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Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 11:13 am
by lapsturbo7
Hi to all, I am a long time Datsun owner having owned many PL510's (9 different ones), wife's 240 Z and 3 Roadsters. I was a Datsun dealer mechanic in the late 70's (seems like yesterday??) before going independent, racing cars and other careers. My first competition car was a 510 rally car in 1980.
I believe I have the last surviving SRL. I have had this car in my possession since 1980 and hope to get started on a frame off stock restoration shortly. The history on the car is I purchased it in Mamaroneck NY in 1980 from a back yard where it had been sitting after a front end collision and the head was off. I freed up the motor, put the head back on, put two new fenders and hood, had a body shop paint it and drove it in the summer of 1985. I managed to get one trip in from NY to Mid Ohio where I crewed but on the way back the voltage regulator gave up so I ended up having to have the battery charged every couple of hours. The rear main seal also started leaking and the clutch started slipping so that was the last time it was used. I pulled the motor and had every intention of being back on the road shortly however there were always other priorities especially racing to keep me away from this car. The car was stored inside sometimes and outside a lot so rust repair will be part of the project. I also have a 68 SPL that I purchased for parts, however I am considering a restomod project for it as it is relatively rust free and I have some Turbo RX 7 drivetrains. I had another 68 1600 that unfortunately was junked by the shop where it was stored. The biggest loss was the hardtop as the car was a rust bucket.

Re: Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 11:24 am
by S Allen
Welcome. Look forward to reading about your projects.

Steve

Re: Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:18 pm
by lapsturbo7
Pictures

Re: Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:04 pm
by notoptoy
Nice, looking forward to watching your progress. Your claim of "last survivor" might be off, do you mean last production car? Last one off the line? Last Left hand drive off the line, last one shipped to North America? etc.
Obviously all the other roadsters are survivors, so "last" doesn't seem correct. What leads you to believe the status- production notes or something?
I am not doubting you so please don't take this as a challenge! Just curious as to what you mean and what makes it unique. If it is indeed the last one off the production line, then that is really, really cool!

Re: Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 8:35 pm
by spl310

Re: Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2019 11:01 pm
by fj20spl311
Maybe we should say the Youngest SRL.

Re: Last survivor 14382 long time Datsun owner

Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2019 7:04 pm
by lapsturbo7
How about last one made still in existence? Or Youngest SRL works for me. Production according to Nissan went to 14420 so my car is 38 from the last official production number produced. To me it doesn't make much difference as I just want to get it together and drive it as I planned years ago. I remember how nice a cruiser it was the one summer I drove it.