Newbie searching for the right Roadster

[LI Roadster]

I'm Matt, the new guy,

Currently Roadsterless!

My wife and I fell in love with the Datsun Roadsters at a car show last year, and I was hooked, I have been looking for a a good weekend driver ever since.

Been lurking here for almost a year so I figured now was as good a time as any to finally sign up.

[GeoffM]

Hi Matt,
Welcome. I'm sure you two will find the right one. The info you'll find here is invaluable.

[S Allen]

Hey Matt-welcome. Good luck on you roadster hunt. They are definitely fun cars to drive. Spend a little more and buy a good driver that does not need much work for your first one. Then the second one can be the project car-money pit. Enjoy!!!

Steve

[FairladySPL]

Matt since I'm out east with you I shall keep an eye out for Roadsters that come on the market out here.

The Virginia-Maryland-Pennsylvania area seems rather fertile for Roadsters. Do you have preference for a 1600 or a 2000? Do you want a ready-to-roll example? (recommended as you get acclimated)

I like playing Cupid matching people with cars for sale.

One that got away years ago in Greenbelt, Maryland was a right hand drive, short-window 1600 with what appeared to be a FACTORY hardtop. Oil guage in Kg, Fuel in liters. No softtop frame but so what. Car was kind of a mess but complete.

Fellow was getting kicked out as his parents prepared to move, and the "project" car in the yard had to go. We had the money and pestered to close the deal but he found a place to keep it and was never seen again.

Success stories include protective purchase and custody for an early 1967 2000 with factory Solex. A mechanic at a local Datsun dealer was using it as a daily driver, and I would see it at the curb when I'd go buy parts. Our club had negotiated a 20% discount on dealer parts and we became friendly with both the parts guy and this mechanic. Eventually he sold the car and it sits, covered and unrestored, at an undisclosed location.

Found a rusted 1968 2000 at the rundown wharfs of Baltimore for $150, closed that deal at a nearby tavern. Fellow said it didn't run, but we found a snapped choke cable so as one of us raised the levers, the other one cranked the starter and WHEEE what a glorious sound. The exhaust system stopped at the end of the header. Drove it home.

Then there was the complete parts car I never did a damn thing with. Got that one for $200, a 1969 1600, by paying off accumulated parking tickets from the District of Columbia. Owner's other tags were being withheld until she satisfied the debt. In my vast knowledge I thought it had a cracked engine block. Turns out it was a popped freeze plug, said the new owner. Kept that one in a friend's backyard storage shed for many years, but have only a top frame from it today.

So, they're out there, and let's stay in touch.

--Paul/Annapolis

[LI Roadster]

Matt since I'm out east with you I shall keep an eye out for Roadsters that come on the market out here.

The Virginia-Maryland-Pennsylvania area seems rather fertile for Roadsters. Do you have preference for a 1600 or a 2000? Do you want a ready-to-roll example? (recommended as you get acclimated)

I like playing Cupid matching people with cars for sale.

One that got away years ago in Greenbelt, Maryland was a right hand drive, short-window 1600 with what appeared to be a FACTORY hardtop. Oil guage in Kg, Fuel in liters. No softtop frame but so what. Car was kind of a mess but complete.

Fellow was getting kicked out as his parents prepared to move, and the "project" car in the yard had to go. We had the money and pestered to close the deal but he found a place to keep it and was never seen again.

Success stories include protective purchase and custody for an early 1967 2000 with factory Solex. A mechanic at a local Datsun dealer was using it as a daily driver, and I would see it at the curb when I'd go buy parts. Our club had negotiated a 20% discount on dealer parts and we became friendly with both the parts guy and this mechanic. Eventually he sold the car and it sits, covered and unrestored, at an undisclosed location.

Found a rusted 1968 2000 at the rundown wharfs of Baltimore for $150, closed that deal at a nearby tavern. Fellow said it didn't run, but we found a snapped choke cable so as one of us raised the levers, the other one cranked the starter and WHEEE what a glorious sound. The exhaust system stopped at the end of the header. Drove it home.

Then there was the complete parts car I never did a damn thing with. Got that one for $200, a 1969 1600, by paying off accumulated parking tickets from the District of Columbia. Owner's other tags were being withheld until she satisfied the debt. In my vast knowledge I thought it had a cracked engine block. Turns out it was a popped freeze plug, said the new owner. Kept that one in a friend's backyard storage shed for many years, but have only a top frame from it today.

So, they're out there, and let's stay in touch.

--Paul/Annapolis

Paul,
Thanks for thinking about me.

I actually bought Andrew Stits 69 2000 in June, here is the info from the registry.
SRL311-11606
Andrew Stitt's 1969 2 liter. Purchased 02/2003. U20, Mikunis with a 5 speed gear box. Exterior color red with a black interior. No roll bar installed. Car has both hard and a soft top.
after contacting Andrew I was able to track down the previous owner before him, I found out that the car was originally pale yellow 665, and has been a southern car its whole life, hence the lack of rust,

I put classic insurance and vintage 1969 plates on the car, so far I have been cruising local streets, I haven't driven a 5spd in 10 years, so I have to work the kinks out before I venture far from home.
so far I love this car. it is a blast to drive and people stare at it, not sure what it is!.

cheers

[FairladySPL]

Matt, VGood on finally getting one of your own -- and apparently via a connection here on the site besides.

Responding to your experience driving along and having people stare at it, not sure what it is! --

See if this isn't true too: When we are at walking speed in the summer, moving through an area where a lot of people are on the sidewalks, one of the most popular quotes you may hear is "I didn't know Datsun made a convertible ?!?!?!"

This is usually overheard among people seeing you go by, not really talking to you. Sometimes they'll shout WHAT YEAR IS IT ???? and of course (in our case) there's the memorable shoutback "69 !!!"

In the past few years as the DATSUN brand retreats further into history, I wonder whether the mystery may already include "What's a Datsun???" among people not knowing its link to today's Nissan.

I especially wonder how younger people view the name "Datsun." It's been 25 years since the automaker began to market itself as "Nissan" instead of "Datsun" in the United States. When I was in my 20s I still knew what a "Studebaker" was even though it too, had been out of business for about 20 years by then.