1969 Datsun 2000

Description

This is the Datsun that established the company (now Nissan) as a racing force to be reckoned with. This little car is a blast to drive! Paul Newman started his racing career driving one of these and they went on to dominate SCCA racing for years in both C and D production classes.

This little Datsun was distinctly different from its British and Italian competitors, and not what people expected to see from a small Japanese company when it was introduced. Presented in a nice shade of Gray, it leads the way up front with DATSUN in separate letters just under a hood scoop with a chrome leading edge and an accent line running back along the center. A grill of horizontal lines is flanked by chrome trimmed headlights perched on the front of the fenders and it's all underlined by a nice chrome bumper. Datsun 2000 appears on the front fender and wheel well flares reach out to cover the tires. The rear fenders curve up and over in a bit of a fin ending in a triple taillight setup. Datsun 2000 appears again on the trunk along with a gas cap and another sharp looking bumper. This car also comes with a removable hardtop which is nice for winter driving or just for a different look for your roadster.

The Black interior of the car has plenty of room for full sized drivers. The door panels are cut back yielding a bit of space for elbows and knees and the leg room is generous. The leather wrapped wheel feels good in your hands and the shifter for the 5-speed transmission, which was a bit of an unusual feature in a production car back in '69, is perfectly placed for spirited driving. The seats have been reupholstered and are comfortable and supportive with cloth centers and vinyl side bolsters. The dash is stock with the tach directly in front of the driver (where it belongs), the speedo off to the left and engine gauges off to the right. An Alpine stereo has been added to the center console for your listening pleasure sitting just above the choke cable. A center console provides a nice armrest and a nice boot can be used to cover the roof when its folded down.

One of the things that made these Datsuns so competitive in racing is their 1982cc overhead cam engine that just loves to rev. It's an inline 4 cylinder with a cast iron block and aluminum head and they are tough and reliable. While the SCCA guys were able to hop them up for production racing quite effectively, this one is wonderfully stock. It has dual SU side draft carburetors and makes about 140 horsepower. The 5-speed transmission lets you pick your gear effectively letting you keep the engine revved up if you wish and sends the power back to a solid axle mounted on leaf springs. Up front, control arms with coil over shocks and a sway bar keep the front end planted and front disc brakes slow the car down quite quickly for the next corner. The rubber meets the road through 165/R14 tires mounted on polished Fenton wheels all around.

A fun little car and an interesting part of Datsun (Nissan) racing history. Come on down and check it out.