In 1974, when I was in high school, my first car was a metallic blue 1967 Ford Fairlane GT, with a black vinal top. It was an automatic transmission with a 390 cubic inch engine. It could burn rubber from a standstill. It had so much power! In fact, it had too much power. The new owner rolled it.
In 1975, while still in high school, I purchased the 1970 Datsun 2000 Roadster, from a Boulder Colorado resident. I drove from Denver to Boulder (25 miles), with my brother, to just look at it. It was in the driveway and as soon as I saw it, I said “I want this car!” I did not know how to drive a manual 5-speed transmission, however, beforehand, I had read up on how to operate a manual transmission and drove it home that day. I spoke to the owner who was the Editor of the local Boulder newspaper and he said that his wife just had a baby, and they could no longer keep the 2-seater. I have owned it for 49 years.
After talking to the owner, who filled me in on all the details of the Datsun, I felt as if this was “the car” for me. He let me know that the unwritten rule was that if I saw another Datsun roadster on the road that we would wave to each other. I did not remember that lesson until I saw another Datson roadster on the road and sure enough the other driver waved to me and I responded with a proud wave back. There were other Datsun 1600’s and 2000’s on the road back then, but few and far in between. In the last 15 years or so, I’ve only seen a handful on the road.
This has the 2L OHC engine with dual carburetors. It can also burn rubber from a standstill. This was one of the fastest 4-cylinder vehicles of its time. These vehicles also raced in the Baja. A college buddy told me that he raced in the Baja, in an MGB. He said the only thing he remembers about the Datsun 2000s were their back taillights (in reference to never being able to pass the Datsun 2000s).
I relayed to him my story of driving from Denver to Fort Collins (about a 65-mile drive on I-25) back to Colorado State University at about 4:00 AM on a Sunday morning. There was no traffic, however all of a sudden, a Volkswagen Karmen Ghia pulled up beside me and tried to pass. That was not going to happen. The Datsun speedometer goes up to 160 mph. So, this was going to be the test. I had it in 5th gear and kept it at about 100 mph. The ride normally takes an hour; however, I made it in less than 30 minutes. Needless to say, that Volkswagen never passed the Datsun, it only saw my back taillights.
The Datsun has about 8-inches of clearance and hugs the road. I could take corners with hardly any sway, at a decent speed. I also remember taking it up Poudre Canyon, just northwest of Fort Collins, early in the morning around sunrise. Again, no traffic, but could round those curves with ease.
During the time I had the Datsun 2000, I’ve received many different comments about the vehicle. Some would say it looked like an MG, a Triumph, or a Fiat. However, Sports car enthusiasts new it was none of those. They knew that the round tail lights were distinct to the Datsun Roadsters. I also received comments that the car was “cute”. I had to correct them to say it was a mean machine.
Even though it is officially a 2-seater convertible, I’ve fit 5 people in it from time to time, especially in high school and college. I also remember one time when we fit 7 people in it, with the convertible top on. I think we all were on top of each other. Thank goodness for those coil springs, independent front suspension, and rear leaf springs!
Sadly, after 48 years, the time has come for me to part with my Datsun. The new owner is about five miles away and picked it up recently to drive it back to its new destination. I have nothing but great feelings about my experiences with the Datsun. It got me to and from destinations in all weather conditions and then some. It’s going to someone who appreciates classic sports cars, which makes it easier to part with. Now it is time for someone else to experience the treasures that the vehicle holds, and it is time for me to let it go and move on. Thanks to all the acquaintances I’ve met due to the 1970 Datsun 2000 Roadster!