fisch Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 I learned that Dick Dean (the famous hot rod builder) came up with an idea for building a hot rod out of a Datsun frame and drivetrain. He used to sell plans on how to do it for $10. This is about all the info I've found. "Always the innovator, Dick marketed the "Dot Rod" kit car using the chassis and power train from a Datsun. The information packet sold for $10 and gave instructions on building a glass or steel '32-'34 Ford. If it was built correctly, this is how it looked." and "The Dot Rod or something like that...but he left the front end in place. The frame itself was a reasonable fit BUT I think the rear kick was curved a little different. NO problem with a channelled rig or a fabricated floor." Seems to be some interest out there with using Datsun truck frames to build hotrods. (which are ofcourse already boxed and you have to explain less to the DMV i guess?) Anyone ever hear of this or know any more about it? Here is a pic. Quote Link to comment
ezcruiser Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Deaaamn, If we do get a hold of the instructions I'm in!! Quote Link to comment
kiznook Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Except you could buy 10+ 620s for the cost of one 32-34 body Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 I'm thinking it is for the narrower 210 car or 320 truck, early-to-mid 60s. But that's just a guess. I can't see how it would be for a 510 since 510s don't have frames. Quote Link to comment
Steroid Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Dick Dean is still alive and living in the San Jacinto/Hemet area. I posted on the thread about Big Dave's truck on the address next door to His. Maybe they can give a number to get a hold of Dick's relitives, or who is in charge of His archives. Quote Link to comment
kiznook Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 roadster frame? Quote Link to comment
fisch Posted March 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Dick Dean is still alive and living in the San Jacinto/Hemet area. I posted on the thread about Big Dave's truck on the address next door to His. Maybe they can give a number to get a hold of Dick's relitives, or who is in charge of His archives. Damn Mike you are a vault of knowlege! You never fail to impress me. If only we could jack into your brain and download it to the ratsun archives! Quote Link to comment
Steroid Posted March 12, 2008 Report Share Posted March 12, 2008 Hi. Thanks for the complement! But this was really a pretty easy find. I "googled" Dick Dean and found some nice websites with His history and photos of projects. One website says that Dick chopped His first vehicle in 1953!!! He went on to work for George Barris alongside Dean Jefferys buildng many notable rides. One being the Monkeemobile. As I looked at the websites, one had photos taken a couple of years ago at a reunion. In the background was a sign saying "Christie Steel Fabrication". I simply went into the phonebook dot com website and there was the listing...... 1434 Mesa View St. Hemet, Ca. 92543 951-654-2882. I had suggested to Big Dave that as Dick Dean did the choptop on His truck that it might be cool to send Dick a glovebox door, along with photos to verify the truck, to have autographed by Dick. Dick is in a wheelchair now so I would hurry in getting information, etc. from Him. Quote Link to comment
shifty Posted March 13, 2008 Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 I have a copy of "How to Build a Street Rod" (Motorbooks International 1985) with a reprint of an article from Hot Rod. The original article is probably from the early 70's. Dean called it the Dot-Rod, built on a truck chassis and has an L-20. Quote Link to comment
fisch Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 I have a copy of "How to Build a Street Rod" (Motorbooks International 1985) with a reprint of an article from Hot Rod. The original article is probably from the early 70's. Dean called it the Dot-Rod, built on a truck chassis and has an L-20. Hi and welcome! I love a first post with info to share! Is this the book you are talking about? http://cgi.ebay.com/Hot-Rod-Magazine-presents-How-to-Build-a-Street-Rod_W0QQitemZ370013300061QQihZ024QQcategoryZ280QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment
shifty Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Thanks! That's the book - the article is only a few pages long. Not many details. He did some creative work with the back of the frame - it comes out through the bodywork and looks a bit strange. I've been keeping an eye out for a copy of the plans, but have never run across them. Around the same time there was an article about building a t-bucket style hot rod on a Datsun or Toyota truck frame. They chopped up the bed to make the body. The tailgate became the back of the body with the embossed letters. I've toyed with the idea of building one, but I have too many roadster projects! A friend is picking up a '78 620 on Saturday - may have to take a closer look at the frame! Quote Link to comment
tablebeast Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 Did anyone ever unearth these plans? I am buying a title-less 720 and would like to slap a titled cab on it from something older (American, Japanese, Swedish, etc) so the whole package will be pre-emissions. Quote Link to comment
FoxyRoadster Posted June 10, 2013 Report Share Posted June 10, 2013 I'm sure these could be adapted to the roadster frames as well (bit more rare then the 620 but I see plenty of them rusted out that could be parted out to save other roadsters) Quote Link to comment
shifty Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Here's a pdf of the plans http://shiftco.com/dotrod/Dotrod.pdf If anyone has any more info please post it here. I've been wanting to build one of these for years. I used to have a scan of an article from a 70's magazine of a mini truck-based hot rod where they cut and welded the bed into an open roadster style "body". I'd love to find that again! 2 Quote Link to comment
Dawa Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 i didnt even bother reading the posts but i just wanted to say fuck all that. keep it all nissan. i initially thought this thread was gonna be about dick hot rodding a datsun (taking everything existing and improving it but not necessarily replacing it.) a cool find, none the less, im not trying to discredit that, and by 'fuck all that' i just mean 'eh its not for me' :) Quote Link to comment
Justin Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 ^Disagree^ Hot rods are hella cooler and hella more American than anything Datsun ever made. If you can build one on the cheap using Datsun parts... fucking DO IT. Quote Link to comment
bananahamuck Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 I have posted this before but i love this thing an A motor and a 4speed,,,, and just in case he`s somehow lurking here (noway) Herb!! i will still trade ya .. 2 Quote Link to comment
Dawa Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 ^Disagree^ Hot rods are hella cooler and hella more American than anything Datsun ever made. If you can build one on the cheap using Datsun parts... fucking DO IT. lol disagree with what? that i thought this thread was going to be something else? and the second sentence has nothing to do with my initial post. yes of course hot rods are more american than anything datsun ever made, you silly guy. Quote Link to comment
DaBlist Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 Bananahamuck You'd look good in that, gotta have that helmet too I have posted this before but i love this thing an A motor and a 4speed,,,, and just in case he`s somehow lurking here (noway) Herb!! i will still trade ya .. Quote Link to comment
DaBlist Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 I can easily see where the Dat/Dot Rod idea came from. I used to work next to a street rod shop and remember being under a 521 I had and thinking this frame is shaped a lot like the ones they use. Quote Link to comment
Buzzbomb Posted July 26, 2013 Report Share Posted July 26, 2013 "$50 to $500 for a steel body from a '32 Ford"... LMAO! And that was in '77 according to the article?! :o The whole concept is a pretty neat idea, IMHO.. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.