I remember when I first got my '78. EVERYONE was stopping me to ask about it. Then after a couple of weeks, that didn't happen anymore. I was starting to wonder whether it was because the same people had seen it or whether I simply looked more at home in it. Maybe the grocery store runs with paper bags just don't look as sexy.

Anyway, yesterday was another day in which my Z got a lot of attention and misc. weird stuff happened. At one point on our rounds, our accountant asked to look under the hood and hear the engine. We talked about the car for a while. When we left his place and pulled up to the first light, up beside us rolls another Z -- same years as mine ('78), except red. What are the chances of that? He had cut off the top to make a pseudo-convertable. It looked really nice, but he had no rag top. Definitely a garage queen. We chatted a bit until the light turned gree and then parted ways.

Off to the grocery store. The car had been running a bit rough, and I wasn't too sure about the re-start, but we needed a few items. Sure enough, when we loaded up and tried to start the car, it sputtered, coughed, died. The more I tried to start it, the more flooded it got. Perhaps I started out with a bit of vapor lock from the hot engine? Anyway, I popped the hood to let the fuel system cool down a few minutes, while holding the throttle open. During that time, another woman and her 11 yr old son came out. While she loaded up groceries, the boy stepped forward and just stared, arms hanging to his side, mouth hanging wide open. The boy looked like "Larry Mondello" from Leave it to Beaver -- even wore the same signature horizontally striped T-shirt. He stared, dumbfounded, for at least a few minutes, until I gave it a last crank and got it to chug to life and even out. Then I closed the hood, shrugged my shoulders at the boy, got in, and drove off, all with him staring at my car like it was a spaceship. (Perhaps it was the "backwards" hood?) I had to smile. I think that was the most unusual response my car ever got.

I can imagine after we drove off that me might tell his mom, "When I learn to drive, I want a car just like that one." Then she would say, "You mean a car that doesn't run?" Ha!

I spent much of today diagnosing ignition and emission control issues. Not as much fun.

Edited October 25, 200915 yr by FastWoman

That kid is destined for greatness. Sometimes I still feel that way about my car. Holy crap! I own that!!!! Great story.

carl

I drove the Z to my best friends sons 1st birthday party yesterday. I arrived at the hall at the same time as a bunch of other people. It took about 15 minutes for me to get into the place, as everyone kept coming up to me and commenting. They almost always start with "I haven't seen one of those in forever" or "My (fill in the blank) had one of those" or "I had one and never should've sold it" or, sometimes "What is it". The last one is usually from some kid under 20 who has never even heard the name Datsun.

No doubt, we drive real head-turners.

My son's favourite line is "Can we get one" or "we should get one" whenever he sees a vehicle he likes...Yesterday it was a Ferrari Boxer...

Maybe he hopes I'll say yes someday...

GWGarrard

My son's favourite line is "Can we get one" or "we should get one" whenever he sees a vehicle he likes...Yesterday it was a Ferrari Boxer...

Maybe he hopes I'll say yes someday...

GWGarrard

If you're buying Ferraris for your kids, are you by chance looking to adopt a 40-year old? :laugh: