DISASTER!!! So Much Filler! So Many Layers Of Botch Repairs! Restoration Of Our Disaster Datsun 260z 

I think what you got was actually the original clay mould for the Datsun.

Someone in Bradford or Birmingham is really proud of seeing their beautiful artistry on RU-vid.

Time to crush it, guys. It's been a learning curve and we have enjoyed the content, but put it out of its misery, please.

Do the previous bodge artists not realise that scrunched up newspaper is far cheaper than filler?!? 😅

6:45 Is it like the wood of an old tree, you just count the number of rings and you know how old is the car ? 😂😂😢😭😭😭

I’m a huge BMW guy and love the three RU-vidr projects you have going on but I have to admit the disaster Datsun is my favourite series on the channel 😍

Filler and paint makes me the welder I ain't. Unbelievable how much work you put into this car. You are doing a great job. Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪

I feel like you'll probably end up just building an entire new car, panel by panel. I'm here for this journey!

Has there ever been a more perfect car for showcasing the skills and talent of the restorer? I`ll wait.

At what point do you stop and say, "It's just not worth the cost to repair it? That it's just too far gone?" No one should be allowed to purchase bondo (plastic filler) by the 55 gallon barrel. You have my deepest sympathies.

That must have been the world's heaviest Datsun, the filler, patches, over patches.......over patches and panels over panels must really add up.😂

Ryan - it's great watching you and your dad work so skilfully it's really an inspiration. But what is more inspirational is your ability to refrain from swearing whilst discovering how bad the Datsun actually is! 🤣🤣

This is beyond rebuild. There is no frame left

I once started a 1977 Capri. It reached a point where the whole thing became a huge pile of filler and rust balanced on tressles. Ended up just sweeping it into a skip.

That looks like a good candidate for running off the end of a boat ramp in the middle of the night and giving the fish a new hangout spot.

Car restoration and archeology combined...great stuff

I've really seen a lot in the 40 years I'm already active working on cars- but this is truly the icing of the cake... 😮 Honestly: try to cut the upper hull (a/b/c pillars + roof) off. Construct a complete tube frame chassis, attach bonnets, fenders, doors & quarter panels to it. How on earth will you be able to rebuild the complete f***ed up jigsaw of rust (front end)??? 🤐 I mean, if there would be spare panels available like for the Escort, but this... Original restoration yes/no, but in the end, there will be maybe 20% of original material left... But the video was great to watch- thanks for your bravery and still taking us with you guys on this journey!

You summed it up when you asked 'Who in their right mind would do this ?' Obviously, whoever did it was not in their right mind, but you have ti admire their sculpting skills. Best wishes.

Nonym and Yorkshire videos best match. The previous repair man was a sculptor 😀

I want one, i watched "few" restorations, the photos on the market, and this one tops it all. I dont want one anymore.

I think it's dead Jim! I would be sending it straight to the scrapman.

I'm flabaghasted and never seen a car hide so much rust so well. Really thought the rust was all but over with. Wonder if the guy you bought it from is watching and waiting for each bit of his artwork to be discovered.

I know that you're a car restoration company. But looking on how really bad that 260Z is. I would say that it's not fit to be fixed. It's too far gone. The people who have bodged that car up a patch over 3 other patches should be locked up! But I know that you're going to fix it up to a good standard and all I can say is I hope that the owner has very deep pockets hehehe... Will look forward to seeing the next video of this rust bucket....Oh and good luck as you will need it.......

Looking like not much original metal left when complete. Your utter frustration during this project is all for our entertainment. And for that, I salute you sir!!! 🫡

The car's got an identity crisis. It's identifying as a smart phone with many skins to choose from! Keep going Ryan - you know you want to... All the best.

this Datsun is the gift that keeps on giving

I really look forward to seeing you fix that "disaster". Great watching 👋

In the 80's I worked for a car dealer for about 2 years I was stupid at the time, He called fiberglass and P38 cold weld, He had me glue doors back together with the stuff, I stuffed panels with newspaper tin cans I even remember him giving me a lesson on a front wing with a beer can to pass the magnet test. loads of cars suddenly had 3 tone paint jobs around that time.

I followed Matt's E24 to your channel and been watching ever since - tonight, thinking was the Disaster Datsun worth it, I went back to discover ABSOLUTLEY for the Snap-on Hammer screwdrivers and best of all the Horse Siren! - Off to binge the rest now...

Ryan, OMG!!!!!. But also very very funny for us watching.. ..Oh Dear indeed. Keep up the great work Joe

Damn. I feel your frustration in my soul. This kind of previous shit workmanship is what gives me trust issues when I have a shop work on my vehicles.

Dude not worth the work and material that cars been on it’s roof what is that crap looks like the cars has been sculpted out of some kind of hardened lava that cars been written off here that’s illegal to sell are you going to repair this disaster I gotta see thst

After all that surgery at least you can see what you DO have left to work with and its not a lot! Jeez the car that never stops giving! Keep up the great work and videos.

Honestly loving this, I've a 79zx coupe stripped down to nothing in my workshop, in Ireland but is a UK car. Frame rails had been boxed over same as yours, holes everywhere, floors like Fred Flintstones car, it's sat on a pallet for three years because I've no idea where to start but you're making me feel a bit better about mine!

You said you were going to go home and cry - I was crying just watching this.

Admire your craftsmanship and positive energy. But this was definitely a vehicle to be scrapped and not saved. Would have been better being bodied over a newer car.

That is hurting my eyes! Ive been with you guys just a few weeks and can tell you, if nobody else are the guys to bring the Datsun back as it should be... I wish i could get you working on my old truck but i just couldn't afford it 😅😢😅 I can do stuff, but it will just take longer... One thing is for sure, it will never be as bad as the Disaster Datsun!

Anyone who's thinking about buying a 'classic' car should watch this channel first.

Does anyone know a plasterer It’s the most extreme amazing and mind boggling thing I have ever saw Everything has its level But this Datsun has created an upper echelon all for its self Brilliant I love this series

If there is a team that can put this mess right it’s you guys! I feel for you, I really do, but I know I’m selfishly going to enjoy watching you put this right. Good luck! Cheers.

Compared to what you have already done to this car, this new discovery will be a walk in the park. Keep going, Ryan. When it is finished it will be a great car. Can't wait to see it.

When you say botched that`s an understatement. Don`t give up, keep on going.

perhaps another way of looking at it is the bodgery has saved it from failed mot's, the scrappage scheme, and the breaker's yard to finally end up in the hands of someone who has the skills to restore it

Oh my goodness! The Disaster Datsun is your “Ship of Theseus”. By the time it’s finished, every panel will have been replaced. It’s still the same Datsun, but can you make another out of the parts cut out?

The cream coloured infill on the C pillar looks very much like expanding foam as you get sprayed onto the outside of domestic hot water tanks. You cab buy in an aerosol with a thin tube on the nozzle and it basically fills cavities as the previous body shop has done so. Unfortunately many body shops apply a skim of filler over everything but I've never seen a car as bad as this. Hats off to you if you can bring this one back from the dead!

I don't understand why Ryan's so upset this car single handedly kept the bondo factory in business. Without the 5,000 gallons of bondo a lot of people would have been without a job 😂

Buggered off today to do some structural steel welding - I normally weld the same stuff you weld. Today was like a holiday it was that simple compared to the skills you need for rust repair. It was a doddle.

Ryan, deep respect for your skills but above all your courage and patience with this project. I am currently restoring a Kadett 1.9 GTE 1975 which had its fair share of botch work. At some point your so far in that scrapping the thing would be a waist of the time, money and material you have put in so far. Thank God for not knowing the full scale of the disaster when you (optimistically) started the restoration assuming it “could not be that bad” ………..

Wow Ryan. I am the first to admit that I am a (very) old, and not-so-enthusiastic nowadays amateur, but I have been around and tinkering with cars for over 50 years. I can honestly say I have never seen a worse car than that one. Just a point for a lot of the commenters. There are thousands of old cars on the road with high power engines, think American muscle cars, that were all built and designed well before crumple zones were even thought about. There is no-one who says "don't buy a fully restored '59 Mustang, it will be a death trap if it hits anything". Once Ryan and the boys have rebuilt that car it may not be constructed exactly as it came from the factory, but they go the extra mile as far as cutting corners and not re-instating layers like other so-called restorers do. I'm sure it will be a perfectly strong and safe car to do whatever Steve decides to do with it.

Why complaining about what is making your work worth. I understand your point of view, I renovate houses and ... yeah. But throwing things and cursing is a waste of energy and for this amount of work to do, humm, keep on the good vibe. In a way it is a blessing that your team came to cure those disasters. Love your work.

FINALLY! I’ve caught up with Disaster Datsun! Can’t wait to see it finished 😁

I've retired now from restoration. I did a 260Z some years ago, it was one of the worst cars I ever had the misfortune to restore, though not as bad as yours ! You need a medal the size of a dustbin lid. Good luck.

"Oh dear, oh my" - Closes the chassis back up. 😅 my new favourite channel

Ryan, you really have to track down this previous sculpture/owner. I have never seen such craftiness with body filler! It truly is a work of art. I can only imagine the amount of body filler used. It must have shown up on a skid/pallet. And as you know, most filler gets sanded off. It must have been a true site to see this being done in person! And that rear quarter side scoop, speachless, I'm just speachless. What will be behind that front fender leg/support? Disastrousnous at its ultimate level. Keep up the great work Ryan. Btw, i use a lot of Eastwood products over here in the States. That SCT tool is "THE TOOL" for doing that kind of stripping. Well done!

If you pull this off you need an award or a medal for saving this car mate!

I feel your pain, Ryan. It's hard to tell where the patch on patch on patch panels end & the original bodywork begins ! At what point or how bad does the bodywork have to be before it becomes uneconomical to repair?! Keep at it Ryan, it'll all come good in the end.....hopefully. 🤞

Building foam!! I knew guys in the seventies who would get a car that was literally lacework, grind it back, fill the holes with builders foam, carve it to shape with a big carving knife, skim the whole car with filler, stick chassis patches on with filler and a week later out came a pristine low mileage quality used car! Phil

The Isopon Datsun! i've owned a few bangers in my time with more than their fair share of filler, but i have NEVER seen that much filler in a car ever!! You told Colin Furze he would have his own bin with all the rust you removed from his BMW. that Datsun must have a skip by now lol. Fair play for sticking with it, some bloody impressive fabrication skills there too, i just hope theres no more nasty surprises in store... but im not gonna bet on it lol.. loving the channel guys, keep up the great work!!

Jeez. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

At what point do you just scrap it?

I've not laughed so much in a long while over your discoveries of disaster. Your a true panel warrior and I know with that Z, she's in good hands and blessed to have you rebuild her. Love your work.

You are not just a body man you are also a artist with metal

Billy Bodger Ryan that’s the fella! When the going gets tough the tough get going pal😂😂😂 Just like an onion many skins! You’re doing a grand job! I hope you don’t have water meter fitted at home? All your profit will be going to the water company along with gas and electric!!! Makes me wonder if the owner who had the work done in the first place is watching you pealing away all that bog and rusty metal? If they are I hope they get in touch and give you the history of who did it?😂😂😂

I can't help being amazed by your patience and dedication. I've made quite a few projects but I'd consider this unsalvageable...

Im a sheet metal guy myself. I hate bondo work and paint 😅. Your disaster Datsun is actually quite common what folks used to do in the past before MOT existed ( APK here in the Netherlands). They used everything they could get their hands on. Some even filled their car floors or doors with concrete 😂

Whoa, This thing is beyond a disaster, its a total rust bucket. Kudos for trying to "properly repair ' this car, you have your work cut out for you..... BREATH!!!

I was already almost crying until I got to the front end... Poor car!

Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself with my junky old 75 corvette, I just watch your Datsun episodes. Nothing else can be this bad. I mean, at least my corvette was supposed to be fiberglass all the way down…

Thank you for saving a 260z. I have 2 280zx, luckly in better shape. Keep up the good work.

Haha. Been there before. I bought an old Mini many years ago. When I started looking at the scuttle panels, all I found was rolled up newspaper and a thick layer of filler. That went all the way up into the windscreen and all down into the footwells. Ended up just scrapping the car as it was literally more newspaper/filler/rust than car.

Love your channel, and look forward to all of you and your dad's work. At least you have unlimited content for all of us "Armchair" Bodymen. You can look at it as "Job Security". Cheers from The Island of Guam USA👍

The best lesson here is when starting a project is to completely strip a body shell before deciding to repair it, get it blasted or stripped or just take the time to do it yourself.

Talk about a labour of love! 😊

WOW! The disaster is back. That's nuts.

Oooooh! A cliffhanger! I can't wait for next week! I have to say, I hope this car is worth a lot in content since I'm fairly certain it doesn't even have much "scrap" value! Keep up the amazing work and content Ryan!

I told my boss, no more buying other people’s projects. Virgin metal only, I can build him anything he wants but he no longer importing other people’s backyard boogie. I hope they make panels for that car. Good job saving it.

Im waiting for more fixes on datsun! the fact it hides so much it makes him a good restoration, too bad the rust is almost everywhere, you doing good man!

When i was an apprentice beater in the 80s we were still gas brazing patches in the distortion was unreal .back then on the car sales work we used silver tin tape over rust then bog lots of bog .when you no better you do better.hi from New Zealand 🇳🇿

It's a shame that there's no second hand market for body filler. Ryan would become financially independent to buy Cleenex for wiping his tears with. Good thing he can use his emotional support bird-thingie Rocco for wiping tears and hugging in desperation during the darkest hours of working on the DD. We stand with you in your struggles Ryan. 😁

I really feel sorry for you guys , I’m a Datsun fan and owners of a 280zx and I was very excited to see a project like this but I think it should have been scrapped , nothing is worst than a butchered body to start with .

Dan @ DD Speed Shop is in a similar predicament with a rusted out 1967 Camaro. It seems like when he finishes it, the only original thing remaining will be the VIN. The biggest differences is your car starts by weighing a great deal more than stock because of filler piled on, while his must be starting a great deal less than stock due to the amount of metal that is thinner due to corrosion. Both of you have a lot of work ahead to get these pitiful vehicles back into nice, safe vehicles. Best of luck to you from Alabama, USA!

It is so sad to think that guys like you spend some much time restoring the vehicles to almost showroom condition but there are people out there who don't care about causing accidents and destroying all love and care you put into you work in restoring these classics.

Hell on wheels. This is truely the Discovery channel. Edge of my seat here.

You can really see why these old classics become absolute death traps in an accident. To the lay person you’d never guess that there was nothing but filler and fibreglass under that panel!

Nice! It's soooooo much lighter now. Hit it with a clear coat and get it back on the road!

Oh dear, too much filler. I hope you get this back to its former glory. It looks like a beautiful car!!! Somebody did not have respect for an old Datsun... they should be ashamed ..

Was the previous owner a bondo sales man? 😏 I once bought a car from a bricklayer. The rocker panels were rebar and concrete! I had to rent a jackhammer. 😏

I’ve seen bad before. Or so I thought. If you take the time to rebuild that car, you are a Saint. TEXAS!

You're a braver man than me Gunga din.

I want to see more, I know you found a lot! I hope it’s worth it, I love the channel, your father, and you . Keep Cracking.

Lol I worked in the industry from the age of 18 to about 25 and have restored several cars over my 50 years, I found chicken wire, space invader even a loaf of bread used as support for the filler. Lol that looks like a really long build.

It's like an everlasting gobstopper of bondo, filler and terrible patches!

well someone got their artistic ability on hahaha, it looked well. On a plus, at least the fiberglass didnt rust hahaha, fair play to you guys, this one was heading for the crusher. Serious work done so far

Can not believe the amount of bondo and the time it must have taken to do a bodge job , can feel your pain , hope it doesn't put you too much behind

What a bottomless pit bro, you've gone too far to stop now. Still admiring your determination.

reminds me of the things you would run into while renovating homes...the sheer amount of monkeyshines that some people get away with boggles the mind. Its like layers upon layers, upon layers, upon layers of stupidity and absurdity revealed with each new layer. I'm amazed sometimes that some of the homes I renoed over the years that they didn't simply catch on fire (electrical monkeyshines.) or fall a part from lack of proper support systems. smh You have my pity Ryan and good luck mate!

This is really amazing, the amount of hours spend, to this car must have been huge. I've never seen anything like this before !! I'm working on my 70 Mach 1, that is a big job, but when I see this, then my 70 is nothing!

This is heart wrenching.... I totaled out my 82' 280ZX in 1993 and it still bothers me.

Not doubting your skills in any way there are no complete original panels left in that car its all made of well crafted repair panels. In my opinion the structural strength and rigidity of that shell is so compromised that even at this stage after all the work you have already done the best place for that car is the crusher.

After Datsun working with Cosmo looks like a pleasure and rusted Miata is like day at the picnic.