ROADSTER DATSUN 2000 Fairlady SR311/SRL311
The introduction of the 1967 SR311 and SRL311 saw a major update. Produced from March 1967-1970, the SR311 used a 2.0 L (1,982 cc) U20 engine and offered a five-speed manual transmission, somewhat unexpected for a production car at the time.
The first-year cars are most-desirable today as there were just 1,000 to 2,000 produced and are unencumbered with the emissions and safety changes introduced in 1968. The new SOHC engine produced 135 PS (99 kW; 133 hp). An optional Competition package included dual Mikuni/Solex carburetors and a special camshaft for 150 PS (110 kW; 150 hp). In Australia there was no emission restrictions and all 2.0 litre cars were fitted with the Competition package as standard.Template:Brook, P, 2000 Banzai Productions.
A well-tuned stock Datsun 2000 was capable of cruising at 120 mph (193 km/h) and capable of making better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) and red-lined at exactly 7000 rpm and 140 mph in fourth gear with a 5-speed manual. It was replaced with the more sedate, stylish, and popular Z series.
The Datsun 2000 was lauded as a bargain sports car. The main reason for its production was for racing to build the Datsun image. It was raced by John Morton, Bob Sharp and others. Its sticker price was lowest in its class, but it won its class in C Production (Mikuni-Solex carburetors) and D-Production (Hitachi-SU carburetors), in SCCA racing on a consistent basis even after production stopped. For the full story of Nissan's involvement in early SCCA racing, the teams, drivers and cars, visit the Datsun Roadster SCCA pages.
For 1968, the entire line was updated with a new body featuring a taller integrated windshield with an integrated rear-view mirror, a padded dashboard with non-toggle switches, and lifting door handles. In the US the engines were also fitted with new emissions controls, and the lesser 1600 continued as a companion model through the end of production. Australia had no such emission controls.
Before the Z-car started shaking things up for the established European sports cars, Nissan was already out-MG-ing MG (although in much smaller quantities) by offering a cheap and fun two-seater in the form of the Datsun Sports Roadster. The first Datsun Sports date back to the late 1950s, but the MGB-esque Datsun 1500 that was introduced in 1963 was the first real sports car in the Fairlady series, as it was known in Japan. Engines grew to 1600 cc and eventually a full 2 liters by 1967. While never as popular or as well-remembered as their British and Italian rivals, the Datsun Roadsters were nevertheless popular race cars and were campaigned by big names like Brock Racing Enterprises, Bob Sharp, and others. Competitive and successful in the SCCA’s C, D, F, and G-Production classes, the Datsun Roadster has always been a neat alternative to the more commonly seen European cars, and with comparable motorsports heritage.
Corrosion did unfortunately become an issue on these cars, and plenty have rotted away. The ones left are surprisingly affordable, though, even if show-quality examples aren’t all that common. The 2000 Roadster offers 135 horsepower and a five-speed, commendable stuff for the late 1960s that probably makes the 2.0 liter cars the most desirable of the pre-Z Datsuns. The car featured here, located in Valencia, California, is a late 2000 Roadster that’s finished in a very pretty pale blue, but it is far from perfect.
In recent years it has been used lightly, but very infrequently. It was restored in the early 1990s but has been taken in and out of storage several times. It has had some work done since 2010, including new paint, replated bumpers, new intake and exhaust manifolds, new plugs, and a flushed gas tank. The real red flag is “signs of rust around the wheel wells” and “a fair amount of rust on the chrome bumpers and the chrome light well rings.” At almost 100,000 miles, it’s no spring chicken, but could be a fairly straightforward project for someone interested in vintage Japanese performance cars, a market that may very well appreciate in the near future.
A properly done-up Datsun Roadster is a very sharp looking car, and with the right wheels (think Panasports) and paint they can outshine the contemporary MGs and Triumphs no problem. This, however, is not one of those properly done-up cars. If you’re looking for one, it’s probably best to hold out. But if you want a neat and somewhat basic project that you can use a bit in the meantime, this old Datsun could use the love.
