A Movie Star Datsun And The Kei That Replaced A K2500: Members’ Rides

Last week we enjoyed Member Jatco Xtronic CVT‘s wonderful Nissan Cima and Toyota Highlander two-car solution, and it was fun to reveal a bit of who is behind all the great CVT punchlines.

This week we meet Robert, aka Flying Squirrel. When he first filled out the survey for Members’ Rides, he had a truck not too dissimilar to David’s, but somewhere along the way, the truck got the boot and was logically replaced with an adorable kei van. You have questions? Me too! Also piquing my interest, and hopefully yours: he also has a Datsun that is soon to be world-famous – what? How? All will be revealed.

Members’ Rides is where we share the cars and stories of Autopian Members. The potential to be featured here is a perk for Autopian Members of every level, from the ultra-affordable “Cloth” tier all the way up to “Rich Corinthian Leather.” Click that link and join today!

How did you get into cars?

My earliest wrenching memories include sipping Dad’s PBR while passing him wrenches beneath a basket-case ‘65 Mustang. I grew up in south Louisiana while driving and wrenching on a ‘73 Pinto, ‘65 Mustang, and a ‘56 Dodge panel van. My first Datsun Roadster was a ‘70 bought for pennies during my last year of college. A ‘75 Super Beetle came after that, and I worked my first professional job for two years before capitulating to my first new car purchase – a 1987 Jetta.

I learned to ride motorcycles in Houston traffic at age 30 on a series of old BMWs before getting laid off, returning to school, and meeting my wife. Enter my current old car (a ‘67 Datsun 1600 Roadster) in Portland, OR in 2012, and fast-forward to our forever home with my spouse and our animals in Hillsborough, NC. At my core, I’m a creative writer who wears scientist and lawyer hats. I employ an intuitive, non-engineering approach to preserving and enjoying motor vehicles.

What cars do you have today?

• 2013 Lincoln MKX
• 1994 Subaru Sambar Dias Classic
• 1967 Datsun 1600

How did you pick out the Lincoln?

My wife and I were living in Portland, OR, and looking for a used mid-size SUV with the interior volume to transport two adults, two cats, two dogs, and our stuff cross-country to a new job and new home in North Carolina. The shortlist included the Lexus RX 350, Ford Edge, and the Lincoln. The Lexus was supremely competent, of course – and supremely boring.

We landed on the Lincoln but wanted a very particular configuration: AWD, “Kodiak Brown” exterior, and one-owner with clean history. The MKX was actually quite scarce in the Pacific Northwest where, if you stepped off a curb without looking, there was a 75-85 percent chance you would get hit by a Subaru Outback. My online search led to a certified preowned example at a Ford/Lincoln dealer near Chicago, so I flew out and drove him back.

How is it?

He’s the unholy offspring of a big gentle bear and a cruise missile (in fact, we named him Bear per the Kodiak Brown color). The AWD version is a few hundred pounds heavier than the FWD and he just feels so hunkered down, solid, and quiet. I think the V6 was rated at 305 hp and moves his 4500 lbs quickly. Kinda hungry, as you’d expect, averaging about 20 mpg. We’ve now had him for over ten years and still love him!

What’s the best thing about it?

Build quality. The MKX shared a lot of bits with the MKT, which was an airport livery workhorse with a reputation for being unsinkable. Ours is comparatively low mileage (a little over 100K) and remains reliable and solid.

What does it do better than the Edge?

Better materials, performance, and ride quality. The interior is quite chill, with matte finishes, soft-touch materials, real wood accents, and really nice leather. The Edge, even in the “Titanium” trim, felt comparatively brittle and plasticky.

How did a kei come to replace a K2500??

The K2500 was an example of a concept not squaring up with reality. I pictured our NC life requiring regular loads of mulch and rock, and frequently carrying heavy things. That was not the case, it turned out, and the sheer acreage required for parking (extended cab, long bed) and his ravenous appetite (crate 350 @ 12 mpg) got me thinking about something smaller.

I had been admiring kei trucks and vans at Cars & Coffee Morrisville for a few years, and started researching them in earnest when I put the truck up for sale. After lots of research, I landed on a van instead of a truck for a very practical reason. I’m 6’1″ and needed the seat to recline, which is much more comfortable than the fixed arrangement in a minitruck cab. Eventually, I went with a Subaru Sambar because of the rear engine/RWD drivetrain (great accessibility for DIY maintenance and repairs) and 4-wheel independent suspension, which delivers a remarkably civilized ride. I purchased him last December from the local JDM shop, Top Secret RTP, and have loved every minute!

What’s the best thing about it?

His magnetic personality. The color combo says “60s Land Rover” and the Classic trim package with the retro front end is so charming and funky. We named him Butterbean.

Were/are you nervous about the kei given the numerous states that have been banning them?

Not here in NC. We’re lucky that kei vehicles are an established thing. No drama with registration, title, and insurance.

Do you ever miss having the truck?

Not really, but I’m grateful for our time together. The truck was a friendly beast (we named him Squatch because I drove him cross-country from his ancestral grounds in Washington State), and there was something really comforting about cruising in an old truck with a bench seat with a horse blanket seat cover. The Sambar does 80-90% of what I need, including hauling the weekly bag of trash to the transfer station.

Is this your daily or just for fun or how does it get used?

Both the Datsun and the Sambar are my dailies, depending on the weather and my mood. I commute about 17 miles one way on back roads, which is perfect for the Sambar’s preferred cruising speed of 45-50 mph. No interstates in my kei van and, really, I’m starting to enjoy Life@45(mph).

Have you needed to do any work on this yet?

Fresh tires for the 12-inch wheels ($75 per wheel – installed!). I have the air conditioner condenser out to get a pinhole leak repaired and ordered a fresh A/C accumulator-dryer from Japan ($140 incl. shipping). Installed some new shifter bushings ($20 parts and 20 minutes’ work).

Any issues getting parts for it?

So far so good, with a little research. The Sambar is a 1994 model and shares some maintenance items (oil and air filters) with other U.S. market Subarus. If the a/c condenser can’t be repaired, it’ll be a bit of a costly adventure to replace it, but I remind myself it’s all far less expensive than a car note — and much more fun.

Has he proven to be as easy to work on as you expected?

So far, yes. I think the key is (and will be) his straightforward design and easy access to systems and components. It makes sense that these little guys would need to be serviced in the field, which translates well to DIY.

How much attention do you get driving around in this?

I need to add 20-30 minutes to each trip to allow for gas station and parking lot conversations. There’s an undeniable novelty to kei vehicles (at least here in NC) and Butterbean seems to have a broad demographic appeal. I’ve talked with people from all walks of life, it seems.

Have you had any issues getting used to the RHD car?

I was ready for the adventure and adapted quickly to left-handed shifting. For a while though, I was trying to get in on the left side and laughing out loud at the missing steering wheel. Now, it’s more a matter of switching back and forth between the turn indicator stalk on the right or left side of the steering column. This sometimes results in my signaling a turn with the windshield wipers. Also, it’s interesting and a bit exciting to be perched on the right shoulder of the road. I’m basically sitting over the front right wheel and right turns at speed feel like being in the front car of a roller coaster.

What’s the story behind the Datsun?

I was actually looking for a VW Type 3 fastback or notchback (I had a ’75 Super Beetle back in the day) when my wife reminded me I had a ’70 1600 roadster when I was in college. “Why wouldn’t you get one of those?” she asked. So I looked, and found one online close by and jumped at it! Thirteen years in now. We named him Higgins after the character Professor Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady.” It’s a fantastic car, like your favorite pair of jeans that still fit.

How often do you get to drive this?

He’s a daily along with my Sambar, and I drive him at least a couple of times per week.

What is the best thing about this one?

The visceral driving experience. I once read an article about owning a TVR Vixen and its elemental, almost brutal qualities and a part of me said, “Yes, I want those noises and smells and pummelings.” The Datsun delivers, though his ride is not really that punishing at all. He’s loud and smelly, which is why my wife rarely joins me on drives.

Do you ever take the 1600 out of town, or is this just a local-roads fair-weather cruiser?

He’s a fair-weather car in the sense that I haven’t reinstalled his top and I don’t drive him in the rain. But I do drive him top down, year round – he’s “heater delete,” but a heated vest, fleece-lined jeans, wool socks, ski gloves, and leather bomber hat make winter driving tolerable. I’ve taken him on an 800-mile loop through NC to see my dad out near Asheville and drive the Tail of the Dragon. I’ve also had him up to Virginia International Raceway a couple of times for some very spirited charity laps. An old friend of mine and I aspire to drive him to the Trinity test site in New Mexico for one of the two days per year that it’s open to the public.

How was driving Higgins on the Tail of the Dragon and VIR?

A total hoot. Getting to the Dragon from my dad’s place near Asheville is as fun as the Dragon itself — I quickly lost count of the hundreds of curves in total. And what a privilege to do some, shall I say, “spirited” charity laps at VIR. He’s not track day ready (the roll bar is too short) but what a blast to toss him around on a closed course.

What led to the removal of the top?

I’m lucky that a good soft top and frame came with the car. It’s just that driving with the top up, or even stowed behind me, makes me sad. So I generally don’t drive him in the rain, but I do drive him topless in the winter. I’ll reinstall the top for any big road trip.

Has the Datsun needed much work over your time with it?

Higgins was a bit wheezy and prone to overheating in his original form up in Portland. He celebrated being transported from OR to NC by spinning a rod bearing as we drove from temporary lodging to our new house. He then sat for several years as I figured out where to get an engine built, and the build itself proceeded slowly during the pandemic. I did the engine removal and installation myself, with the help of a friend and a Harbor Freight shop crane. I’ve cleaned and coated the fuel tank, replaced some electrical bits, and installed comp springs and Bilsteins up front. The new engine is a 1600 converted to a 2-liter stroker, and it’s freaking brilliant. Higgins is now a reliable driver.

How does the new stroker compare to the old engine?

Gobs more torque, as you’d expect, which is really fun for backroad blasting. The original 1600 was rated at about 96 hp, and mine was pretty wheezy toward the end. I don’t think the stroker provides much of a horsepower gain, but the increased torque is very noticeable on launch and roll-on. The party’s over by about 5000 rpm. I remind myself that he’s not that quick or fast in any absolute sense, but from behind the wheel, he’s rowdy and enthusiastic.

Did you do the suspension and other upgrades at the same time?

Nope, the comp springs and Bilsteins up front came later, largely in an effort to drop the front to level out the natural sag in the stock leaf springs out back (I left the KYB rear shocks alone). The net result (with new tires) has been a nice balance of pointability, grip, and ride comfort.

What is the best thing about your Datsun 1600?

He’s like having a puppy that is always ready to chase the ball. I get in, warm him up for a few minutes, then head out to commune with the sky and trees and road. The stroker has mountains of torque and the car just sticks through the curves, barking through his $500 exhaust (1.75″ with a couple of glasspacks in series). It’s joyous.

Any issues or things you don’t like?

His body rust gnaws on my conscience a little. But only a little. His frame is solid, and he is (and has always been) a driver.

You mentioned rust issues, is it just surface rust that you can pass off as “patina” or are there more significant issues?

Thankfully his frame and underpinnings are solid, but his body suffers some rust-through in the typical roadster problem areas in the front and rear fenders. He’s a driver, so mechanicals (and driving!) are the priority for now.

And Higgins is now a movie star?

He is! I learned back in early June that there was an indie movie titled A Good Fight filming in the Triangle and looking for vintage vehicles. I emailed some pictures to the production company and promptly forgot about it. A few weeks later, I received a response indicating they wanted Higgins as one of the vehicles assigned to a major character in the movie!

What did that entail?

First day on the set was June 17 at Meredith College in Raleigh, standing in for a small town in western New York in the early 1990s. The protagonist is a small-town business owner facing a tough moral decision when his company is presented with an opportunity to expand and relocate to Pennsylvania. A college gets hold of the story and complications ensue, drawing in a fast-talking local PR guy named Leo, portrayed by Richard “RB” Botto.

The production decided that Leo should drive something flashy but scruffy, and that’s where Higgins came in for multiple scenes with characters getting in and out of cars, as well as driving. RB did a great job with the 4-speed despite not having driven a stick for many years. Higgins never missed a beat, cheerfully starting and stopping and driving in the brutally hot weather.

It was a fun, warm, dehydrating experience working with a great director, crew, and cast. I was also able to participate as a background extra in a few scenes so, who knows, I just might be able to keep off the editing room floor. No idea who will distribute the finished film or when, but y’all will be among the first to know!

Thanks Robert!

Are you an Autopian Member? Don’t miss out, we have a lot of fun, and you could be world famous and see your cars plastered all over the best car site on Earth! Click Here to learn more and become a Member today!