Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

Everyone, I am new to the forum, but have been exploring potential folks to do some restoration work on a 2000. I apologize for the length of this post, but my father and I worked with a shop that did roadsters in Columbia, SC about 20 years ago. (Guy raced Datsun 1600s in SCCA and had about 50 scrapped ones). It was full frame off restoration with the frame and body acid dipped at the BMW paint facility in South Carolina. Bones of the car are great (actually two cars grafted together to get a 68 tall windshield with a 67.5 body and dash). The shop has since closed after Bear Clonts passed away.

Given the passage of time and me going through law school and starting a career, I have not really had time to keep it up and fix some of the final issues that needed to be sorted. Given the time, items that were new in 1999 are now starting to show age and failing.

I initially considered calling some of the California restoration shops (many of which have been an invaluable source for parts over the years) about shipping it to them. Before I went down that path and paid for transcontinental shipping, however, I was wondering if there were any folks that did restoration work on the east coast. (I am in Greenville, South Carolina--about halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte). Mainly, I would be looking for a restoration shop that may also do some race work. I have spoken to restoration shops (many are located here around BMW's North American headquarters, but few have ever done a roadster).

My father just had his 70th, so really looking forward to trying to move on this after all these years. (Interestingly, he owned 3 of the original 67.5 2000s in the late-60s, early 70s while in the Marines).

Here is the type of services, some of which may be non-standard:

*Install roll bar (standard 4 point with an option to sleeve it and add a really tall upper hoop (problem with being 6'6" and driving a roadster). I saw this in on a CCA car and seemed like a great solution for tall drivers with helmets. The main roll bar fits under the top. You build a second, thick wall tube inside the first with two interchangeable "hoops," one about 10" higher than another.
*Sort the Mikunis popping back through exhaust at closed throttle
*Clean up after market wiring harness that was added and is, candidly, a mess
*Touch up work on paint where some bondo has cracked and other places where chipped
*Sort interior (including rust on center console, etc.)
*Fix emergency break mechanism (updated to 280ZX rear brakes but bracket needs to be sorted. As an side, we also went with 911RS drilled front rotors and calipers--car stops like a dream now)
*Program VDO gauges. We took 911 VDO tachometer and speedometer, had face rescreened to original 67.5 roadster faces.
*Address canvas top fitment issues
*Replace some weather stripping
*Fix Accusump system (I think it is an electrical fault to the solenoid)
*Find solution for radio antenna
*Fix tears in seat vinyl / install new covers

I'm probably forgetting items, but wanted to throw out the "type" of issues that are still left.

Thanks so much for any input you may have.

All the best,
Brad

Welcome!
Most of what you want done is not necessarily roadster specialty work. Any reputable auto shop should be able to tackle many of these items, particularly because they are custom and not stock Roadster stuff. JT68 here is a vendor in GA that may be able to recommend some local sources. Jason Rector is in SC as well as quite a few other Roadster owners that should be able to make recommendations.

Welcome Brad!

Welcome Brad. Jason Rector here, from Chapin, SC. We have two 1600 Roadsters - a '67.5 and a '68. I recently visited Mr. Clonts widow and purchased some Roadster parts from her. He had quite the shop in the day. As mentioned above, I believe most any shop would be able to address these issues. Feel free to let me know if I can help in any way.

Jason, great to talk with you. I haven't kept up with his wife, but hope someone got those cars, plus bins of parts. As I recall, they have one of the original Bob Sharp 1600 cars. I received some info on a shop in Rock Hill, SC and saw a vendor in Denver, NC that may do some roadster work on one of the roadster sites. Inherently, the folks in Rock Hill are appealing given that they are part of this forum, you must be in the small world of Southeast roadster owners. (One day plan to go to Solvang to see the west-coast roadster masses)!

The cars are gone, but there are some parts available. I'd love to see some pics sometime of that flat dash conversion, if possible. I have an extra '67 dash, and I've always thought the '68 would look real sharp with a classic padded flat roadster dash, as well as the older steering wheel.

Fairlady5150 wrote: Wed Dec 16, 2020 4:47 pm The cars are gone, but there are some parts available. I'd love to see some pics sometime of that flat dash conversion, if possible. I have an extra '67 dash, and I've always thought the '68 would look real sharp with a classic padded flat roadster dash, as well as the older steering wheel.

I recall some discussion about keeping it original...

I will take some close up photos and post them. As someone who is 6'6" (and still tries to drive a roadster) the tall windshield was the only real option. In addition, I have a small, momo formula car-style wheel I use to fold my knees under the dash. Dad, who is 6', uses the original wheel.

Also, does anyone have a good source for the toggle switches? I was looking at some of the reproduction lucas ones for 60s Jags that looked close.

I.e., something like this:

https://www.carbuilder.com/us/lucas-sty ... changeover

Thanks!