This
top frame is pristine. I I didn't see tiny has-been-used
markings on the "knife-blade" ends to the top cables I
would think it was new. It is THAT nice. If you had the
front bow professionally painted I don't think it would
look any better than it does now. I'm guessing it was
installed and removed a few times from the marks where
the rear bar would have hit the deck clips.
This
is a bare frame; it does not come with windshield latches
but it does come with the original cables, push plates
and a nice rear bar that still is in its original shape
to hook on to your deck clips.
This
frame is EXTREMELY flexible; it opens and closes with
just finger effort; like they did when they were new.
Previous owner removed it because in the early 80s he
purchased about every part he could for his car whether
it needed it or not. I wish I could have seen the car
before he sold it.
This
looks like one of the parts my shop mates would put aside
in the old days with a tag "Save for Dann." The DU97-60
is a very nice frame; but this one is spectacular which
is rare as I can usually find fault (and do) with most
used parts as I if anything am over-pessimistic in
describing them.
After
a couple of days of looking at this thing off and on I
think it is "used" only because it was once installed on
a car. I sincerely believe it was installed and removed
within days or weeks. Back so long ago Nissan was getting
rid of tops and frames and sold them for next to nothing.
We bought a scad of them knowing they were old but
figured the frame was easily worth the price. When we
first got them they looked great. We sold them as factory
top and frames; which they were. After a couple of calls
it became clear that when the tops were put in the sun;
within 48 hours the nice clear windows would turn almost
black. At the time they could have been 12-14 years old.
The material had and did hold up great but the windows
had to be replaced on every one of them. Fast forward to
now. This frame did have crunchy black windows and a
disintegrating top which would be normal for a 51-53 year
old top. I believe this top was put on a car; then
removed as soon as the windows turned black and was
probably returned to the Datsun dealer where it sat for
decades. Although we sent out multiple letters to all the
USA-CANADA-AUSTRALIA Datsun dealers and all of the Nissan
distributors we could find in the world; many were just
too busy or disinterested to sell us inventory so these
parts still kept appearing long after our 78-88 letters
requesting purchase of parts were forgotten. The vinyl
protection covering that the bows had on the inside is
still there which I haven't seen on a car in decades. The
"old style" weatherstrip doesn't even look like it has
been compressed.
Other
parts are described on the top frame info
page and listed if available on either the
NEW
TOP
or USED
TOP
pages in the NEW PARTS or USED PARTS sections; or on the
ODDS
AND ENDS
page.