21st Apr 2006, 14:13

I bought a 2000 in September 1968. What a piece of junk!! Within 500 miles, it developed a problem that I was sure was a broken sprocket. The dealership, Scappy-Peck on Long Island, was not so sure and tore the entire engine down. It was a sprocket.

After that, the car never ran right. It went through a clutch in 6000 miles and overheated regularly. It ties my Porsche 928 as the all time garage queen that I have owned (and I have owned a Jag, two Triumphs and an MGB as well as a couple of Corvettes and numerous BMW's).

The girls did like the car, but other than that I have not missed it.

My new Aston Martin Vantage will be delivered in June. Maybe another garage queen?

29th May 2006, 16:14

I had an Austin Healey and a Triumph TR3 before the 1969 Datsun 2000. When I bought it new, it was fast, but peaked out at 6200 rpm. Changed the timing and carb settings and air pump connections and it never peaked again freely running up to 7800 rpm and beyond in 3rd gear. The redline was 7000 which was 140 in 4th and would leave rubber going into 5th. Scared me so much I only speed shifted from 4th to 5th that one time. I never found another car that would compete with it above 100 mph. My next car was a 1970 Porsche 911 that put out 25 more horses than the stock 1970 911S. The Porsche could have beat the Datsun 0-60 but over 100 mph the Datsun would have left it in the dust. Most people made the mistake of losing 30-40% of the HP by going for a non-stock loud exhaust. The Datsun 2000 needed the restriction of the stock exhaust. Oh, it would make 34 mpg while averaging 120 mph, but only 26 mpg at 70.

2nd Sep 2006, 15:27

Purchased a brand new Datsun 2000 in 1970, I believe for $3,500, the last year before they replaced it with the 240Z. It was a wonderful car, fast and quick. I drove the car to Florida twice from New Jersey and than out to Colorado, packed with camping equipment and snacks for the road. The only problem I ever had with the car was the headlights had a habit of going off at 120 mph, which I can tell is scary. They would come back on after dropping back to 105, but I never was able to resolve the issue. It was an easy car to work on; having pulled the engine myself to replace the clutch, though somehow always winding up with spare bolts and nuts, but none the worse for wear.

As a fast car, it routinely beat MG B's, Big Dodges and a Triumph or two. While not supplied with radial tires, a set of Michelin X tires worked wonders for the handling on sharp curves.

The most annoying thing about the car was the roof, which even after the third replacement, the rear window quickly yellowed badly. However, all in all, it was one of the finest cars ever built. There was nothing that could compare with a top down, girlfriend in the passenger seat and a warm summer night, drive in the hills.

I sold it in 1981 for $1,000, it was a sad moment.

20th Feb 2007, 16:04

The 1969 2000 I purchased new in 1970, was my first new car. And I loved it. I never found any other (4 banger) (any brand) that could match her for performance. Red line shifts out of second gear would leave even most small V-8's behind.

With a list of about $3200. a good deal for a sports car. I would have purchased another one, but Datsun stopped making the roadsters. In the days of American muscle cars, everyone did some street racing. And the 2000 could hold her own.

7th Mar 2007, 14:42

I bought my Datsun 2000 brand new in 1969. I loved it! It was fast, looked good, and didn't cost too much. Replaced the stock skinny tires with some radials, and it held the turns really well. The gearbox had a short throw and was smooth as silk. Only complaint was the fit and finish. Paint was poor, and it was prone to rust very quickly. Good points outnumbered the bad though, and I really liked it.

2nd Apr 2007, 15:22

I bought my 1970 Datsun 2000 in 1971. I was 19 years old and was coming out of a 1965 OLDS 442 that had met disaster on an overpass in Fort Worth during a freak sleet storm. I thought the 442 was fast and fun. I discovered real fast and fun with the roadster. I had it until 1973 when I sold it after having an accident with a curb during a blizzard in Odessa. I have often regretted the decision to sell it, even though I did go on to a GTO with a 455 OLDs with a Hurst slap-stick and a zero to 100 time in less seconds than is possible. The 2000 would go 140 miles an hour. The head gaskets needed to be replaced occasionally. It looked stupid with the top up. But it was fast and fun.

22nd May 2007, 14:36

I have owned 4 roadsters, all 1600's, three when they were just used cars and recently (May 2006) bought another one (now they are somewhat collectible).

I love it, they have always been reliable and fun to drive. Now that I have 14' Panasports and 200mm tyres on the car, I haven't got the nerve to make it slide in corners - man is it ever sticky.

Sure there are a lot of cars that can outrun my 96HP beauty, but there aren't as many that are as fun to drive. Top down, engine winding up to 5000 rpm, whizzing through the curves on the Iron Bottom Tour - nothing like it.

22nd Jun 2007, 05:26

I just purchased a 1970 Datsun 2000 Roadster, let the restoration begin.. she runs great and is in wonderful condition. What a blast to drive!

30th Jun 2007, 09:23

I bought my 1970 2000, black with red interior, new as a rising senior. Awesome car overall. Outran a lot of muscle cars of the era, saw 117 MPH in 3rd gear once, but didn't have the nerve to go much faster. Would chirp the tires going to 5th gear.

Girls loved this thing. In fact, it attracted my wife of now 36 years. I made the mistake of trading it for a 455 Bonneville just before the Arab oil embargo. First dumb car mistake, but not the last.