This 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster is a mixed bag: it looks to be a very nicely preserved barn find that hadn’t run in some time but managed to survive relatively unscathed. There’s no significant rot to speak of and the seller confirms that the Datsun remains in very original condition. The aftermarket wheels are a take-it-or-leave-it affair, but suit the car well. Unfortunately, you won’t be rolling around all that much as the seller experienced some mechanical issues when starting the Datsun that will require some head work before you get to rip along any backroads. The Datsun is listed here on eBay with no reserve and bidding over $5,000 at the moment. The auction ends Sunday afternoon.

So, first things first: this Datsun has a lovely body, with all of the original details seemingly well preserved. The chrome isn’t overly shiny but it’s not dull, and the taillights – quite memorable for a Japanese car – are in great shape. The paint still shines nicely, and the seller notes there is one repaint in its history file. No word on how good it was, but I can only imagine a car that for years was just a cheap imported runabout didn’t exactly get treated to the world’s best paintjob. Still, it looks good from ten feet, and since it’s apparently not covering up any rust, it would be good enough for me.

The interior shows its age, but it’s definitely usable as-is. The seller notes the cabin remains very original, right down to the factory cigarette lighter, and that it will come with a new tan top. If it were me, I’d have gone for the black top considering the color of the interior. The door panels look good too, so wherever this Datsun was stored, it was apparently done with an eye towards climate control. The Datsun will also come with its original jack and tools still in the OEM packaging, and you may need some of those wrenches and screwdrivers to delve into sorting out the mechanical maladies plaguing the Datsun’s sweet 2.0L engine.

The seller admits that when he was trying to start the car, he realized the “….firing order was wrong and the exhaust valve on the #4 cylinder was stuck in the guide,” where it remains today. To repair it, the head will likely have to come off, so this Datsun has some time-consuming and potentially expensive fixes in its future to address before achieving maximum enjoyment. The seller mentions 25 years as a sort of time stamp as to when this Datsun was last on the road, so I’d just count on the full assortment of deferred maintenance issues to address before you even get into the necessary head repair. Still, it’s not deterring some bidders at this point; would you cast a bid on a project like this?