This 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster is in the sort of condition you love to see: mechanically restored with a fresh interior but the outside left just as scruffy as the day it was found. The seller has made some very smart improvements to this classic “Fairlady” roadster, and the car remains in the kind of cosmetic condition where you’re not ashamed of it but also don’t mind parking in a movie theater lot. The description makes the Datsun sound like it’s ready to be driven practically anywhere, with some upgrades that will likely make it even more enjoyable to drive than when it was new. Find the Datsun here on eBay where bidding has reached $4,450 with the reserve unmet.

The seller also has a Buy-It-Now posted of $12,500, so bidding is well short of that number at the moment. Before we get into the list of improvements, it bears mentioning that the seller purchased the Datsun from the second owner, so it hasn’t changed hands too much in its lifetime. The seller claims he’s pumped $14,000 into the restoration of this Datsun, but that it will still need a respray, some light rust repair, and the bumpers re-chromed if you want it to be perfect. No thanks – I’d drive it exactly as is, with the exception of possibly repairing what sounds like limited rust damage. The interior was been rejuvenated with a new interior kit and canvas top, and comes with the original jack and tool bag.

The seller has spent plenty of time under the hood, which is typically the kind of buyer you want to source a vintage car from. The work includes a rebuilt engine with just 3,200 miles of use under its belt. As part of the rebuild, the seller smartly upgraded the engine with a more powerful “B” cam, which should make this already-fun roadster even more of a hoot to wring out. Other work includes new tires, battery, fuel pump, and clutch cylinder. The engine bay isn’t overly detailed, but I wouldn’t be too worried about that – again, the seller sounds like someone who prioritizes reliable use over cosmetic perfection. For a $14,000 investment, though, I suspect the seller will have a hard time recouping that investment when it still looks rough on the outside.

The bodywork isn’t awful, but I can see why someone would want to make some improvements. It’s just a slippery slope with bodywork, as you never know what you’ll uncover the deeper you go. Still, this Datsun doesn’t strike me as rustbucket, and it’d be helpful to know where those two long-term owners resided in terms of determining whether it ever had prolonged exposure to road salt. I doubt it, as the Datsun wouldn’t be in one piece if it had been a northern car. The damage shown here by the driver’s side taillight is certainly an area I would repair, but I’m not sure if I’d proceed with a full respray. Fix what needs to be fixed on the body and re-chrome the bumpers, but try to avoid the respray if you can – that’d be my approach. How would you improve this refreshed Datsun 2000 Roadster?