Z-Car Blog » Automotive History

Datsun Roadster in Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car!!!

Alvin G — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:20:36 +0000

The January 2012 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car magazine will feature Jerry’s Krakauer’s 1967.5 Datsun 2000 Roadster. Jerry purchased the roadster brand-new in ’68 and amazingly still owns the car to this day! SRL-00099 was not just a street car as Jerry piloted it against other marques in the CP class. We love seeing Datsuns in their native habitat…out on the track! Jerry was kind enough to provide a few snapshots circa 1970 showing him and #99 enjoying the ride:

The magazine will be on newstands in late November, check it out!

The Datsun 240z…Origin of the Species

Alvin G — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:07:39 +0000

Through the spirit of Datsun brotherhood Dave B gave the shop a copy of this old hardbound issue of Automobile Quarterly. It features an in-depth look and history of the Datsun 240z’s creation and design influences, written by Terry Greenfield. I have never read it before and I was super stoked to see Datsun roadsters described as the “roots” of Nissan sportscar heritage. From racing roadsters to Albrecht Goertz and beautiful images this is a must read for Datsun/Z enthusiasts. Enjoy!

Visit the gallery for the full feature and all 20+pages!

We Will Miss You Jack

Alvin G — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:41:51 +0000

To fellow Datsun enthusiasts and roadster owners in general Mike Young is a household name. Mike has been restoring Datsuns since the 80′s and you can see a few examples of his amazing work at DatsunSports. If you caught Mike at a Datsun car show 99% of the time you could also count on seeing his trusty dog Jack by his side. Jack recently passed away, but we will always remember him. Jack was a Datsun mascot to most of us, and over the years he would make us smile whether it was riding shotgun with Mike in a freshly restored roadster or relaxing in his arms in the warm sun at a show. Rest in Peace in Jack, you will be missed.

Datsun Heritage Museum Gala Report…11/20/10

Alvin G — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:03:15 +0000

Everyone had a great time Saturday evening helping raise funds to support the Datsun Heritage Museum(DHM). The event was held at the penthouse atop the Petersen Automotive museum in Los Angeles, CA. The night was filled with food, friends, celebrities, and some cool Datsun memorabilia. When we arrived at the museum Mr. K’s 240z was on display and we took a brief tour inside. Check out the movie cars including the Batmobile, General Lee, and Green Hornet:

Then we headed up to the Penthouse for the party! I was very impressed with the venue. Everything from the table decorations, dinner, lighting and sound was fantastic. Weather was perfect too. And who doesn’t love an open bar? Check out the Datsun cupcakes

Just before dinner a silent auction was held with plenty of Datsun(and sports) memorabilia. I bid on a some very cool Datsun Roadster and R35 GTR models. I was outbid on both It’s okay though as the winner(also at our table) helped the DHM! It was great to see familiar faces too. Here is Datsun racer Ron Carter showing us a race helmet signed by all of the BRE team members and guest drivers, up for auction!

The evening peaked with some celebrity entertainment. Adam Carolla could not be there in person but he did say a few recorded words. His buddy comedian Rob Schneider made us laugh and also helped auction off a few impressive items including a 1 year lease on the USA’s first Nissan Leaf.

Some of the biggest names in Datsun racing were present including Tony Adamowicz, John Knepp, Don Devendorf, Frank Honsoweitz, Kirk Allegro, and our hero John Morton! I think the highlight of the night was seeing and listening to Mr. K live via Skype. 101 years old he is still articulate and passionate about Datsuns and preserving the history of the marque. It was absolutely amazing to witness it in person. Racer Tommy Kendall presented John Morton with the Datsun Legend award.

To top it all off I got to speak to John Knepp in person since we exchanged e-mails from this year’s Road Atlanta event in July. He remembered my name!

This was a fantastic effort to raise funds and keep the Datsun spirit alive. We want to thank everyone at our table for helping support the Datsun Heritage Museum: Rod of Rod’s Datsun Parts, Matt and Maryann, Tom and Matt, and of course Rob and Meghan. It was a memorable night and weekend all for a good cause.

Enjoy the Ride!

Datsun Heritage Museum Gala…11/20/10

Alvin G — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 05:08:53 +0000

The 1st Annual Datsun Heritage Museum Gala event will be held on November 20, 2010 in Los Angeles. The event will be hosted by comedian Rob Schneider atop the Petersen Automotive Museum. More details and registration information HERE