Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

As I was reading about the SU carbs, I am still fascinated by it, but sill pretty new to me and would love to be educated more on the matter. What are the basic differences, pound for pound? Can they be interchanged? Has any of you had a run in with an MG? Any bad blood, territorial issues?

For Roadsters it chaps my hide when people unknowingly call it an MG.

Roadsters and MG were designed by the same Dutch designer. Datsun commissioned the Dutchman to make the original design. Hence, the Roadster has a Euro styling.

After it was over the Dutchman quickly turned around and sold a similar design to MG.

The Roadsters were manufactured a 1 year before the MG.

Since the Brits have a reputation history of making racing cars the Datsun did not sell as well. The Roadster is Japan's 1st export line sports car.

The two cars are similar, yet very different. About the only thing that you can swap between them is the wheels and the headlights (possibly). The 1600 has more power than the MGB, and a 2 liter will eat an MGB for a mid morning snack (SUs and A cam) with the solexs and B cam its not even a contest. The rear suspension is better on the roadster (no lever shocks here) the later cars used finned aluminum brake drums in the back (mg stayed with the cast iron ones). All in all the roadster is most likely the better perfoming of the two. MG did stay with the low windshield, I'll give them that.

Just my $.02
Will

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alving wrote:MG did offer a v-8 in the late model cars, something I have yet to see in a roadster

Here's a roadster with a Ford V8 in it:

bespa wrote:Has any of you had a run in with an MG? Any bad blood, territorial issues?

Disclaimer: "Don't try this at home."

This happened before I grew up, and also before I discovered autocrossing. One night I was driving home after going to a movie. I was driving north on Crenshaw, down from the Palos Verdes Plaza. A car came up beside me and it was an MGB. We proceded down the hill, but the larger-engined MG (1800cc vs 1600) couldn't quite catch back up. He turned east on PV Drive South(?), the first signal, I went straight. I was barely across the intersection when I was stopped by a policeman. He was p*ssed, grabbed my license and told me not to move and then took off.

He came back later, said couldn't find the other car, then wrote me up for 95 in a 45 (I think) zone. Said it was reckless driving. I went back sometime later and drove it at about 60-65. I couldn't believe I was going as fast as he said I was. Shoulda fought it, didn't, and it almost cost me my license. <shrug>

Other than that, no run-ins, and they were in a different class in autocrossing, but generally ran faster times than me. No bad blood.

I drove a 1600, and if you look at the construction of the two cars, you'll see that the British built theirs with a stamped steel valve cover, ours is cast aluminum. I'm sure there are many other differences, but that one has always stood out in my mind.

A lot of Roadster guys have animosity to MG guys and a lot of MG guys have animosity to Roadster guys. I understand where it began, but don't understand why it continues. They are just different takes on the same idea - a two seat sports car. The Roadster is generally attributed with better quality of construction and performance per engine size while the MG is generally seen as a better touring car. The MG FAR outsold the Datsun. The designs were done independently (don't know where the Dutchman story comes from, but it is new to me - and does not match what has been documented in Fairlady, the First Japanese Sports Car by Phil Brook - a great read btw.) and had some design similarities. The engines had a similar look which makes sense since Datsun manufactured and sold Austins under license back in the 50s. Remember that the single carb 1500s had a chromed stamped steel valve cover. The H20 still does iirc.

Is one better than the other - well, I guess it depends on what you are after. I was always one to want something different than the mainstream. That is why I gravitated to the Datsun. It was virtually unknown when I found out about them. The MGs were all over the place. A well tuned MG 1800 will have a slight edge over a well tuned 1600 (not nearly as much as it should though) while any 2000 will suck the headlights out of a B. The MG transmissions were always junky by comparison. The engine design was not as advanced (single port for 2 cylinders rather than dual ports like the Datsun). The lever shocks are fine when new, but wear quickly and are EXPENSIVE to replace.

Most of the MG foibles have been addressed in the aftermarket. There are kits to swap transmissions for better units (often Datsun units!), there are cross flow aluminum heads for MUCH better performance (www.piercemanifolds.com - same guys that make a 1600 weber intake), and there have been tube shock conversions since the 70's. If I had any sense, I would probably get a B. The parts supply is vastly superior, and there are clubs almost everywhere that welcome B drivers. In some areas, Roadsters are shunned still. I hate to say it, but to many people, the Datsun is the "poor white trash" sports car. (not my phrase, but it does have truth)

With care, a Datsun can best a B. If we had the same amount of sales originally, there would be a stronger aftermarket support. I am still amazed at the parts supply for Roadsters. Only now - 33 years after the last one was assembled - are parts truly drying up. The vendors are doing a fantastic job of keeping them on the road. I would venture that a higher percentage of Datsun Roadsters survive today than MGs. The sheer strength of numbers of the MGs means that you will always see more of them.

As far as interchangability, there are a number of items that can be used that are not documented. I have heard of seat webbing, some engine parts (SU carbs for example), side trim (not exact but looks OK), and so forth being used. Too bad it has not been documented. Plus, a lot of guys would rather have their car be incomplete than use brit parts....

Just yesterday I showed some photos of my car to a friend and he said, "What is that? An MG?"

Back when I had a Roadster as a daily driver in college, I was talking to a Friend one day while I was leaned up on the front fender. The Datsun emblem was right beside me. A passerby looked at the car and at me and said "Nice Triumph" - apparently he did not see the Datsun emblem....

Heck, back in the early 80's I pulled into a Datsun dealership parking lot - right in view of the parts department counter - and went in. The parts guy said that Datsun never made a convertible. He was a bit sheepish when I pointed at my car and said "then what did I drive up in...."