Events Archives - Datsun Discussion Forum

2018 Route 66 JDM Classic – Continuing the Tradition

October 9, 2018 by Greg

The 8th Annual Route 66 JDM Classic is over and in the books, and by all accounts, it was a great success! Dating back to 2010, the show was formerly known as the Multi-State Datsun Classic… but we all know that restorers and collectors of classic Japanese vehicles are a tight-knit bunch. So, for 2018, the event was opened up to owners of classic Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and any other Japanese classics.

Since 2010, the event has drawn enthusiasts from 28 states, as well as Mexico and Canada, with tourists and locals in Williams Arizona getting a treat seeing all that classic J-tin parked along historic Route 66.

BRE Enterprises and Aerovault hosted their open house in Henderson, NV in conjunction with the show. With plenty of BBQ and car talk with Peter Brock, John Morton and friends, the attendees from the north started the weekend off right!

Our traditional pre-show Meet and Greet at Kicks on Route 66 was well-attended, and gave everyone an opportunity to get their registration information early, and clarified any questions about the following day’s activities. If you haven’t tried it, their fish tacos are to DIE for!

All week prior, the weather forecast gave some cause for concern – but Mother Nature was good to us, and the rains held off until *just* before raffle prizes and awards were announced. The final tally at the start of the show was 56 registered vehicles, and there were definitely some special vehicles on hand to be seen.

Speaking of awards, here’s this year’s winners:
Best Z – John Satterlee, 1972 240Z
Best Roadster – Randy Cleve, 1966 1600
Best 510 – David Witt, 1972 510
Best Truck – Leroy Kyger, 1963 L320
Best Other Datsun – Pedro and Alice Medina, 1963 Bluebird Wagon
Best Mazda – Chris Schmid, 1976 808 Wagon
Best Toyota – John Garza, 1977 Celica
Best Mitsubishi – Jeff Ball, Datsun 610 with Mitsubishi powertrain
Oldest in Show – Pedro and Alice Medina, 1963 Bluebird Wagon
Iron Butt Award – Aaron Hofferber, all the way from Bend, Oregon
Diamond in the Rough – Alan Smith, 1967 Nissan Patrol
Best in Show – David Witt, 1972 510

Raffle prizes were well-received. Loads of collectibles, including grille badges, diecast cars, rare posters commemorating Datsun and Nissan history, gift certificates from Motorsports Auto, Rock Auto, Z Power Steering, FastBrakes, and Pine Country Restaurant, rare Datsun parts donated by Jamal Mansour, tool kits from the Desirello family… so much cool stuff! This year, we also decided to add in vendor spaces, and given the success, we’ll expand it for next year. Duke City Datsun Club was on hand with t-shirts and Hot Wheels collectibles, and John Williams brought his billet Datsun oil caps and air horns. Another change from previous years: Rather than trophies and dash plaques, there were commemorative event license plates for all attendees, and the awards were a special “Class Winner” license plate that will make great displays for the winners.

We’d like to thank all past and present attendees, but most of all, we’d like to recognize and appreciate the people who helped make this year’s event successful. Karen Desirello, Vicki Mattox, Kelly Tanis and Becky Childs kept things rocking at Mission Control. Russ Glindmeier, Patrick Ramirez, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Brousseau, and several others contributed awesome photographs of the event. And of course, the crew at Dairy Queen kept everyone fed and hydrated during the show. Check out the gallery below!

Most importantly, we’d like to express our gratitude to Chris Tiffany of Raising Special Kids, the official charitable beneficiary of the Route 66 JDM Classic. Chris took time out of his busy schedule to be on-site – answering questions, greeting attendees and guests, and even pitching in with the event setup! If you’re unfamiliar with what RSK does for the citizens of Arizona, check them out – they have a great team and they are a huge blessing to ALL parents of special needs kids.

I’d love to thank everyone for coming out to beautiful Williams AZ to support the show. If you had a great time, please consider sharing this article with your friends who might own a JDM classic car (for next year, this includes anything 1994 and older). We’ve gotten lots of feedback since the weekend, and we’re already taking steps to make it bigger, better, and more fun for everyone – Stay tuned to see what we have in store!

T-shirts from the event are still available! Whip up a quick $20 PayPal to [email protected], remember to tell her what size, and we’ll get it in the mail ASAP – and remember, all proceeds from this event go to our charity partner at RSK!

Datsuns at The Mitty 2018

May 4, 2018 by Greg

The Classic Motorsports Mitty is one of those ‘bucket list’ events for anyone who appreciates the history and spectacle of motorsports. Each year, vintage race cars (and some ‘vintage’ drivers) descend upon Road Atlanta for a weekend of remininscence and some more-serious-than-you’d-expect competition… and of course, DatsunForum was there to cover the action for the 41st annual speedfest.

The backdrop for this year’s Mitty: Back in 1970, John Morton put the BRE Datsun 240Z on the podium for the first of two consecutive seasons – a win that cemented Datsun’s growing reputation as a serious contender in motorsports… and put the racing world on notice that the Japanese could build a car that could compete with the best Europe and the US had to offer.

Fast-forward to 2018. How fortunate were we to witness that same gentleman, a mere 48 years later, putting that same car on the podium yet again – at the same track! With Nissan as the featured marque for this year’s Mitty, it was only fitting that Mr. Morton also served as the Grand Marshal. Between races, Mr. Morton could be seen wandering around the paddock, joking with fans, and sharing stories from his racing career while his team prepped the car for battle.

Now, with Morton a spry and lively 76 years of age, one would think this ‘Grand Marshal’ stint was purely ceremonial. Nope. He was there to race.

There’s a little more to the story, though. During qualifying, old #46 suffered an engine failure. What happened next? Well, word has it that some of the old engines from back in the 70’s were still nearby. The next time we walked though the pits, the BRE team had the dead motor out and was hastily transferring parts onto one of the old spare motors.

These guys didn’t show up to lose. And the slate of cars that remained behind him while he wrung every last bit of performance out of the red/white/blue #46 car would tell you the same thing.

At the end of the 3A race, Lawrence Cooper in the yellow #17 1971 240Z took the checkered flag. Closing fast behind him was Greg Ira in Linwood Staub’s yellow #85 1972 240Z (yes, second place in a borrowed car!) Grand Marshal John Morton finished third in Randy Jaffe’s 1970 BRE replica #46… Not too shabby, considering 3A was a field of fifty-one cars!

Here’s a look at the field of cars at the beginning of the race – So much amazing Datsun history!
2018 Mitty Group 3A race

For those who like to know who’s driving what, here’s the entire 2018 Mitty Feature Race roster!

Road Atlanta is, of course, a world-class racing mega-facility, and we sampled several vantage points during the weekend. There’s simply nothing like kicking back in a lawn chair with a cold beverage with thousands of other vintage racing fans, watching classic race cars battle it out on a breezy Georgia day.

On the infield, clubs and groups from all over the US parked together, camped, and spectated. You want variety? The infield was the place to be – wandering through was a car-lover’s paradise, with a little of everything! From the mundane to exotic, common to uber-rare, you could see it all.

But the privately-owned cars in the infield weren’t the only attraction. With over 350 vintage racing machines on-site, the pits and paddocks were wide-open and accessible to all. Wandering through, we were greeted by drivers and crew members throughout the weekend. Questions led to stories, stories led to shared interests, and shared interests led to new friendships.

Saturday evening, after the racing was finished, everyone convened under the Classic Motorsports tent for a special viewing of “Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman,” Carolla’s documentary about the actor’s racing experiences… and as if that weren’t cool enough, free popcorn and beer made it an experience for the ages.

The Fan Zone was packed with vendors such as Hagerty, BFGoodrich, Bring-A-Trailer, Koni, Lucas Oil, BBS, Covercraft, G-Force, Flyin’ Miata and many others. BBQ food trucks with true Southern fare were on-site to add to the atmosphere, and perfect weather made this trip one that we won’t soon forget.

Since you’ve made it this far, what better reward than a TON of pictures from the event? 2018 Mitty Photo Gallery
We hope you enjoy them, and please feel free to share with friends. We’ll see you at the next event!

Datsuns at Barrett-Jackson 2018

January 16, 2018 by Greg

I’ve attended the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale each year since 2009, and a couple times back in the late 80’s and early 90s. One thing that’s a relatively new development is the recognition of classic Japanese cars as being worthy of representation on the docket.

This event, like so many others, has historically been the domain of European classics and loads of America iron. But let’s face it – auction houses like Barrett-Jackson have been, shall we say, “late to the party” when it comes to Japanese classics.

Certainly, there are those who will argue that the value simply isn’t there, but they can’t come up with a good reason. Why aren’t there more Japanese classics at these auctions? Some will say the cars were initially “cheap” and therefore not worthy of collector status. Still others will claim that “too many” were built, so there’s no collectibility. Another argument – they’re simply “too new” to be collectible. Obviously, those people are, in a word, wrong.

Sure, many Japanese cars were affordable. So was a VW Transporter (yet they commonly command six-figure sale prices).
Sure, they were built in large numbers – But do you really think a 1970 Chevelle SS was “limited production?”
As far as recency, the vast majority of offerings at this auction were built after 1960.

Bottom line: Other than a general negative sentiment towards Japanese auto manufacturers, there’s simply no valid reason they shouldn’t be well-represented at shows and auctions.

Several years ago, a lone Datsun Roadster sat awaiting its turn on the auction block. Unless you were a restorer or collector of Japanese classics, you’d think the car was pristinely-restored and rare as hen’s teeth – in fact, the placard on the window contained several inaccuracies that were very important.

Truth be told, it was just a fairly average high-windshield 1600 car, with some incorrect bits and a laundry list of flaws – but hey, the paint was shiny! Basically, it was a good “driver-status” car… and yet it somehow crossed the block for well over $20k.

That’s great news for anyone looking to sell a classic Datsun, but terrible news for the uninitiated buyer. Clearly, the buyer didn’t consult an expert, and could have easily purchased a lot more car for his money. Of course, you don’t go to the world’s largest collector car auction looking to find a bargain.

But a great rule of thumb is: “Your car is only worth what someone is willing to pay.” Couldn’t have been more true on that day.

Having watched this process for several years, we thought it might be fun to look at some of this year’s offerings, and dissect the seven Datsun auctions that took place this week.

Let’s get started: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #24

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #49

January 17, 2016 by Greg

This one rolled across the block before we even arrived, so we had to assess it quickly as it was being hustled off to its new owner. Lot #49 was a 1983 Datsun 720 King Cab Pickup.

Click to view: Lot #49 – 1983 Datsun 720 King Cab Pickup

What’s not to love about this historical workhorse? A dry southwestern truck that’s been garaged, with factory-original stickers and very little of the wear that plagued these trucks – they were used and abused, generally, so to see a survivor wearing its original wheels and exterior goodies is simply a trip back in time.

Minimal interior wear and some fading is to be expected – This truck appeared a great candidate for a light refreshing, or just to drive and enjoy. We think the seller and buyer did real well on this one, since it crossed the auction block at $9,900.00.

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #349

January 17, 2016 by Greg

Quick on the heels of the previous Datsun to cross the block, Lot #349 is a 1973 240Z finished in 114 Brown Metallic with the love-it-or-hate-it Butterscotch interior. Unfortunately, we had to check this one out on-the-fly, as it was being moved when we observed it.

Click to view: Lot #349, 1973 Datsun 240Z

Remember how I said earlier, “They’re only original once”? I’d have loved to see this one before its repaint. With only 50k miles, it couldn’t have been in rough shape – but then again, the seller DID include pictures of the car in a snowy location (Pro tip: Don’t do that) and it came from Oklahoma.

The factory front and rear bumper overriders are a great period-correct piece, and really complement the Z shape in my opinion. The restorer didn’t get the rear taillight panel color correct, but that’s easily remedied. NOTE: This seller doesn’t misuse the word “restored,” so he or she gets the benefit of the doubt on this car!

Hubcaps are correct and intact, and while they’re faded from their original finish, they’re becoming harder and harder to find in good condition. Definitely a value-adder here, as are the correct-size tires. Lenses, exterior hardware, and emblems all appeared factory-fresh, giving this car an understated air of authenticity and value.

An uncracked dash and generally honest, well-maintained interior give this car a lot more provenance in my eyes than the orange one we looked at earlier.

Underhood, the car looks much as it would have when new, and no modifications were evident that would detract from the value.

The buyer did well to pull the trigger on this car. I suspect the brown paint turned off a few less-educated buyers, and that’s just fine. Let them chase their shiny red Z cars. This one crossed the block at $20,900.00, making it my choice as the best Datsun bargain of the auction.

Last but not least, a little bonus for you guys – Even though Barrett-Jackson couldn’t identify it properly as a Datsun, we can, and it’s up next: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #49 – 1983 Datsun 720 King Cab Pickup

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #317

January 17, 2016 by Greg

Lot #317 takes us back into the S130 series with another 2+2 car, this one a 1980 280ZX.

With an alleged 6,000 miles since restoration, this Satin Blue car had a manual transmission and was originally sold in Oklahoma City.

Click to view: Lot #317, 1980 Datsun 280ZX

I’m going to give the seller the benefit of the doubt here, but there’s clearly a misunderstanding of the meaning of the word “restoration.” Let’s save ourselves the minutiae and call this what it really was: A repaint. A repaint in one of Datsun’s best colors, but a repaint. That’s all.

In all fairness, the S130 market isn’t yet supporting the level of restoration goodies that S30 owners have been enjoying of late. Still, lots of overlooked details, overspray, masking failures, and general sloppiness marred an otherwise handsome car.

A little extra attention to detail (and a more professional repaint) would have made this one a candidate to add to the collection, but they’re only original once. This one will make a great entry-level car for someone getting into the Datsun scene.

The seller did just fine in offloading this one at $6,050.00.

Up next – Another S30 crosses the block and makes everyone happy: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #349 – 1972 240Z

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #172

January 17, 2016 by Greg

Lot #172 represents what we’ve all expected to happen at one of the big auction houses all along… An early S30 restoration pulling a ridiculously-awesome premium, despite some misgivings.

According to the auction placard, this 1972 240Z underwent a recent restoration. “Driven 1,100 miles since restoration of original L24 engine, other mechanicals, rubber, trim, bumpers and interior. 4-speed manual transmission. Color matches factory original. Always garaged, never a daily driver.”

Click to view: Lot # 172, 1972 Datsun 240Z

Starting with a southern California example with over 162k miles, this restoration lists all of the parts replaced – which, to be fair, are all items that SHOULD be done on a proper Z restoration. “Replaced floor pans” would have raised a red flag for me… as someone who’s owned numerous southwestern S30s, a rust-free Z shouldn’t need floor pan replacement – but who knows, maybe they were dented.

The restorer can be forgiven the lowering springs and RetroSound radio – these are common upgrades, and shouldn’t diminish the value.

However, although the auction report lists a “replacement dash,” this car clearly wears a simple $100 plastic dash overlay. Inexcusable for a true restoration, as reproduction dashes are now readily available at Vintage Dashes for well under a grand. Lacking the beautiful original factory steering wheel is, likewise, inexcusable for an alleged “restoration.”

Incorrect seat fabric is a huge turn-off, but easily remedied by the next owner. The rest of the interior presented well, with fresh diamond-patterned vinyl and intact console, carpet mats, and door panels. You’ll have to excuse my noticing the door panels and door pulls are devoid of the factory brightwork. It’s a minor detail, but again, for the money this car commanded, those items should be expected to be correct. Fresh pedal pads and fresh rubber weatherstripping are always noticeable details – good job by the restorer.

Aftermarket wheels are simply a matter of taste, but correct steelies with restored factory hubcaps would have been a lot more impressive. I’d deduct points all day for the bargain-basement tires… At this point in our review, the concerns are growing, and the picture of a not-quite-professional restoration was coming into focus.

A review of the engine bay revealed impressive attention to detail in some areas, and overall laziness in others. Kudos for clean hardware, correct radiator cap, and rebuilt SU carburetors. However, the missing OEM air cleaner and belly pan, coupled with painted linkage and fuel rail, as well as missing manifold hardware, missing plug wire brackets, and deleted PCV system, are totally avoidable screwups. Oh, and if you’re going to use an aftermarket coil, take a few minutes and paint it black.

The bodywork and paint finish were quite nice – Although there’s no way of knowing what lurks beneath the utterly-smooth panels, let’s assume for a minute that the car started off straight and dry… Okay, ignoring the floor pan replacement won’t allow us that fantasy. Regardless, someone took the time to make sure this car presented well from the outside, and the 918 Orange paint (no, it wasn’t called Persimmon in ’72) was straight and glossy. A few maladjusted body panels tweaked the edge finish in a couple areas, causing me and nissangirl74 to cringe, but a Z that’s used properly (i.e. driven) is going to get some chips and scratches. Although the bumpers are described as “OEM replacements,” these were stainless aftermarket reproductions – and I’d argue they’re a great addition to this resto.

So, what’s an early S30 restoration go for these days? Well, it depends on the market, and this one was generous. In fact, so generous, that I’m stepping up my timeline to finish the Lime Yellow ’73 I’m currently restoring.

Hold onto your wood shift knob: This one kicked up Z cars worldwide with a hammer price of $40,700.00!

Is it all downhill from here? Maybe, maybe not – there are two more Datsuns to see at the auction!

The fifth Datsun at Barrett-Jackson this year: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #317 – 1980 280ZX

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #114

January 17, 2016 by Greg

Lot #114 might make the Z purists cringe, but there she was, resplendent in all her 80’s four-seater “sure wish I was still a sports car” glory…

According to the placard on the car, we’re looking at an “All-original matching-numbers 280ZX purchased new in Arizona in 1982. Powered by an L28E 2.8-liter inline-6 electronic fuel-injected engine and automatic transmission. All-original paint and interior, 2+2 option.”

Truthfully, as a restorer and collector, I’d rather see a car like this than the prior couple. Why? Because it’s HONEST. While the couch-like velour seats, T-tops, automatic transmission and seating for four all detract from the sporting nature of a Z, this car at least wasn’t trying to be something it’s not. In fact, mark my words – for someone who just wants a clean example of Nissan’s venture into the land of grand tourers, this is the car to buy.

Click to view: Lot #114, 1983 Datsun 280ZX 2+2

Underhood, the car was clean, appearing to have had a recent steaming. The original paint means there’s nothing to hide – every scratch and scuff was on display, and this car had clearly been loved. Some questionable repairs to the lower body cladding appear to have occurred sometime in the past, and the ubiquitous dealer-installed “boat trim” body side moldings had clearly done their job in protecting the body lines. Aftermarket headlight covers smooth out a still-attractive front fascia, and the period-correct rear louvers add in a tiny amount of sporting flair.

The interior appeared lightly worn, and in an era when color combos got downright putrid, this silver-over-gray example had aged quite well. Loaded with every available option for its time, this one won’t look out-of-place at a Datsun meet or even at a local cruise night. Some light reconditioning and continued maintenance should keep this one on the road for years to come.

Bought well at $7,700.00 – I hope the buyer puts another 100k enjoyable miles on it.

You’re in for a treat – Check out the fourth Datsun at Barrett-Jackson this year: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #172 – 1972 240Z

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #79

January 16, 2016 by Greg

Lot #79 represents another 280Z from the “malaise era” of the S30 – The big-bumpered fuel-injected cars. This one bore what appeared to be a recent paint job in bright metallic blue (Bayside Blue, anyone?), with the hood bulge painted black. The big bumpers had been removed in favor of a fiberglass body kit, which included side skirts and an oddly out-of-place carbon fiber spoiler.

Aftermarket projector headlights always seem awkward on a 70-78 Z car, but for the Z owners who haven’t yet discovered wiring their headlights through a relay, it’s an improvement upon the dim factory glass halogens.

A set of iron cross wheels may have been a slight upgrade from the original steelies back in 1983, but this was a zero-effort addition. Even a little paint or polish would have helped. Instead, the dull wheels simply emphasized the recency of the paint job (and the 1977 ride height).

This car’s saving grace: A carbureted, small-block GM V8 swap. Headers, a 4-barrel, and electronic ignition probably get this Z down the road with a quickness, but one has to wonder if anything else was done in preparation for the swap – after all, the hood latch and the distributor clearly aren’t getting along very well.

Click to view: Lot #24, 1977 Datsun 280Z Custom Coupe

The minimal description refers to “many performance modifications,” but we’re left to guess what those might be. A 5-speed manual transmission is alleged, but the shift boot didn’t make the journey to Scottsdale. The seller alleges that the car has always been garage-kept, but we’re not sure for how long.

The placard on the window states the car is “mostly restored,” and anyone who’s restored a Z knows there’s a lot of work involved. Most troubling? The overspray, poor masking of old, brittle rubber, and a complete disregard for the peeling chrome taillight surrounds and dull, scratched lenses. Given these issues, I’d describe this car as “repainted,” not “restored.” Replacement rubber is readily available for these cars, but the effort simply wasn’t made.

A stitched leather (or vinyl) dash is a handsome upgrade for the Z driver who doesn’t care about authenticity, and to be fair, keeping tabs on the engine via the extra gauges is probably a bigger priority.

Described as having spent most of its time in New Mexico, we can assume this one doesn’t suffer from the rust infestation that’s so common in the S30 chassis – Then again, Santa Fe is in New Mexico, and it’s not what we’d call an “arid desert.”

I’m going to go out on a limb and say that even though a V8 swap isn’t a cheap undertaking, the seller still got the better end of the deal here: Sold at $16,500.00.

Moving right along, the third Datsun at Barrett-Jackson this year: Datsun at Barrett-Jackson Lot #114 – 1983 280ZX

Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018 – Lot #24

January 16, 2016 by Greg

Lot #24 is a relatively nondescript 1977 280Z, wearing its original “federal” bumpers and a set of color-matched aftermarket 80’s-era alloy wheels.

The badly-swirled black paint desperately needed a professional cut and polish, and the fuel injection system appears to have been ditched in favor of a set of triple Webers, which most early Z fans will view as an improvement. In the “not an improvement” category: The faux braided steel hose covers that appeared to be a lazy afterthought.

Click to view: Lot #24, 1977 Datsun 280Z

Aftermarket seats and speaker holes in the door panels won’t present a “authenticity” issue for this car for another 10 years. After all, comfort is king, and S30 seats are notoriously uncomfortable for certain body types – and you’ve gotta have tunes, right? A maladjusted parking brake would have been an easily-tended detail for this car.

All in all, a handsome car from 20 feet away, and a good driver-status Z that one could take to a local meet without apologies. This one won’t grace the grounds at JCCS, but it looks like it’d handle a canyon cruise without incident.

We’re going to give the edge to the seller on this one: Sold at $14,850.00.

The second Datsun at Barrett-Jackson 2018: A 1977 280Z Custom Coupe.