April 29, 2011
Jeffrey Malinovitz
Download CarCast Episode Here (Click Me!)
Show Summary
Adam Carolla and the Professor Sandy Ganz sit back with Jeff Torres, the long time Director of the Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic. In this episode we are all over the road, from the New York Auto show, Donny’s Bronco, and yes, even a couple of minutes of Datsun Roadster chatter. Jeff brings in his Modified 1600 Datsun Roadster that we check out in the CarCast well… parking lot.
Show Links and Contacts
2011 Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic Car show. Saturday April 30 2011, the 24th Annual Solvang Datsun Roadster Classic in beautiful downtown Solvang CA. www.SolvangShow.com
Video
Jeffrey Malinovitz – Datsun 1600 Roadster
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFg_PH9gpGQ
Image Gallery
[nggallery id=161]
Jeff could be the Professors voice stunt double.
If there were a commodity exchange for classic cars (and I think there should be), I would sell covered calls on Mustangs and use the proceeds to buy LEAPS on Datsun roadsters.
Nice car. Jealous.
I like the old Datsuns and I think Adam was wise to snatch up the old race cars. Those particular cars have historical significance and will reflect that one day.
I think old timers’ reactions to the Datsun roadsters (and 510s) may be partially based on anti-japanese sentiments, but also the perception that they were knockoffs of the MGB and BMW 2002 and broke no new ground. Their attitude toward Datsun cars displays a similar manufacturer bias as Adam’s ridicule of sinking 20k into a slammed Acura, but applauding the same 20k sunk into a Mini several episodes back IMHO.
Good shows, appreciate the effort guys.
Shawn
This is off subject a bit, but would Adam please get a hold of that guy from Ford and ask him why they don’t offer a small diesel pickup in the US? They make a diesel Ranger for 188 markets around the world, but won’t offer it here. They also have a little Ford Bantam, (Bakkai or something like that) that is popular in Africa. I’d buy either in a heart beat.
Thanx
I know we should never correct Adam on the air, but the show is over now, so I’ll point out that I remembered him driving a Barracuda convertible. Turns out he also drove Dart convertibles and in the final season drove a Camaro hardtop. Plus he drove a Toronado convertible on occasion, during the first season:
http://www.tvacres.com/autos_plymouth_mannix.htm
I just especially remembered the ‘Cuda, as there was an episode when they added a steering wheel under the dash on the passenger side, so his secretary could actually be driving, since they were trying to hide the fact that he was temporarily blind. Memorable scene, so the car was memorable.
Check out dad & Peter B. 🙂
http://imcdb.org/i255978.jpg
Great episode. Jeff’s Datsun roadster is beautiful!
The timing was funny, because I spent the day at Laguna Seca on Saturday attending the San Francisco SCCA Regional vintage races. A buddy of mine and I spent the day walking around enjoying all of the cars. Hardly any spectators at all (and one point we were the only two people sitting in the grandstands). Great cross section of cars to see, including about a dozen vintage NASCAR cars. There were a couple of Datsun roadsters racing, but also way too many 510s. The coolest thing, was that there was about a dozen vintage racing Ford Cortinas out on the track.
BTW – We kept walking by this car. My buddy and I couldn’t figure out what it was. Looked like a Pantera…but not. I yelled over to a heavy set guy in the chair “It’s killing us, but we can’t place the car. What is it?” The guy explained that it was a Mangusta…the guy was Lilo Ziron, the owner of the car and the guy that Adam mentioned in the podcast.
The other coincidence about the podcast is that I was out for a walk listening to it wearing a Pete Brock Day t-shirt. I met him at a recent event at a local Mustang specialty shop in Santa Clara called the Mustang Ranch. Pete along with his wife drove his Supeformance Daytona Coupe down to Santa Clara from Oregon and back. Nicest guy in the world. I had a chance to talk with him and take a pic. Guess what? He’s running a LS Chevy motor in his Superformance Daytona Coupe and loves it!
dzl bike, you don’t need anyone to ask ford, you need to ask the EPA. more bullshit from the enviro-idiots.
Joe,
If they can make an Excursion comply to EPA, you would think they could make a small pickup engine to comply, even if they had to buy it from Volkswagen. I think it is due to cutting into their F150 sales. I’d like to have someone from Ford respond. Gale Banks had a good episode last week and got me to thinking..
Don
Hey Jeff car looks great glad you got it finish Tulare County
Way to go DATSUN
Wow, f’n nice eye spotting the Miata seats.
speedhunters.com just posted an old 1/2 hour long video produced by Datsun following the 1971 BRE campaign. I am sure Adam has seen it, but all else can check it out.
Check it out, somebody call Leno!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Original-Hero-GEN-11-Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang-Car-/350458312378
Saab Sonnet was a great rally car. [img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3600200538_7102f8151f.jpg[/img]
Quote: Designed as a race car, the Sonett II competed successfully against other small European roadsters, including the Austin Healey Sprite and Triumph Spitfire in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) races of the period.
I also know that raced in the European rally series.
At the SCCA vintage grids last weekend I was told our local Vintage club makes the cutoff at 1969 or older to keep Z cars and 510’s from racing. That fact alone made me want a Datsun that much more…
That blows, but plenty of places to run your ‘Non’ vinatage Datsun.
Sandy
I don’t know about these cars, but Ace mentions components like the starter being on left-hand side of the engine bay along with the driver. I’d guess these were originally designed for the Japanese market first, which is right hand drive. So maybe they put it all on that left side to offset the weight of the driver that was on the right for better weight distribution? Just a guess.
Josh –
That makes perfect sense, seems odd that they would go out of the way to bury the starter unless they had a good reason.
Sandy
Talking about the non-crossflow head…
The Mikuni intake manifold I used on my 510 had mounting holes for a heat shield on the bottom. I made one from stainless and covered it in asbestos sheet (back when you could just buy a roll of that awesome stuff). With that between the manifold and the carbs it really kept the bottom of the Mikuni’s cool. Also, the 44MM Mikuni’s I had were fitted with a water jacket on the bottom of the carbs. I setup a modified windshield washer to circulate cool water through the carbs. Worked great on hot So Cal nights especially if you filled it with ice. Good times 😉