Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

1965 1600/Fairlady

Purchase price: $500

Condition: oh...no...

This car comes with a story...

Just after I graduated high school and was working my 3rd dead end job...I saw her. Sitting on top of a railroad car in some guys yard...I had never seen such an amazing car, and instantly fell in love. I HAD to have it. I had my whole pay check, some $800 bucks or so...

Being younger and more fearless, I jumped his fence, and climbed on top of the railroad car to see it. Ten minutes or so a guy comes out of the house. Screaming like hell, with a bat. I climbed down and told him I wanted to offer to buy the car. The top was all rotted and barely hanging on. It was far gone back then and and that was 2009...he was curious on my offer for the car at first, when I said $800 he just laughed me off his yard. Told me he was restoring it for the wife. Crushed, when I found out just how hard it was to find one of these cars...I searched for the next decade....never found one.

09 I moved away to Wyoming.
Fast-forward 2022 add 2 kids, a wife, and a career in Towing&Recovery. I had almost completely forgotten, the fairlady by now. They were just so hard to find.

I moved back to Eastern NM for living expenses, COVID, destroyed the recovery industry for a good 2 years...it was almost illegal to work. Dead broke. Then I was driving down a familiar looking road. 12 years later. My first dream car was still sitting on top of the same train car...I was furious to say the least.

So I stalked the address for 2 weeks and finally saw the old man pull in. I drove into his gate right behind him. He got out when he parked and approached me, asking what I wanted to buy. I pointed to the Roadster. Asked if he remembered me. He paused a bit and then he said "Your the kid that broke into my yard to look at it the day after I brought it home."

Turns out it was his wife's first car, he bought it to rebuild for her. Put it on top of the train car as a surprise when she came home from work, it was her birthday present that year. She was ecstatic, as was he. The next night I jumped his fence. Then 6 months later he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and his wife died of cancer.

She has sat since then, and he asked if I'd buy her for scrap prices. I told him I would. His one condition was that she must be fixed. Her first drive he wants to be there for. Then he wants to take her Cruising Main. Like him and his wife used to do with project cars. I told him I would do my best.

Now here we are 2 weeks after purchase. The rotted interior is stripped, saved what I could for templates and pulled out some 1940s house carpet the owner before him had glued into the floor board....naturally it was a sponge and ate every piece of metal it touched. The floors aren't totally gone, but I will likely be redesigning an entire floor pan. It's final destination is unknown until I brace the body and separate it from the frame. It will need to be put on a rotisserie for complete rust removal.

The frame is suffering more, 2 good size holes in it so far. I'm told they are unrepairable, but judging by a few posts here, it's certainly is fixable. We shall see. Once she's fully stripped and clean I can remove the frame and get a better look.

I've already noticed here for my swap plans I will need to notch the frame for a KA24DET swap.

The U20 is far beyond my skill level for repair...it's dismantled since before the old guy picked it up in 09, he was told it ran when it was taken apart for a gasket kit, where the guy had to move and in the process lost 2 Pistons, and never got it put back together. The head and carbs were removed, engine was open face. With the oil pan dropped, so completely dry. 12 foot in the air...in the dust bowl of America...if anyone here has the need to buy it and fix it. Feel free to message me, I will list it for sale when its pulled in probably a month.

I also will likely be trying to find a way to mount a 350z front and rear subframe to the chassis.... I realize this will be massively difficult. I have yet to find a thread where someone was able to do it. Plans still not set. Just brainstorming numbers so far.

Please link me any build threads you think might help me in this venture.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Will post pics tonight.

I hope I can finish this car.

Welcome to the list! Yep, there is a lot to do on your car. There is a lot of knowledge on this list so you’ve come to the right place.

Just a wild idea, you say that the frame is rusted out & you want to hang 350Z subframes. It might be easier to design a completely new frame rather than replacing or repairing what you have.

There are several vendors on this list who sell floor sheet metal if you decide to go that way.

I know what it is like to have a project sit for years waiting for the right time. My 67.5 was off the road for over 20 years waiting for me to take the time to rebuild it. Each summer my wife would ask if this was the year we could go for a ride. It didn’t happen before she died of Parkinson’s but with the pandemic I’ve taken the time to wor on it. I hope to be driving her this summer. My wife will be coming along this time.
Peace,
Pat

Thanks for the encouragement friend. Sorry to hear about your wife. I felt horrible for the guy when I found out the story. Gives me a tad more motivation to fix her up to my liking.

Just wish I checked in on the car a few years sooner and maybe she wouldn't be so intimidating of a fixer upper.

In sad honesty when I flipped cars years ago, I just bought easy fixes and flipped quick.

Now that I want a car to be my way, I'm realizing I have A LOT to learn.

Like the custom frame ... Lol I can do math, but when it comes to structural integrity, I'm just scared to wreck it.
Finding a fairlady was hard enough.

Pics below:

Photos didn’t come through.

Donita (my wife) used to enjoy Dove candy. On the inside of the wrapping for each piece there is a saying. The two I am paying attention to both showed up after she died.
Ride with the top down
And
Don’t quit until you’re proud

Those are now my goals.

Peace,
Pat

I'm sure she's proud of you. Your optimism after such a loss is inspiring.

Will see what I can do about photos. They show up when I look at it. Not sure why they aren't showing for others.

Whoah.

*sniff*

Neat but sad backstory here... and powerful words as always, Pat.

Welcome Redd!

Man, this has the potential for a great story... A bit of destiny in play, and it seems that this car found the right person for the job.

No pressure, but what a great opportunity to fulfill another's dream at the same time you fulfill yours.

The best advice I couldn't heed, unfortunately, was to get it driving first. I think that was Pat who said that.

I bet that will energize you for the work ahead, and it sounds like you've got the experience to make that happen sooner than later.

Then you can enjoy it while you make it pretty.

I'm really rooting for you and this build.

Good luck!

Peter

Oh, and photos didn't work for me either.

Thanks. Pics should work now. Till next weekend she will have to wait now.

At least the cab is finally clean of all of that....a lot of dirt in that thing. The bottom of the quarters literally has about 5 inches of dirt built up...rained on forever... So it's pretty much a brick inside each quarter.

Next step is find a set of used tires to save a bit.

Then tow her to the wash, and get all the rest of the dust I can't reach with a shop vac.

Then begin the process of pulling the motor and tranny.

Then body removal to address that gigantic hole in the frame.

The problem I'm having is...literally everything needs replaced... suspension wise... And holy crap stock parts for this thing are just wow expensive. For the price of a rear suspension rebuild... I could purchase complete front and rear subframe minus the drive train.

And front suspension is even worse...

The motor won't be hard, a KA24de and 5 speed are a dime a dozen. Wiring will be difficult but I'm not in the slightest deterred.

The frame is where I'll probably be moving at a microscopic rate. Just to be sure I get it right.

Suspension is still undecided, need to take a lot of measurements. But staying stock is definitely not going to happen. It's just not cost efficient for me, especially since I'll break something. Planning on 300 whp and I know that suspension won't take it.

Really stuck on figuring out a subframe that will bolt up with some mods. If I can figure that out. It fixes brakes at the same time. Not to mention the money it will save for the bead roller, finger brake, and steel I need to build the floor pans, rockers, trunk, and quarter panels...

This is just too fun though I'm stoked.

Now that your pics are working, it looks like you have a 65 1500, not a 1600.

I think so too, was told 1600 but he may have been mistaken.

Still need to get the title worked out. Will know for sure when I get the vin inspected.

But I'm positive it's a 1500 now. Still a bit unclear on the differences, besides engine size.

Got a lot of reading to do.

Some of the clues from your pics to indicate that it is a 1500 vs 1600 are:
the 1500 grill ( a popular change these days, but yours looks to have been there a long time).
the 1500 trunk latches
the 65 1500 ash tray

Only about 1100 of the 65 1500s were made.

That's good to know, thank you.

Currently stuck today trying to find a replacement rim, one of mine is rusted through.

Gotta go search wheel and tires section.

If anyone knows off the bat.
What cars have interchangeable 14" rear wheels to my model. Can't seem to find any infor so far.

Hoping I can just go raid one from the scrap yard.

The 1500 has 13" wheels.

Well this one doesn't have stock wheels then.

The rear that fits well is stamped 14x5J 7 2292. The other rear is a 13. No idea why or how, must've been picked up that way. When the old timer bought it. The fronts are stamped Topy 5-78 5TX14 ?? U
I cannot read it well, had scaling on them so most of the stamp is toast. I will wire brush the other one and see if I can get a better reference to the rim.

I'm sorry for your loss, Pat

Thanks. It was time, she had Parkinson’s for 29 years. She was ready.

Peace,
Pat