During the height of the Covid crises, an eBay car for sale add caught my eye. It looked like my first car, the Datsun roadster I bought for $200 when I turned 16. Suddenly, memories of high school arose from the dust pile of my brain. No, not the daily grind of going to classes and sweating exams, but driving with the top down and wind in my face. Feeling free to go where I wanted to go and be who I wanted to be.
Soon I found myself scrolling through Barn Finds and Bring a Trailer auctions on line. Knowing I might need some help if I bought one, I called the Datsun Doctor in Detroit to see if they could work on the roadster. “Sure,” said the manager, “but don’t buy one if money is a concern.” No problem, I thought to myself, I’ll focus my search on a car that wouldn’t need work.
One day, a car for sale online showcased a Datsun roadster with metallic red exterior and bright chrome. It looked awesome, and old Joe, the seller, who was 500 miles away, assured me it was “A1 mechanically sound.” There are very few of these cars around anymore and I visualized driving the rare Japanese convertible to classic car shows in the summer.
The price was just too good to be true and Joe said he had multiple people calling about the car. I had to buy it before someone else nabbed it, right? Bypassing an onsite inspection, we made arrangements and a car carrier dropped the car on my driveway a week later. The metallic paint sparkled and I felt like a kid on Christmas morning.
Reality hit home on the initial drive as the brakes went to the floor, the engine ran on 3 cylinders, and it wouldn’t restart. It leaked oil and anti-freeze, needed brakes, a water pump, a fuel pump, and an alternator. None of the lights worked and my garage now smelled like gas and oil mixed with the aroma of old carpet and sunbaked plastic. How did my plan go so wrong? After thinking I’d found the car version of buried treasure, turns out the treasure was more like fools gold instead!
There would be no joy rides until the repairs were done. I worked with a local mechanic (thx Ken) to get the engine running only to discover it needed a clutch. That meant pulling the motor and transmission. And, unlike 50 years ago, I couldn’t find anyone willing to do that.
Suddenly the dream car purchase made no sense. The last thing I wanted was a project car. I admired people that could work on cars but had very little mechanical experience myself. Should I sell it for a loss or try to do the work myself?
What to do? Down shift and think…seems this old car and I were linked by the past. Like me, the car was at its prime decades ago, before experiencing the rough roads, accidents, and general wear from the passage of time. Looking back, I hadn’t taken good care of my first car either.
Instead, I was careless and took it for granted. It lasted one year, overheated, seized the engine, and I sold it for salvage. In a strange way, I connected those mechanical failures and lack of care for the car to myself and the cycle of life.
Physically, I can’t return to the shape I was in decades ago. My interior and exterior show signs of wear but, I’m more careful now. I try to eat better, exercise more, and handle heath issues as needed. I want to avoid the salvage yard for as long as possible!
Thus became my mission – fix the car. It hadn’t been road worthy for decades. It was in a barn for over 20 years before two different owners spent 6 years trying to get it back to a drivable condition. Even if restored, it wouldn’t compare to the power, safety, and comfort of a modern sports car. But, like me, with an investment of time, money, and energy, we can both be the best that we can be, considering our age.
So, I did something I couldn’t do 50 years ago. I pulled the motor, installed the clutch, and put it back on the road. My daughter and I put a new soft top on it and everything works now. Even though it’ll never be “like new” again, on a warm summer day it still offers an exhilarating ride down a windy two-lane road.
And now, I feel like I’ve made amends for the past and finally found closure with my original Datsun 1600. The Datsun Spirit is happy and my karma is stronger for it. As a bonus, I now own a hoist in case it’s needed for the next project car.
Fear Nada,
2BukChuk
Pingback: In the Beginning… – DIG My Car