ention Datsun and most auto buffs will immediately think of the 240Z, the two-seat sports car whose arrival in 1970 helped make the Japanese car company a household name in the United States. Hard-core enthusiasts know the Z car wasn't the first sports car Datsun exported to this country. The company's history includes earlier British-inspired roadsters that sold in much smaller numbers in North America from 1962 to 1970. When it comes to this Datsun roadster — the forgotten Datsun — the hardest of the hard-core is Greg Valazza, a Seattle freelance graphic designer who specializes in Web site design.

The Datsun roadster was introduced at a time when Japanese car companies showed little originality and often borrowed liberally from existing models. Thus, Datsun (now Nissan) often is accused of cloning the British MGB. However, Datsun's sports car actually debuted a year before the similar-looking MGB. Valazza says the Japanese car still "has traces of a lot of British cars." But while cars like the MGB and Triumph TR6 of the same era were far more popular, Valazza says the Datsun roadsters were better buys. "They clearly exceeded the quality of the British cars," he says, "and they definitely exceeded the value with all the things that came standard."

Last of its Kind
Valazza, at 29-years-old, was born about the same time the Datsun roadster disappeared from the market, to be replaced by the 240Z coupe. "After many years with the family sedan and then other more practical cars, I wanted my own classic," Valazza relates. "Of all the cars I looked at, the Datsun roadster seemed to embody everything I was looking for: a sporty convertible that was slightly exotic and slightly quirky." Among the quirks on early versions was a side-facing rear seat for a third passenger, an unusual feature that Valazza says was "a good idea. There are a lot of times you need seats for three people."

Valazza bought his first Datsun roadster, a 1967 1600 (denoting the engine size in cubic centimeters), three years ago, but he soon discovered that the most prized models were, in fact, the 2000 roadsters of the same year. The 2000 features a larger, more sophisticated engine (with overhead camshafts instead of overhead valves), and the 1967 models were the last before major federal emissions and safety regulations kicked in. "Smog controls," as they were called then, emasculated the engine of 1968 and later models, while safety rules required a new padded dashboard instead of the vintage British-style design. In addition, new safety regulations mandated a two-inch higher windshield starting in 1968, making the roadster look more upright and awkward. In April 1998, Valazza purchased one of the rare 1967 2000 roadsters. Although he wanted to keep both '67 Datsun roadsters, "lack of garage space and other practical considerations led me to sell my first car a couple months after purchasing my gray ['67 2000]," Valazza says.

Affordable Treasure
Along the way, Valazza discovered that just 1,000 left-hand drive 2000's were produced in 1967 for North America and only 200 to 300 right-hand drive versions for Japan and other markets. He estimates that only 200 to 300 of the cars manufactured for North America survive today. "After finally locating one, it fascinated me how each of these cars was known by its chassis number and had a history that many people in the [Datsun roadster] community knew about," says Valazza, who owns chassis No. 152. Identifying cars by chassis numbers usually applies to tony marques such as Ferrari, only intensifying Valazza's interest in these rare Datsuns. He did extensive research on the car and in June 1998 launched DATSUN.ORG as a registry for 1967 model year 2000's, though the site has since grown to encompass all models made between 1962 and 1970.

Unlike many old-car sites, Valazza's doesn't just glorify a particular model or focus on one owner's pride and joy. Instead, DATSUN.ORG is a comprehensive resource that provides detailed technical information, a collection of scanned and enhanced brochures, owner's manuals and other hard-to-find literature, assistance in finding cars and parts and even a scale model section. Despite the rarity of the 1967 model 2000's, they are not high-priced compared to other cars of that era, particularly American muscle cars. Valazza estimates that one in excellent condition fetches $8,500 to $11,000 in today's market, though he heard one sold for $24,000. "It's not the kind of car you would look at for a big return on investment," he says. "There is more interest in the Z car, and the roadster still doesn't have as much notoriety." At least not yet.

Reported by Rick Popely for cars.com

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SPOTTER'S GUIDE
Recognize the distinguishing characteristics of Datsun roadsters.

THE DATSUN Z CAR HOME PAGE
Take a look at this informative Australian site devoted to Datsun's better-known car.