In the mid-80's I acquired a turd brown Datsun 810 which proved to be an excellent herping vehicle. However, it did provide for a few nights of consternation.
The first was on Black Gap Rd. The cluster gear punched through the transmission housing about 8 miles from the river, leaving me with only 3rd gear, no revers, no other gears. Figuring the damage was done I continued hunting for a few passes, then limped back to Alpine. I used my backup vehicle (the notorious Olds wagon, about which will be written at another time) while awaiting a new transmission. I used buzz's "facilities" in Ft. Davis to install the new tranny, then went back to herping in the datsun.
Second time: I was hunting Boy Scout Rd and on the way home, somewhere N. of Ft. Davis, the clutch cylinder went out. This was REALLY fun, but I managed to get back to Alpine.
Third time: I had put on new brake pads and headed to Termlingua. I had supper at the station there, filled up with gas and headed out of the parking lot. On breaking at the road I discovered I had no brakes. Seems the lifetime brake pads had cut through the rotors and the rotors had just seperaated. Again, I limped back to Alpine using the parking brake. I did NOT herp that night.
Fourth time: I was N. of the big hill on the river road and decided to change the battery in my 6V flashlight while driving. The reflector fell off the seat onto the floor of the passenger side. I reached over to pick it up, felt my wheels bit into the dirt off the road, had time to say "OH S###" then went down the hillside and wound up in a pile of boulders. I went up the hill and waited for a herper to come along. First on scene was Eric T in his 4WS pickup and he fortunately had a tow chain with him. We cleared away a few large rocks and then he tried to pull the car out; no succsess. I then got into the car, started it up, put it in reverse and between my power and his power the car made it back onto the highway. The doors on the passenger side were crunchec in but the car seemed otherwise OK so I continued herping. Thanks for the tow, Tiny.
The speedometer and odometer stopped working at 256,000 miles so I don't know how many miles I actually had on it when it was sold in '93, but it still ran great. I loved that in-line 6 cyl.
