Hi Listers!
I met Graeme Suckling this morning to help me out with the roadster, and
what an experience! He was gracious enough to show me his projects (awesome
collection of Datsuns including a 1500 Roadster)and spent a great deal of
his time with me. He loaned me the bits needed, and off I went to get the
car inspected. I spoke to the inspector who did the initial inpection and
this time he was a bit friendlier and we dicussed that due to time
constraints I could not find a suspension specialist to do the work for me
and have the report written up (I did ring 4 or 5 as they are all booked
until the next Friday at the earliest. He said that that was fine and to
get the car inspected anyway, and to make sure that I show the inspector
that I have got the parts necessary for roadworthiness. At this point, I
realised that the next guy might not be too lenient, and sure enough, he was
not in the mood to be - he was only doing his job. He booked for me to come
back and have all the bits installed, fender changed, report written up on
the 25th February, which is quite a few weeks away. In the mean time, my
car registration runs out tomorrow, which means I will not be able to enjoy
that beautiful South Australian sunshine in the roadster for over a month.
My wife and I were planning to visit the wineries with the roadster next
weekend but it was not meant to be.
>From this experience, I was able to gain a bit more knowledge about the
roadster and a bit more of its quirks. I was fortunate to have met people
like Graeme Suckling who is not only knowledgable but also a real down to
earth guy, a "fair dinkum bloke" as aussies would put it and the support of
the roadster community on the web. I am amazed at the speed of the
responses to my dilemma - for that I thank you all.
For now, while I am waiting for the parts to arrive, I will just keep on
fixing little bits to the car, spraying on some antirust proofing on every
nook and cranny, greasing bits, tightening bolts etc. Taking the bus for a
month is not so painful (this is my only car)after all especially with all
the friendships that I have made online as well as in person - all because
of that 'little datsun'. What a car!
Thank you all for the responses and advise.
Yours in Datsuns (ex Alfa Romeo),
Mark Richards
Adelaide, South Australia (Sunny and 24 degrees at the moment)
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