Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

New to the forums but have been reading up for a while. Wanted to do a 240 build but saw a pic of the roadsters and fell in love.

I am going to see this later this afternoon and wanted to know what you guys think before I go. I know it needs new floors and there is a hole in the trunk but he says that's about all the major rust that's on it. Frame is in pretty good condition. Hes only asking 500 bucks with a clean title. Idk seems like a good deal to me.

Thanks guys.

$500 is excellent for a parts car, while others would, I would NOT take that on as a restoration project. It has a lot of visible rust, which to me means it has more unseen rust to make a viable candidate for restoration. It would simply cost way more than reasonable to make that even a driver - in my opinion. I would start with a more solid candidate - but certainly consider this for parts or to part out.

I agree. You’ll spend far less in total if you spend more now.

Another vote for it as a parts car only...unless you have a lot of time, money, and skills, and don't mind having more into it than it will be worth when you are done.

I would have to agree with everything Tom said. That car and another $15,000 along with a lot of hard work will net you a nice driver quality car worth.....well $15,500. If you have the room to store it I would definitely suggest picking it up for a parts car. You could easily part it out for double what you paid for it.

I'm not quite so fast to decide to scrap a car. There are fewer and fewer of these and every time we scrap one that's savable (at some level) we have some parts gone that "aren't worth saving" today.
At $500 it's hard to imagine getting hurt badly.
Assuming you have the room to get it out of the weather, why not pick it up and do the very basic "get it running". If it runs (at all), you can make a determination of electrical systems. If it can be made to run and drive without spending several thousand dollars, you may decide to patch the floor and drive it. If not, it's worth much more than the asking price as a running car.
One guys idea of a driver may be another's idea of a show car. If it can be saved, why not make the attempt?
Dan

Im on team greydog
You should see what is available around here K C
I havent seen the underside,frame though
They can be fun to drive without full restore

+1 on 'just buy it' evaluate and then decide. Depending upon condition and your skill level then determine it's future.

As I said, some WOULD take on this project. I note that you are looking at $2000-2500 just to get it driving - IF the motor doesn't need much (it's apart for a reason I am sure), $1200 or so on hydraulics (brakes, Clutch), a Radiator, various hoses etc. That contains the fluids - then it'll need tires, and more than likely will need the fuel system flushed. So a driver for $2500 to $3000 grand may be worth it - just depends on your long term project goal as to how far past driver you want to go. My experience is body repair is expensive - the good news is all of the new mechanicals and hydraulics etc., that you may invest in, are transferrable to a more solid body, if that is the way you choose to go.

Absolutely right, and probably more but....
It doesn't cost much to see if the engine is frozen and if it's got oil.
If it turns over by hand, drain the old oil and dump in 4 quarts of 10-40 with a new filter.
Run the pump intake hose into a can of fuel and turn 'er over. Squirt a little starter fluid in the cars and see if she tries to start.
So far, you're not into it too much.
If it runs at all, you can worry about a radiator and hoses. Who knows? Maybe the hoses are good.

You'll know if the brakes work by the time you get the car on a trailer.

So, getting it home, cleaned up and making an attempt to start it won't cost a lot and you'll have a much better idea of what it needs and what you're willing to do.

If this car was local and I was looking to get divorced I'd be all over it.
Dan

You can get a used engine or rebuild a stock 1600 for not too much. So for me it depends on the body. To keep costs down you need to plan on doing a lot of your own work

I guess it depends on your starting budget, final budget, what is available in your area, and how deep a project you want to get into. I started with a lot worse and since then brought home a total of 4 parts cars and still have an ongoing project that snowballed. If my starting car wasn’t so rough it wouldn’t have snowballed into suck a big project. Looking back, it was all worth it because I learned a lot and it’s been a rewarding experience.

With that car, you can probably expect to work on every system of that car.

Be careful. It’s addictive. Once you buy one $500 roadster, you have to buy another and another. I bought one just to get a windshield.

Hey guys. Thanks for the responses. It turns out hes only selling it for 300 just because he wants it gone and apparently I was the only one willing to drive out to him to even look at it. I am picking it up next week when I have access to a truck and trailer.

From what I saw its in rough shape but definitely restore-able. I plan on doing a sr20de resto mod. I know its going to be expensive and probably not worth the time for a lot of guys but my spending money comes in spurts so I would rather have a car that takes me a while and I do myself then buy something someones already built. Plus in my area there arent very many of these things around. So might as well grab it while i can. When I get it home and start the build Ill start a new build log for it. If all else fails, Ill part it out and make my money back plus some.

Post your location so we know who and what resources are nearby. I think the game changes completely when you are doing an engine swap. You can't lose at $300!

GREAT - if it lives on as a complete car, then fantastic - if it lives on by keeping others on the road - then fantastic. Thanks.

Please make sure you put it in the registry and really look forward to the build story.

Pls post your location. Helps if you need stuff, so people know where you are.

Welcome to our merry band, you will find this site full of people out to help.

Suggest you read through the tech-wiki - there will be a lot of answers to questions you didn't know to ask.

These cars are fun to drive, and once sorted, quite easy to maintain. But knowledge is power.

Thanks for saving another one. They are dwindling in number, but increasing in importance.

Don't know where you live, but you might consider coming to Solvang for the annual Roadster meet. Lots of cars, people, ideas, support.

Welcome again,

Pete