Here are a few Craigslist Quick Hits for the weekend. The first is a 1971 Datsun 510 that has been converted into a Convertible. Yes, a Convertible 510…
According to the listing:
1971 Datsun 510 convertible, 5 speed. Rebuilt engine, Immaculate condition, interior Clean, Chrome Clean, New paint job. Original wheels.
Asking price for this, er, interesting Datsun is $5,000. See the listing here, or if it disappears, click here.
What do you think of this rather nice… Hell, it’s an abomination.
About
Despicable.
It looks better with the top down.
That's what he said.
Hahaha! I set that one up, didn't I?
Even without "before" pictures, I can state with utmost certainty that it looked better before it was made into a convertible. Who made that top? A boat upholsterer? Awful. Only moderately better without the top in place. That poor dime.
I guess all the Hooniverse traffic is driving up the price, I am seeing $8000 on the ad. It looked better at 5K. Still not good exactly, but better.
Dump the convertible. Remove the roll bar. Cure the dropsy on the rear view mirrors. You have a real sweet roadster.
Better still- find a rusty one with a good top, and weld the top back on to this one.
I don't think that will work – it will be almost impossible get it all lined up properly again.
I think Mr Smee's suggestion below of creating a speedster out of it might just work – lets face it, nobody is ever going to want to take it out if it even looks like it might rain (mostly because there is no way you would want to have to fight with that abomination of a top).
Sometimes one of a kind is a good thing.
Hideous. But, put a low speedster-style windshield on it, headrest cowlings and drop it into the weeds that might save it.
Top down is not half bad. They should get rid of the roll bar. Toss out the rear view mirrors and maybe put some fender mounted ones on instead.
Mmmmm…
Fender-mounted rear-view mirrors….
The roof looks like a Top Gear Challenge gone awry.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/XOywX.jpg" width=500>
Nah. I'm going to say it's like a Top Gear Challenge gone horribly right. Quality is way too high for awry.
(This does not make it a good idea or a desirable custom vehicle…)
Chrome fuel door? Really? Oh well, one more turd on the pile I suppose.
Someone, at some point, thought that this looked AWESOME!
That person is not me.
As far as home built ragtops go, this is pretty nice. That's a bit like being the smartest one in remedial math.
A kid I knew in HS chopped the op off his Toyota Corona with a reciprocating saw. It did not turn out this good.
It's like having a Lancia Zagato that doesn't break down! Which would be funnier if it wasn't the basic marketing strategy that made the 240z sell like hotcakes and crush the british and italian roadster segment.
<img src="http://www.productioncars.com/share/select_lancia_zagato_black_large.jpg" width="600">
Look at the way the taillights point inward – it's been hit in the rear.
Excellent catch!
Crushing it would be a mercy killing.
A bastard love child of a 510 and a ski boat
Oy Vey!
Ok, we can at least try to revive this patient. Nurse, get me a 1600/2000
roadster hardtop, STAT. Also grab 150 sq ft of glass cloth with resin, a roll
of chicken wire, and 4 pieces of aluminium flat bar stock.
Reciepe: Take hardtop,slice behind window frame.
lengthen rear of top using bar as new baseplate
fill gap with chickenwire on inside face, slather on glass cloth and
resin to taste. Sand to smoothness. Add remaining bar stock to upper section
for additional strength. Sand entire top, then paint. Let dry & install.
We can rebuild-we have the redneck technology
This gives me an enormous sad.
![http://i.imgur.com/XOywX.jpg"](http://i.imgur.com/XOywX.jpg"){kind=link}
![http://www.productioncars.com/share/select_lancia_zagato_black_large.jpg"](http://www.productioncars.com/share/select_lancia_zagato_black_large.jpg"){kind=link}