for the business to take off. Unfortunately, for them but very fortunate for me the business took off immediately and the workshop staff never had a spare minute. A lot of work had been done to make her look nice but hadn't actually been used for years but always dry stored.

It didn't take long to get the engine running and then the first problem arose when the baffles in the silencer all collapsed and so a trip to another friend who just happened to own a specialist exhaust business. The exhaust system has now grown form standard to full stainless system to a mild steel manifold as stainless retains too much heat and wrapping doesn't look very nice besides being limited on space. The manifold looks like an original but the centre branch has a web about 6 inches long down the middle to keep things flowing nice and smooth. With the K&N filter factory literally on my doorstep and some good contacts there an air filter was made by the guys in the special filter department, they make all the formula 1 filters except for Ferrari because they wanted a Ferrari donkey stencilled on and K&N said one of their filters only has their logo, whether this is true today I don't know! Anyway, I ended up with a bespoke filter that is still on the car and of course working perfectly. it was decided to put a 2 litre clutch in so I took the engine out and the mounts just fell to bits not really a problem but we were 3 days from our first major event, the London to Brighton Classic car run. One of my friends pointed me in the direction of a local company who specialised in all sorts of thing with rubber from special mountings, anti vibration mats and reinforced hoses. After presenting them with the steel plates and perished rubber which they turned into perfect mounts overnight for the princely sum of 5 GBP or about $10, quality work at an unbelievable price.

Since then it's been pretty much plain sailing till in 2006 with all bills for parts, entry fees, hotels etc. being paid for it was time to re-enter the real world when my friend decided that with his business now booming the usefulness of the car and the costs involved it had to be sold. After such a long relationship with the car and for virtually all that time being the only driver and the fact it lived at my home and only returned to base when I needed to use of their workshop this car was going nowhere. I had finally found a job so my credit was again good and managed to raise the money to buy her and the deal was done at the right "mates rates" price.

Although all the synchromesh disappeared virtually as soon as we got the car mobile again there is never anything on the magnetic drain plug when I change the oil so apart from the mess that was on it after an early change so I guess there's nothing floating around the box. The car had done 42k miles when I took charge and has now just passed 90k and running perfectly on a diy electronic ignition kit from our local electronics shop that had them on sale for $10. Next mod is going to be new carbs, and I really do mean "new" as I've acquired a pair of brand new Solex/Mikuni 40 PHH's that have never seen petrol yet. A selection of jets (and advice) from Todd at Wolf Creek racing, a JAM engineering manifold and a lot of head scratching and in the next couple of weeks she will be strutting her stuff even better.

Not a perfect car by any means except where it matters, I don't even wash it as the unique aerodynamics handle all that because I don't believe in fine weather only motoring so the only wash it gets is always with rain water. As I'm supposed to be at an age where I should know better I don't but sometimes my body keeps telling me that I won't go on for ever driving a 50 year old Datsun 2 seater and so the car is now in trust for the 12 year old son of a close friend who is now serving a "proper" apprenticeship in my garage in the art of looking after a "proper" car and as soon as he's old enough and can get himself insured the ownership of the car goes to him providing he comes up to the exacting standard of me and his dad. We're having a party for her 50th birthday in July and I expect that when I'm long gone my young friend will be having one for her 100th, and why not I say.

[S Allen]

Hey, welcome and what a great story about your roadster. Sounds like the legacy will be passing on to good hands. I moved your post as it would have been hidden with in the other post. Looking forward to your participation. Cheers.

Steve

[Gregs672000]

Welcome our English friend! I'm half Welsh though you can't see it over the Colombian in me. Can't be a lot of Datsun Roadsters over there, though I do recall an old article on a guy who was racing one in the UK years ago. Nice story and I'm glad you found us and our addiction. Yours should be well controlled due to access limitations (supply of spare cars that just seem to follow you home), but I suspect you're fully addicted now...

[zippy67roadster]

Welcome! It is nice to see a Brit who likes his classic car wiring "smoke free". Great story and a good read. Please find the time to post pictures as the guys on here will roast you if you don't!!

[notoptoy]

Welcome great story and great planned future legacy!

[riceturbo]

Thanks for the kind comments guys, to be honest I had lots of advice in the early days from Rob (Mr Fairlady UK) Beddington who turned from Mr Unkown to family friend who is still willing to help with things if he can. If anyone is in UK in July the car's birthday party takes place on the weekend of 25-26 July at Billing Aquadrome ( http://www.billingaquadrome.com )near Northampton where we go every year to meet up with our friends from the Toyota Enthusiasts Club, all welcome.

ps Car passed its annual test last Wednesday with no problems at all, my tester is getting very interested in our wonderful little cars and I think he'll be more interested when I get the 40's on!!

[riceturbo]

Welcome our English friend! I'm half Welsh though you can't see it over the Colombian in me. Can't be a lot of Datsun Roadsters over there, though I do recall an old article on a guy who was racing one in the UK years ago. Nice story and I'm glad you found us and our addiction. Yours should be well controlled due to access limitations (supply of spare cars that just seem to follow you home), but I suspect you're fully addicted now...

True there aren't many Roadsters, certainly not road going like mine which is used as often as possible. As far as parts go I try to plan ahead but everyday running is not a problem and even obscure trouble can usually be solved with a little detective work or a quick panic call to my suppliers. I'm building up a stock of the bits that are likely to wear (suspension bushes etc) and anything that I think my "apprentice" may need in the future. Added to that I live in the part of UK that once made everything from pins and needles to ocean liners and steam locomotives to supersonic aircraft, sadly we now only make the supersonic aircraft but all the old skills are still there if you know where to look and so things can be made to high quality. A good example was when I had an axle half shaft bearing collapse and a major event looming. My US suppliers couldn't guarantee to have the parts in time so it was a classic plan "B" job. We found that although NSK made the unique bearing for Nisssan they had non planned for production within the next six months but the only difference between that and the standard bearing was the inside diameter which on the Nissan special was 1mm bigger so a quick trip to the local precision engineers with the shaft for 1mm to be ground off the diameter and new retaining collar made (plus a spare for the other side when needed). Total cost including a spare bearing £65 ($100) and the car back on the road in 48 hours.

[ladydriver]

I got some pictures of that wonderfull patina car







the UK blokes

[msampsel]

I got some pictures of that wonderfull patina car







the UK blokes

Nice pictures ladydriver,

So I gotta know, how did the "UK blokes" get over to the Netherlands, with the vehicle of course?
Planning a world tour in my roadster you see

[riceturbo]

With a bit of luck this link should take you to more pics

http://s1222.photobucket.com/user/ricet ... 20Fairlady

[riceturbo]

We UK bloke do anything for a laugh (if we can afford it) Netherlands is easy to get to for us. Drive 100 miles from home to Hull leave at 8pm on the overnight ferry to Rotterdam, arrive 9am next morning and drive 1hr 20 mins to the meet, have a great day with like minded people then drive back to Rotterdam and get back on the same ferry we vacated 11 hours earlier. Had to get back for my birthday dinner theday after the event. Simple!

[riceturbo]

ps nhotice how many of them pesky Dutchies had their roof's up. Ours hasn't been up for two yearslol

[msampsel]

We UK bloke do anything for a laugh (if we can afford it) Netherlands is easy to get to for us. Drive 100 miles from home to Hull leave at 8pm on the overnight ferry to Rotterdam, arrive 9am next morning and drive 1hr 20 mins to the meet, have a great day with like minded people then drive back to Rotterdam and get back on the same ferry we vacated 11 hours earlier. Had to get back for my birthday dinner theday after the event. Simple!

Very nice I should have known.
Maybe we can all meet at Lake Como some year in a roadster rally (I need to have an improbable bucket list item) Making a wish.

[msampsel]

With a bit of luck this link should take you to more pics

http://s1222.photobucket.com/user/ricet ... 20Fairlady

Nice, I like the wooden luggage rack. Probably called something else rather than
luggage buy you UKers.

[henk]

Welcome to the forum Keith! Nice to see you had a great day at the dutch roadster meet.
You are invited for next year too.