As I pulled up to a light last week, I spied a heavily laden little brown Datsun pickup in the adjoining lane so immediately whipped out my phone to start taking pictures before the light changed. Although I had the presence of mind to zoom in before shooting, right after I took the first picture, a large truck rolled up behind him and blocked my view, but not before I realized this was a now-rare Diesel version of the little truck.
Right before the big truck rolled up behind my subject I tried to zoom back out a bit and the above is my result. No better, actually worse. I figured when the light changed I’d have my last chance.
As the light in my (right turn) lane changed I had a very short chance to get a third picture and did so as another large truck was rolling up behind me and I needed to get moving but then I got all excited when I noticed the “turbo” script on the side of the bed. I was aware of the Diesel, but I was not aware that there was a Turbo version and can’t seem to find any info whatsoever on one, either here on CC or anywhere else.
Everything I see makes it appear to be a either a late-intro 1981 or more likely a 1982 “Deluxe Li’l Hustler Diesel” trim level with the chrome bumper with rub strip from the accessory catalog. In 1983 the diesel was available in the Long Bed only and would/should have said Long Bed on the right lower edge of the tailgate. And in 1984 the bed changed.
So, was there such a thing as a TurboDiesel or is this something like putting an AMG badge on a 240D? The stripe and script look very early ’80’s Datsun and not obviously added on, the shot above is a zoomed/cropped version of the third picture. With only 61hp on tap from the 2.2l Diesel engine I suppose anything would help the driver’s confidence, the stickers would be worth at least ten hp and if it was painted red maybe another five. Brown probably removes five… I was also trying to get a closer look at that awesome early ’80’s fiberglass camper shell, I love those stripes on it.
I got so excited to get the money shot as I pulled up next to it that I have to admit I crumbled under the pressure and while trying to hold the phone and take a better shot with one fat thumb, start to move as well as execute my right turn all with a truck about to run over me, I ended up with my own little Dennis Weaver in Duel moment with a great shot of nothing but my side view mirror starring the big rig that was behind the Datsun…Oh well, either way the old Datsun trucks were always handsome little things, and this one is clearly still hard at work, I imagine the camper shell is covering a full load of…something, the way the springs look pretty much compressed onto the bump stops. But was there a Turbo?
Great find, in my area the rear bumper would have dropped off a 1982 Datsun pickup around 1986, very cool to see it barely hanging on.
One of my first summer jobs was delivery driver for a tooling company, and my ride was a little brown Datsun with a cap on it, just like this.
I recognize those rims from the ones on my Nissan Trailer, although of course now they’ve got Ford Aerostar hubcaps on them! The tail lights on it indicate it was built from a 1985 or early ’86 model (the D21 pickup debuted later that year; the ’83s & some ’84s had amber at the top). No exterior rope ties either, so it had to have been no older than ’84. This picture is from when I first began doing work to it (the left tail light was still busted & although you can’t tell from this view, the right one was completely gone!). Where it came from & how it got this way in the first place may remain an unsolved mystery forever.
Your Nissan “trailer” is obviously from a “King Cab” model. I recall how the fender wells were a bit forward of the centerline, as opposed to the regular cab short bed as in the article. Not positive, but I’m assuming inside length dimensions were the same. With so much mass behind the axle, I’ll bet this trailer is a bear to pull, unless well weighted forward of the axle. These trucks were incredibly popular back in the day.
On import compact pickups like the Hilux, Hardbody, and Mazda B-Series, the 6′ bed on the extended cab had the wheels ahead of centerline so they could use the same wheelbase as the regular cab/long bed model. This practice continued until the mid-’90s. Conversely, American compacts used the same bed for both regular and extended cabs, which made for a longer, more stable wheelbase and made them look not so janky.
I now have a Tractor Supply tool box installed as far forward in the bed as possible, as well as a full-size spare tire in addition to a 1500-lb.-rated 2-wheel swivel jack mounted just in front of the bed to help compensate for the weight distribution issue. It’s DEFINITELY heavier in the front now than it was before, but even then I hardly had any trouble pulling it with my Aerostar OR the Ranger (haven’t pulled it with the Astro but already know it would do well). Even with all that extra frontal weight, however, the trailer will still tip backward if you try stepping on the still-intact rear bumper when it isn’t hitched up to the towing vehicle.
Where I live, the Amish pull these type of trailers behind tractors as people haulers. Usually children ride in them.
A bit of research indicates that none of the Nissan SD family of four cylinder diesels (SD20, SD22, SD23, SD25) were turbocharged, which confirms my own memory of them.
I have to assume that tape stripe kit was adapted from another product. I don’t recognize it offhand, but there were a lot of that kind at the times.
Great catch anyway!
Yes, that’s what I found as well, it ended up taking a lot more time to research and post this than if if it didn’t have those tape stripes to begin with! Weird stuff happens sometimes, I even considered if maybe it came down from Canada or something but don’t think they had a turbo version either after trying to look into that as well.
Lots of Turbo stickers and badges were available back in the 80s, and they used to turn up in the strangest of places. Turbo phone booth, anyone? I nearly put one on the old Cortina! I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a stripe kit with an integrated Turbo logo available.
Great find Jim. The distinctive rear view of Datsun pickups from this era brings back lots of memories. Including their oddball taillight location.
I was a teenager in 1982, and used to enjoy flipping through the Canadian Tire catalogue. Canadian Tire being Canada’s largest brick and mortar retailer of automotive parts and accessories since the 1930s. The automotive section of their catalogue had many tacky ‘JC Whitney’ type accessories like generic stripe kits. As well as ‘turbo’, and ‘4×4’ self adhesive stickers. Given some people were generally less self conscious back then, you’d see these occasionally applied to cars/trucks. Often young people having fun. ‘Turbo’ labels could be seen on 70s beaters for example.
Might be a possibility. Though these products were never (ever) original equipment manufacturer quality. I doubt they’d last almost 40 years. The font looks especially cheesy. 🙂
However the Mitsubishi mini trucks of this era were available in turbo diesel form.
Just an aside, but – are there any automotive/truck diesels made without turbos these days?
Not that I know of, much like how nearly all large farm tractors (100+ HP) have been turbodiesels since the ’70s.
Nissan/Datsun continued to build these diesel utes without turbo assist well into the 90s, they go well enough for what they are and will carry a good tonne, not quickly though they are a genuine workhorse not a show pony driving one laden means you work the five speed column shift quite a lot.
I have an 82 Datsun diesel king cab. I lowered it 3 inches. Neat truck, gets attention wherever it goes.
Just a bit more 720 trivia: my ‘81 gasoline 720 was still logo’ed as a Datsun. I bought it used in late 1983, but I did some new truck shopping initially, and I still have the 1984 US pickup brochure. By then it was Nissan branded, albeit with a fairly large Datsun badge on the lower left corner of the tailgate. And, the tail lights had finally migrated up to the rear bed side corners. Still external bed rails and tiedown cleats, though. The diesel, by then a 2.5, put out 70 hp and 115 lbs ft torque, and was only offered in the King Cab for ‘84.
Hmm, didn’t post the brochure photo I included, I’ll try again.
Nissan needs to build a retro pick up of this era Nissan truck. I bet there would be lines of people at Nissan dealers wanting one. Hint, hint Nissan?
I have the original MVP SD2.2 diesel 1982 short bed, single cab 5 speed with A/C. What do guys think about this truck? I think is a verry rear truck!
I know the owner of this little truck and it is true that it does have a turbo. It is an after market add on. They were not sold with turbos.. My friend actually has two of these with turbos. The other is in much better cosmetic condition. They both run very well. He is a mechanic and maintains them himself. He bought them both with the turbos already installed.