Car Closure after 50 Years – a Car Story

Last year, I saw a 1968 Datsun roadster for sale, like the one I bought for $200 when I was 16. It reminded me of high school, driving with the top down, feeling free to go where I wanted to go and be who I wanted to be. The metallic red exterior and chrome looked awesome, and the seller, who was 450 miles away, assured me it was “A1 mechanically sound.” There are very few of these cars left now and I visualized driving it to vintage car shows during the summer. The price was too good to be true, so I had to buy it! An enclosed carrier shipped the car since it didn’t have a working soft top.

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. 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 engine and transmission. And, just like 50 years ago, I couldn’t find anyone willing to do that. Add to that, I’m no mechanic!

Suddenly the dream car purchase made no sense. The last thing I wanted was a project car…I had to sell it for a loss or try to pull the engine and replace the clutch myself. This Datsun and I are linked by the past. Like me, the car was at its prime 50 years ago, before experiencing the rough roads, accidents, and general wear from the passage of time. Had I taken better care of my first car, it might still be on the road today. Instead, I was careless and took it for granted. It lasted one year, overheated, seized the engine, and I sold it for salvage.
Thinking about it this way reminded me of myself. 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 some, and treat 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 fix it up. Even restored, it can’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 failed to do 50 years ago. I pulled the engine, installed the clutch, and put it back on the road. 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. In a strange way, I feel like I’ve made amends for the past and finally found closure with my original Datsun 1600. And I now own a hoist in case it’s needed for the next project car.

Fear Nada, 

2BukChuk