Datsun had a winner on its hands with the “Fairlady”, although the name wouldn’t have been a winner for the U.S. market, to say the least. This 1969 Datsun 2000 Roadster can be found here on craigslist just northeast of Dallas, Texas. The seller is asking $5,500 or best offer for this solid car. This could be a great buy. Thanks to the sharp eye of Ikey H. for submitting this find!
This looks like a great project car, drive as you restore. The seller has owned it since 1993 and it has been in storage for 25 years – they just pulled it out a year ago and started tinkering with it. It’s a Texas car so they say that it’s basically rust-free and it has never been in a hard collision, which I don’t know if I’ve heard before. I don’t really see any damage so I’m not sure what soft collisions may have happened.
These stacked tail lights always get to me, in a good way. Not to mention, this era is before the ridiculous angry-faced cars of today. The Datsun Sports 2000 was the one to have and the cars that are really on top of the pile are the half-year cars, as in the Sports 2000s which were made in the first half of 1967 and had the bigger 2.0L engines but still had the low windshield. You will not find one for $5,500 so this is the next best thing.
There is not one photo of the interior or even a mention of the interior at all which is unusual, given that the seller has provided three good engine photos. We do know that it needs a new top and the 2.0L inline-four runs and drives. This baby also has new tires and new adjustable gas shocks. Hagerty is at $8,000 for a #4 fair condition car and $15,600 for a #3 good condition car so this could be a great buy at $5,500 or best offer. Have any of you owned a Sports/Fairlady 2000 roadster?
I outran a CHP at 130 mph down the San Bernardino Freeway in one of these in 1972. It was, uh, slightly modified!
Great little car!!!
Owned a l967.5 1600 roadster. A good handling, light on performance joy to drive. I always thought that the 2000 would be the right solution to the shortcomings of the 1600. This could be a great deal and I hope it finds a good home.
I agree, Asians had such seemingly silly names for their cars, all I can think of is “London Bridges falling down”,,etc. Some people don’t agree, but being an avid MGB lover, this is about as close to an Asian MGB as one would get. I’m not a fan of Asian cars, but would love a 2000 like this.
See Rex,( and your 2 followers) I do like something after all,,sorry, just had enough of the “Howard Haters” on this site is all. So much for your personal attack disclaimer too. Remember, I’m paying for this site, are you?
Every comment just seems to be negative.
Time for me to fly, methinks,,
Raced against one of these in the mid ’70s with my ’59 Porsche Convertible D. Ran within miliseconds of each other for a couple of years to the point of offering the owner to buy his car. No dice on that but it was a great car. Still is.
Timeless style, if this was built today it’d sell like hotcakes. Are you listening Nissan slash Datsun? While you ponder that how about a 510 reissue?
“Yes”, wuz just what I asked 4 last post w/the 1600. Don’t care abt the “lower windshield” go 4 this 1 w/the 3 weber DCOEs (among other mods).
Yeah, but how are you going to add the other 2 cylinders. Sorry, couldn’t resist it.
I want to say thanks to Scotty G. for all he presents to us. Like them or hate them, we see a wide range of everything here, always presented in a positive way, while kindly pointing out the good or misgivings or omissions in each listing. I also want to thank those of you who chime in, because sometimes I scratch my head, wondering what the seller was thinking, good or bad. I appreciate the comments and extra perspective I get from you all.
At 60 years old, sometimes I think I am caught up in the past, wondering about the values of some things, and it helps to have all the input to either support or refute my point of view.
Thanks again to all of you, and thanks for keeping it clean!
As for this car, I worked in a wrecking yard in the mid-70’s. So many things we cast away, at the direction of the owner. A 70,000 mile ’68 442 needing a quarter, a few of these SPL 311s, , and many others. Wish I could go back with some wisdom, cash, and storage, to save some of the ones that were cast away…
Rode home through Vermont in one of these around 1971 100% highway ride. Quite comfortable high speed ride. 30 + fuel milage 103 octane Sunoco +. Drop Top. *****
In high school I spotted one of these in rough shape, no carburetors, open to the rain, etc. for sale at a local farm market. I never knew such a car existed. It might as well have been a flying saucer in rural PA. Guy wanted $2000 for it, which might as well have been $200,000. I might have scraped together $700 for it, then regretted it about 15 minutes later. Same color as this one. Would love to try one out some day. Best of luck to the new owner. Thanks for pointing it out Scotty!