Vehicle Description
At the dawn of the 1960s, the Japanese motor industry finally began
to find its post-war footing and got serious about expanding to
export markets, particularly to the all-important United States of
America. The Japanese had a lot to learn about American tastes, and
many US buyers still had considerable skepticism toward Japanese
and German cars. Taking a page from the Brits from a decade before,
Datsun figured the fastest way to the hearts of Americans was with
a sports car. After a false start, Datsun introduced the stylish
Fairlady, known outside Japan as the Sports 1500. The two-seat
roadster debuted at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show and seemed the
perfect fit for the roadster-crazed American market. Like the
British MGB, the Sports 1500 was robust, uncomplicated, and full of
charm. As American buyers caught on, Datsun engineers scurried to
improve the car and keep it competitive in a hotly-contested
market. They hired the noted designer Count Albrecht Goertz to
freshen the styling for the 1965 models. He gave the car a subtle
facelift, making it lower and sportier, and Datsun added a 1600 cc
for improved performance. The most significant evolution came
midway through the 1967 model year when the 2000 Sports joined the
range. This range-topping Datsun Sports Roadster featured a new
2-liter engine with a single overhead camshaft, dual side draft
SU-style Hitachi carburetors, and a 5-speed gearbox. In SCCA
Production-class racing, the little Datsun roadsters cleaned up,
handily beating the British competition with the help of legends
like Pete Brock on the West Coast and Bob Sharp on the East. The
2000's punchy performance, low weight, and superb handling made for
dominant performances in SCCA 2-liter classes and paved the way for
future success in Trans Am racing with the 510 and 240Z. Because
Datsun rolled out the 2000 Roadster in the middle of the model
cycle, the first 750 cars were so-called 1967 � models, with
numerous differences that make them among the most desirable of the
Sports Roadster series. The appeal comes in their pre-federal
emissions spec and combination of the superb OHC engine, 5-speed
gearbox, and the preferred lower windshield body styling. This
example is a genuine '67 � 2000 Roadster, benefitting from an
intensely researched, meticulously detailed body-off restoration
overseen by a devoted marque enthusiast. This original US-market
car is #421 of the approximately 750 built and is among fewer than
300 known to the Datsun Registry today. The � year 2000 can be
distinguished by many details, but foremost is the chassis number,
and this car bears the correct SRL-311 prefix followed by a
sub-1000 serial number. It also features the proper instruments,
the correct gray-finish on the interior brightwork, authentic
badging, and other details shared with pre-68 models. After hunting
for an elusive 67 � 2000 Roadster for several years, this car's
most recent owner hired an experienced marque specialist to find
one. Finally, in 2011, after a considerable search, he found this
example in Renton, Washington, still in the hands of the original
owner! Copies of the original sales receipt show the owner bought
the car from Sam Younker Auto Sales on September 21, 1967, for
$2,500, and he lovingly maintained the Datsun for the next 40-plus
years. After facilitating the sale from the original owner, the car
went to California for evaluation and sorting. After taking
delivery in 2012, the most recent owner decided the Datsun deserved
a comprehensive restoration back to exacting original standards. He
spent years researching and sourcing many rare and unique NOS '67 �
parts while the body was removed from the chassis for a full
bare-metal repaint - the owner selecting a brighter shade of silver
over the original gray. Photos on file show the bodyshell was
remarkably clean and solid, thanks to a salt-free life in the
Pacific Northwest. The chassis was stripped and refinished in the
correct shade of satin black paint, the original engine and gearbox
rebuilt, and the car meticulously detailed during reassembly. As
offered, the Datsun 2000 wears a highly detailed and thoughtful
restoration. Authenticity abounds, with a crisp and honest
presentation and all the proper '67 � touches in place. Finished in
silver over black upholstery, it is a lovely car with straight,
well-defined panels and beautifully restored exterior trim. It sits
nicely on the road, rolling on proper 14-inch steel wheels shod
with dog-dish hubcaps and narrow whitewall radials. According to
the most recent custodian, the seats, door cards, parcel area, and
kick panels are beautifully preserved originals, having only been
carefully cleaned and reinstalled. The carpets and a few other
items are new replacements, while the correct 160-mph speedo, 8,000
rpm tach, and ancillary gauges are professionally restored. Further
details include period-correct radio, proper gray-finish interior
metal trim, NOS switchgear, and a new canvas convertible top. Under
the bonnet sits Datsun's OHC 2-liter 4-cylinder engine, a spirited
unit paired with an excellent 5-speed gearbox - a fitment typically
the reserve of far more exotic machinery of the day. The block
stampings correspond with those on the ID plate, and the engine is
authentically detailed with period-correct hardware and finishes.
Enthusiasts of these sporting Datsuns consider the 1967 � 2000 as
one of the most desirable of the roadster series. As a result,
excellent cars rarely appear on the open market, and when they do,
few are as carefully researched and meticulously detailed as this
marvelous example. Offers welcome and trades considered For
additional details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7352-1967-datsun-2000-roadster/
