Alan
Author of The Complete Guide to the Datsun 320,
Early Datsun in Australia, Classic Datsun Magazine Articles, The Nissan
Silvia Resource Book, plus the Planet Cedric, earlydatsun.com, Nissan Silvia
Homepage and the Datsun Sports Owners Assn. Inc. websites.
Is the magazine editor of Sports Torque, the newsletter
editor of the Datsun Sports Owners Assn.
President of the Datsun Sports Owners Association
from 2001 to 2004.
Member of the Datsun Sports Owners Association
since 1985.
Member of the Early Datsun Car Club since 1988.
Member of the Classic Japanese Car Club since
it began in 2009.
Currently operates earlydatsun.com and also sells
car parts for a living.
Alan's hobbies are
Going on day runs and events with his various
car clubs.
Going to car shows and swap meets.
Collecting anything with Datsun, Nissan or Prince
printed on it. Sales brochures, service manuals, parts catalogs, owner's
manuals, badges and emblems, whole cars, anything.
Restoring and driving old Datsuns.
Ferreting around wrecking yards.
Watching Formula 1 motor racing.
Playing golf, usually badly.
Collecting models of pre-1968 Japanese cars.
Hanging out with friends and fellow car nuts.
Being with Ruth.
Ruth
Member of the Datsun Sports Owners Association.
Currently works as a Registered Nurse looking
after premature babies.
Treasurer and Website Editor of the Datsun Sports
Owners Association.
Regular contributor to Sports Torque, the newsletter
of the Datsun Sports Owners Association.
Is a photographer, see some of her photos at http://ruthprimmer.zenfolio.com
Co-owner of earlydatsun.com
Ruth's hobbies are
Going long drives in the country in 'Baby', her
1965 Fairlady.
Going on day runs and outings with the Datsun
Sports Owners Association.
Displaying 'Baby' at car shows.
Going to swap meets.
Running.
Playing her Baby Grand Piano.
Playing around on the internet.
Watching Formula 1 motor racing.
Watching Australian Rules Football.
Hanging out with friends, family and fellow car
nuts.
But
most importantly, we own a fleet of Early Datsuns.
These are the cars we currently
own.
1965 NISSAN CEDRIC DELUXE
G31
Chassis number G31-27438
Our latest restoration project,
and Alan's daily driver. The G31 was the longest wheelbase model offered
in Australia, and is a deLuxe model with all the available options.
The car was fully restored
under our house during 2009. It was originally Yoshihara Green with a green
interior, it is not two toned blue and white with Tsunami Blue on the top
section and Winter White below. The interior is blue with white piping.
1965 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
Chassis number SP311-00264
Ruth's "Baby". This is a
very early SP311 that we have restored together throughout 2005-2006 to
near perfect condition. She is painted Sora Blue, and has a black interior.
She is as close to 100% original as it is possible to get, except for the
engine. The engine is a 2 litre Nissan H20 with U20 pistons, a 4 into 1
extractor, and twin dual throat 40PHH Mikuni Solex carbs. The car was a
"restoration project" when Ruth bought her. About a week after she got
her home and Alan started to have a good look at it he realised that it
was a car that he had owned and restored himself twenty years ago. The
car is Ruth's daily driver.
There is a photo of "Baby"
on the first page of this website.
1962 DATSUN 320
Chassis number P320-2-30677
Being a 1962 model, with
a very early chassis number of only 677, she is one of the earliest Datsun's
to have come to Australia, and is the oldest known Japanese vehicle of
any type still on the road in the state we live in. Purchased in 2001 and
finally restored during 2007. She is painted Sora Blue and has a blue interior.
It also has a custom made varnished timber tray that we made ourselves.
The vehicle was restored using parts and optional accessories from a 1963
Datsun Bluebird deLuxe P312.
1966 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
Chassis number SP311-01060
This was the first car Alan
bought, thanks to a generous loan from his parents.
I bought it in 1983, when
Alan was 16 years old, and he spent a year restoring her with his father.
When purchased she was painted Canary Yellow and had a cream colour interior.
She had been in a rear end accident and had been the victim of some dodgy
panel work. Numerous rust repairs had been done by glueing cut up Coke
cans in place, then filling over them. She is now painted Porsche Guards
Red, in two pack paint, with a black interior. The original engine has
been replaced with a Nissan H20 1982cc 4cyl. OHV engine fitted with the
Fairlady's original alloy head, twin SUs, extractors, gearbox and all other
fittings. It is also fitted with a SR311 diff and brakes. The rest of the
car is original.
1967 1/2 DATSUN FAIRLADY
1600 SP311
Chassis number SP311-02182
A restoration project bought
in 2006, this will be Alan's toy when finished. She is currently a bare
shell sandblasted back to bare metal, and many boxes of bits.
1964 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500
SP310
Chassis number SP310
The next restoration project,
due to begin late 2010. Early 3 seater car, rough but restorable.
1963 DATSUN BLUEBIRD WAGON
WP312
Chassis number WP312-3-
Future project, maybe. At
the moment it looks cool sitting in the back yard.
Cars we have previously
owned.
1965 NISSAN SILVIA CSP311
Chassis number CSP311-70231
Alan bought Silvia in 1986.
She was originally from New Guinea and was privately imported into Australia.
The man he bought her off started to restore her but only got as far as
completely dismantling her and then gave up and sold her. When purchased
she was just a bare shell and several boxes of parts. Restoration took
over 5 years for Alan to complete, she is in spectacular condition. She
has won several trophies and prizes from the car shows she has been entered
in. She is painted in pearl finish Blue Mica two pack paint with over 30
coats of paint. The interior is a polar white colour with blue carpets.
All the interior fittings are original except the centre console, which
now features an Alpine component stereo system with a computer equaliser
and joystick balance controls. The engine is a Nissan H series 1883cc OHV
4cyl. engine bored out to over 2 litres. She is fitted with Silvia's original
alloy head, carbs, gearbox, distributor, etc. Everything that is made of
metal in the engine bay has been chromed, all hoses are braided stainless
steel. She has travelled less than 2000 miles in the past 12 years. Sold
in 2003, she now lives in New Zealand.
1965 NISSAN SILVIA CSP311
My first Silvia. I bought
her fully restored and used her as everyday transport for many years. Painted
Silvia Gold. Sold in 2001, she now lives in Spain.
1965 NISSAN SILVIA CSP311
Just a body shell and chassis,
nearly everything else was missing. Sold in 2008, she now lives in England.
1964 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500
SP310
I still get upset with myself
for selling this car ! I fully restored this car. A three seater, 100%
original. Burgondy red with a black interior. Stunning, close to perfect.
1965 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
I restored this car to original
condition. White with a red interior. 15 years later we bought her back
and this car is now Ruth's Baby.
1966 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
Chassis number SP311-00925
Bought in 1991, it was one
of those "I am going to restore it one day" cars. She was a burgondy red
colour with a black interior. Minor frontal damage, possibly repaired by
a butcher rather than a panel beater. I ended up selling her unrestored
to some complete numbat who is totally destroying her by attacking her
with a hacksaw and a blow torch trying to fit an SR20 turbo engine, an
automatic transmission, air conditioning, and god knows what else.
1967 DATSUN FAIRLADY 2000
SR311
A bit of a mongrel. The
previous owner hit a kangaroo at 150kph. He put the car back together with
bits off several different models. Has a 2000 body and mechanicals, 1600
dash board and diff, '65 1500 guards and bonnet. I gave it a coat of black
paint and sold it.
1967 1/2 DATSUN FAIRLADY
1600 SP311
Sold it unrestored. Grey
paint. This car has been bought back from the person we sold it to and
is now the current restoration project.
1965 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
I restored it to close to
original condition. Red with a black interior.
1965 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
A wreck. This was the car
used in the film "The Cars That Ate Paris", yes, the car that went off
a cliff and hit a tree ! I bought it off a guy who bought it off someone
on the production crew that made the film. He started to restore it but
gave up. (It would have been easier to restore the Challanger Space Shuttle.)
1966 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1600
SP311
A wreck. Spare parts car.
1964 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500
SP310
A wreck. I bought it off
some idiot who attacked it with a blow torch.
1964 DATSUN FAIRLADY 1500
SP310
Chassis number 4-SP310-00134
Now owned by my father who
is restoring her. I bought her in 1995, she hasn't graced the road since
1981. She has never been in an accident but has substantial rust damage.
She's a 3 seater, twin carb model. she's painted that god-awful orange/red
colour Nissan insisted on using in the 60s and early 70s. She'll be white
with a royal blue interior when finished.
1964 DATSUN 320
Chassis number P312-4-?????
(don't know, the number has rusted away!)
Basket case. Found in a
cow paddock in Kingaroy by a friend, paid him a case of beer to bring her
home. She was 100% original, unfortunately 95% of those 100% original parts
were pretty rusty. She has donated her life so that other early Datsuns
can live again.
1964 NISSAN CEDRIC 1900 WAGON
WP31
Chassis number WP31-50620
Alan bought Cedric in 1996
and after a 6 month restoration, she (he ?) was used as everyday family
transport for many years. She was bought off a 91 year old man who bought
her new in 1964. She had only 59000 miles on the clock when purchased.
She was originally a metallic red colour with a red interior, but the previous
owner had hand painted her (with a brush!) a woeful brown colour. She is
now painted two toned Merino White and Midnight Blue (original 1964 Nissan
colours) with a blue velour and vinyl interior. Everything is original
except for the Alpine 8 speaker stereo system and a 32/36 Weber carburettor.
1963 DATSUN BLUEBIRD P312
Chassis number P312-3-32984
Bought her in 1988 and used
as everyday transport for many years. Purchased for $200 from a wrecking
yard, she was mechanically near perfect and just needed painting. Originally
two toned grey and blue, she is now Merino White and Midnight Blue with
a blue interior. She is totally original, except for the Marantz stereo.
1963 NISSAN CEDRIC 1900 SEDAN
31
A spare parts car. I feel
kind of guilty wrecking this car, but I needed the parts for the wagon.
It was black with a coffee cream and black interior.
1964 NISSAN CEDRIC 1900 WAGON
WP31
She's was a one owner car,
metallic red and even has it's original pull out radio.
1969 NISSAN CEDRIC SUPER
SIX 2400 G130-U
Paid $20 for it ! No engine,
body in fair condition.
1963 DATSUN BLUEBIRD P312
A spare parts car. Now landfill.
1964 DATSUN 320 PICKUP
Another full restoration.
Painted Merino White with a blue interior. Has a varnished timber tray.
Fitted with a 1483cc 4cyl. OHV J15 engine. Looked fabulous ! Was a pizza
delivery vehicle for Alan's pizza shop for years.
1965 DATSUN BLUEBIRD P411
Chassis number P411-021358
This Bluebird was a one
owner car, it is painted blue and has a blue interior. It was one of the
most original P411s I have ever seen.
1963 DATSUN BLUEBIRD P312
A basket case ! Someone
gave it to me. A spare parts car.
1964 DATSUN FAIRLADY SP310
chassis number 4-SP310-00163
A total basket case! Spare
parts car only. Painted the most repugnant slime green colour you have
ever seen. I thought it looked nice sitting in my mother's front yard,
but for some strange reason she didn't think so.
1967 PRINCE SKYLINE GT-B
S54BE-3
A wild car. She was a factory
prepared race car. Originally purchased to be raced in touring car races,
it's original owner was paralised in an accident before he could race it.
It sat unused for years before it was sold again. Subsequent owners have
raced it in hill climbs and rallies. It had a higher compression ratio
than most GT-Bs and other differences like a 120 litre fuel tank and different
jets in the triple Webers. Originally white, I painted it dark blue with
a red interior. I sold it to a man who wanted it for his private collection
of race cars.
1964 PRINCE SKYLINE 1500
S50E-1
This was Alan's everyday
transport for years. When bought she was in good condition with her original
paintwork and upholstery. There was no signs of rust and there didn't appear
to have ever been any. (not unusual for a Prince Skyline 1500) The only
thing needed to get her going when purchased was to file the points and
the rotor and change the oil.
1966 PRINCE ESTATE 1500 W50ADE-2
I bought this car from a
wrecking yard and started to restore it. Unfortunately my father sold the
shed I was keeping all my Princes in, and I had nowhere else to keep them,
so I sold this and all the following Princes to one person. None of these
cars has ever been seen again. This car was red with a red interior.
1964 PRINCE ESTATE 1500 W50AE-1
I bought this car for a
guy who had a landscaping business. He used to cart gravel and dirt around
in it, claims he could get a metre of gravel in the back. Blue with a blue
and grey interior.
1964 PRINCE SKYLINE 1500
S50E-1
This car had been in a major
accident. Who ever rebuilt it made it up with the front half of one car
and the back of another. Very rough. A parts car.
1964 PRINCE SKYLINE 1500
S50E-1
A wreck. Red with a red
interior. Spare parts only.
1969 NISSAN CEDRIC 2400 H130
Blue with a blue/grey interior.
I never did get around to doing anything with that car. A bit too new for
my liking.
1973 DATSUN CHERRY 120A COUPE
Quite rare in this country,
I think I had the only one. Looked like someone had grafted the back of
a Lotus Europa onto the front of a 120Y. I sold it to some looser who owned
it for a week before he wrapped it around a telegraph pole. It was red
with a cream interior.
1972 DATSUN CHERRY 100A
The 100A was Nissan's first
front wheel drive. All front wheel drives are woe-ful things, but this
one was particularly nasty. Blue with a black interior.
1972 DATSUN CHERRY 100A
Spare parts for the above
car.
1965 HONDA S600 SOFT TOP
I restored this car to original.
Was painted with flat white house paint, with a brush, when I got it. (there
are some STUPID people out there!) I painted it red with a black interior.
1965 HONDA S600 SOFT TOP
In fair condition when I
got it, I just gave it a coat of red paint.
1967 HONDA S800 HARD TOP
Was painted frog green,
I painted it metallic bronze. Had a neat little metal spoiler on the back.
1965 HONDA S600 HARD TOP
A basket case, spare parts
car. Some loser had put a 5 litre Holden V8 (possibly the most agricultural
engine he could find) in it and thought he was going to go drag racing
with it. Somehow thought he was going to put 200+hp through the S600s dinky
chain drive rear end. White, black inside.
1965 HONDA S600 HARD TOP
Another basket case ! I
was thinking of building gull wing doors for it, just for something to
do, but soon came to my senses. Just a parts car.
1984 NISSAN 300ZX KHGZ31
When everyone in upper management
at Domino's Pizza got their company car allowance, they all bought new
Toyota Camrys and other cardigan cars, Alan got a second hand 300ZX. (no
point in being a sheep like everyone else) A great car for cruising
on the highway, but like all new "sports cars", it was a useless sports
car. Not the most reliable thing on the face of the planet either. Red
with a brown velour interior.
1984 NISSAN 300ZX KHGZ31
A rusted out wreck that
I bought for it's engine. Why do I want a VG30 engine? I'll tell you one
day, let's just call it a future project.
1989 NISSAN EXA N13
Black with a black interior.
1981 DATSUN 280C 430
White with a blue interior.
Was family transport until the Cedric wagon was finished being restored.
1974 DATSUN 240C COUPE 230
Brown with a black interior.
1977 ALFA ROMEO GTV
Went great when it wasn't
putting conrods through the block, setting itself on fire, etc. It's Italian,
what more would you expect? Was a car I liked as a child, but failed to
live up to it's image. My Fairlady outperformed it in every conceivable
way, happy to see it go.
RENAULT 12
I don't remember what year
the car was, and I don't care. What a god-awful, repugnant, ugly, under-engineered,
fragile, pathetic, evil-handling device. Makes a Lada Samara look like
a quality automobile. Europeans may have invented the car, but they couldn't
screw one together to save their life. I had it when I was 18 years old.
The car was a gift from my father, to give me something to drive while
my Fairlady was off the road when someone ran into it.
1974 VOLVO 142GT
Another one of those "hey,
we could throw a coat of paint on that and make some money" cars. It handled
worse than the 312 Bluebird did when it had stuffed shock absorbers. A
mobile joke ! P.S. We didn't make any money ! |