Project Unicorn, the resurrection of 1967.5 Datsun 2000 SRL-00342
Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:41 pm
It started with a phone call, as these things usually do.
"Hey, I've found a 67.5 2000 and I want you to come look at it for me"
Sure you have I'm thinking, these things are like applies on a tree, all over the place! I asked a few questions quite skeptical mind you, and made arrangements to meet with the prospective owner a few days later.
We meet in a quiet subdivision, and I get the back story on the car: Customer Ken has been trying to buy the mystery car for 10+ years from the original owner who has not driven the car since the 80s. Other than that, it's a mystery. The original owner lives in Hawaii, so he made arrangements with a neighbor to open the garage where it was stored for us so we could see what he really had
After a few pleasantries, the neighbor opened the garage door and said "...have fun..." and left. All I see is a Mercedes and a pile of furniture and other garage debris.
Where's the car? I wonder "hoping its not under” that.
After a little bit of digging, the familiar black silhouette starts to emerge. Hmmmm. Interesting.
It is obvious that I'm not going to get to the interior without a bunch of effort, so I go around to the back of the car, move some boxes, crates, and even more golf clubs and bingo. There it is-- the true definition of unobtainium-- the stainless license plate trim. Holy $hit. This thing might just be the real deal!
Ok, I'm starting to get excited, this just does not happen every day! We move more crates, more golf clubs (really?) and open the driver's door. Untouched, just like it was left over 30 years ago. I check the tach 8k! and the 160mph speedo. Whoa.
I open the hood, leaning way over to get it lifted up, in the dark shadows, the U20 emerges. Still there, still intact. Dirty Solex carbs and airbox, the "rivet in the C" holy cow-- it's a unicorn. There is literally too much stuff in the way to confirm if it has the aluminum oil pan (its packed in there that hard!)
I lean over the fender as far as I dare, extending my phone out to try to see if this unicorn is going to reveal its number-- dirty, and untouched, SRL311-00342 finally reveals its identity.
Customer Ken asks if it is the real deal, and I confirm it. He works out a deal to buy the car, and has hired us to get it back on the road for him. This thread will document that process from start to finish as we bring this little beast back to life!
"Hey, I've found a 67.5 2000 and I want you to come look at it for me"
Sure you have I'm thinking, these things are like applies on a tree, all over the place! I asked a few questions quite skeptical mind you, and made arrangements to meet with the prospective owner a few days later.
We meet in a quiet subdivision, and I get the back story on the car: Customer Ken has been trying to buy the mystery car for 10+ years from the original owner who has not driven the car since the 80s. Other than that, it's a mystery. The original owner lives in Hawaii, so he made arrangements with a neighbor to open the garage where it was stored for us so we could see what he really had
After a few pleasantries, the neighbor opened the garage door and said "...have fun..." and left. All I see is a Mercedes and a pile of furniture and other garage debris.
Where's the car? I wonder "hoping its not under” that.
After a little bit of digging, the familiar black silhouette starts to emerge. Hmmmm. Interesting.
It is obvious that I'm not going to get to the interior without a bunch of effort, so I go around to the back of the car, move some boxes, crates, and even more golf clubs and bingo. There it is-- the true definition of unobtainium-- the stainless license plate trim. Holy $hit. This thing might just be the real deal!
Ok, I'm starting to get excited, this just does not happen every day! We move more crates, more golf clubs (really?) and open the driver's door. Untouched, just like it was left over 30 years ago. I check the tach 8k! and the 160mph speedo. Whoa.
I open the hood, leaning way over to get it lifted up, in the dark shadows, the U20 emerges. Still there, still intact. Dirty Solex carbs and airbox, the "rivet in the C" holy cow-- it's a unicorn. There is literally too much stuff in the way to confirm if it has the aluminum oil pan (its packed in there that hard!)
I lean over the fender as far as I dare, extending my phone out to try to see if this unicorn is going to reveal its number-- dirty, and untouched, SRL311-00342 finally reveals its identity.
Customer Ken asks if it is the real deal, and I confirm it. He works out a deal to buy the car, and has hired us to get it back on the road for him. This thread will document that process from start to finish as we bring this little beast back to life!
