Talk me out of it: Datsun 1600

{Edit: y'all failed. I'm gonna buy the car.     See page 2.}  

I am looking at a 1970 Datsun 1600 roadster.  It has a seized up emergency brake, the tank needs to be dropped and have the gunk cleaned out, it ran a few years ago.... In other words, cute, but a possible basket case....and yet I am tempted.

I have read the responses to jr02518's thread  and think these are the most common problems:

• Small parts are scarce
• rust is ubiquitous
• 175/ 70 14 tires are not plentiful or cheap
• 5-speed swaps are possible

Engine and transmission swaps are beyond my capabilities, anyway.... I'm even wondering how to get all the Chrome bits off to blast the rust without damaging them.  With that much obvious rust, I'd guess that there's two to three times that much that we can't see.

Does the grm hive mind think this one is worth the effort of saving and putting back on the road?  

If you decide to pass on it let me know, i've got one in my garage I need parts for 

In reply to 06HHR (Forum Supporter) :

Do you think it's only worth using as a parts car? 

Those front floors.  In a convertible?!?!   That car is effectively rust free (from what can be seen)!

Looks good to me.

My only concern (other then what you stated) would be the paint looks too nice.  Which means it's been repainted.  Which could me the paint is hiding some horrors (bad body work etc).  But the floors look really good (for a convertible).

So, NO, absolutely will not talk you out of it.

No. I won't talk you out of it. 

How are the rockers and suspension mounting points ?

Thats the important places , the floors are easy to replace , 

Does the motor turn ?

Looks like a neat car , just try and keep it a driver and not spend too much on it, 

Good Luck

As far as I can tell, as long as the rust is on the surface, and not holes, I'd go for it.

I know bits are hard to come by, but as long as they are not critical, you can slowly put them back on.

Funny side note, though, remember when we all met in Lansing almost 20 years ago to talk about Quasi's Datsun Roadster Challenge project?  IIRC, he even brought the shell to an AROC event to show it to us.  

Thankfully, this car is light years better than that was....

We fully support your oldschool japanese habit.  These are so amazing.  There was a widebody nasty one that autox'd in my region for years after having a long road race career.  It was amazing.  

Not the same car but close.

In reply to 06HHR (Forum Supporter) :

No! It's actually better than the one i'm currently storing!  I say go for it, mine has some rust in the rockers that i'll have to deal with when I start working on it someday.  Yours is damn near concours by comparison. 

You haven't looked at many Datsun roadsters?  That's not a basket case.  LOL

I'm in the enabler camp 

And it comes with free wood!

I saw one in the wild yesterday.  It was restored and modified (aftermarket exhaust).  It was very cool.  

I sure as heck won't talk you out of it if it's cheap enough. While a bit more challenging from a parts availability standpoint, this is cooler than an MGB or Spitfire, IMHO.  I'm also betting an engine swap is simple enough.  LOTS of old datsuns get newer nissan 4cyl engines.

Datsun310Guy said:

You haven't looked at many Datsun roadsters?  That's not a basket case.  LOL

No doubt, mine had been hidden in a garage for 40 years and didn't look that good

The biggest challenge is finding parts.  If you are ok with figuring out which Wilwood calipers can be installed, and other things of that sort, then have at it.

I'm hung up on these words you wrote:  

Engine and transmission swaps are beyond my capabilities, anyway.... 

I guess I'm just wondering if you're looking for something a bit more tun-key?  This could one be a long way from the days you actually drive it.  I think you already have one Datsun-kit in this phase.    

Personally, when I bought my '90 Miata in '93, what I really wanted was a Triumph TR4 or TR250 (I liked the little tail fins.)  What I realized is that at the time they were all 25 years old and what I really wanted was a car to drive, not a car to work on.  That then 3 year old Miata was then prefect answer to what I really wanted.  I still have it today.  Now at 31 years old, it is mechanically more reliable than the 25 year old TR4's in the day.  

So, how much more to find a turn-key NA Miata?  Or, even a NB?   

I have always wanted one of these.

John Welsh said:

I guess I'm just wondering if you're looking for something a bit more tun-key?  This could one be a long way from the days you actually drive it.    

Good eye for detail, there.  This is the crux of the problem.  My Mrs. has already said that it is a cute car,  she misses the convertible she used to own, etc.   She doesn't mind the idea of working on the car, but we both agree that DRIVING a convertible is more fun than working on one.   Your idea of a miata might be easier.

John Welsh said:

I'm hung up on these words you wrote:  

Engine and transmission swaps are beyond my capabilities, anyway.... 

[....]

I think you already have one Datsun-kit in this phase.    

Yes, I already have another datsun project; you are thinking of Rose, my Type 11-ish car.  She's a scratch-built, datsun-powered streetrod that is styled to be similar to one of the forgotten datsuns of the 1930s.  The car's construction resembles what you might see in a child resulting from an illicit romance between a locost and a rat rod who hooked up in the appliances section of a home improvement store.

I pulled an engine and fitted it to a dissimilar frame to create that Frankenstein's monster, but I needed help to get everything hooked up and running afterwards.  My phrasing of  "beyond my capabilities" might be a touch of hyperbole.  I should have gone with "are not something I'm comfortable with."

John Welsh said:

I'm hung up on these words you wrote:  

Engine and transmission swaps are beyond my capabilities, anyway.... 

I guess I'm just wondering if you're looking for something a bit more tun-key?  This could one be a long way from the days you actually drive it.  I think you already have one Datsun-kit in this phase.    

Personally, when I bought my '90 Miata in '93, what I really wanted was a Triumph TR4 or TR250 (I liked the little tail fins.)  What I realized is that at the time they were all 25 years old and what I really wanted was a car to drive, not a car to work on.  That then 3 year old Miata was then prefect answer to what I really wanted.  I still have it today.  Now at 31 years old, it is mechanically more reliable than the 25 year old TR4's in the day.  

So, how much more to find a turn-key NA Miata?  Or, even a NB?   

Hey, this is exactly why certain cars made (or didn't make) our list of good first classics. 

I cannot even approach discouraging you.  I am only capable of Enabling.

Datsun's are so hot right now.

David S. Wallens said:

Hey, this is exactly why certain cars made (or didn't make) our list of good first classics. 

Thank you.  I appreciate it.

This used to belong to a member of my local autox club, so nothing but enablement here:

In reply to JoeyM :

If you can get it to start, and it has all of the usual- oil pressure, good idle, no leaks, and when it fully warms up, the T-stat opens, I'd almost wager taking a chance on the trans to work.  So it will me more about taking apart the rear brakes to address the locked up e-brake.  

Heck, in that condition (cleaned up, of course), it would be a cool "survivor" car on the road.

How close is it?

I would love one of these and my wife would too, project or not, so I'm semi relieved to see you're in Florida in case you pass on this, lol.

They all look amazing, and though I've never driven one they still just look too good. I passed on a cheap one locally because of how bad the rust was, none of which is showing here.

Love 'em. My dad rescued one from a field.in the mid-80s, full resto/rebuild into a road race car.