Purpose Built Motors’ Datsun 1600 Restomod _ Jay Leno's Garage

The Beauty of Sports Cars: A Conversation with a Car Enthusiast

It's warm outside and I'm enjoying a conversation with a car enthusiast who has spent countless hours restoring his beloved roadster. The conversation starts with a review of the car, which drives great on decently paved roads, handling wonderful and feeling right behind the wheel.

The roadster in question is a 65-66 model, purchased by its owner for $800, which was a reasonable price at the time. Despite not being brand new, it was still considered a desirable possession among car enthusiasts. The owner recalls that when he grew up in a small town in New England, anything with less than four doors might as well be a Ferrari, and cars like his were seen as cool.

The conversation then shifts to the world of classic sports cars, where motorcycles were often attached to cars for speed, but the real muscle cars started to gain popularity. The Chrysler Hemi was considered one of the fastest accelerating American cars, with a 0-60 time of just 6.3 seconds. Fast forward to today, where electric vehicles like Tesla have made significant gains in acceleration, reaching times under two seconds.

The owner's roadster has been meticulously restored and is now valued at around $20,000-$25,000. The build process involved a lot of community support and collaboration, with the owner crediting his website and social media platforms for connecting him with like-minded individuals who shared their talents and expertise. The final result is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship that showcases the owner's passion for sports cars.

The conversation concludes with words of advice from the car enthusiast: "My biggest advice to anyone looking to build anything, especially the young generation, is to do it and screw up and learn from your mistakes." This philosophy is reflected in the owner's own experiences with building his roadster, where he acknowledges that his garage is filled with mistakes, but each one taught him a valuable lesson.

As we wrap up our conversation, I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak with this car enthusiast and appreciate the beauty of sports cars like his roadster. With its impressive handling and performance capabilities, it's clear why this vehicle is so beloved by many.