One of the bigger vehicles in my automotive background was a Datsun like this…ok, kind of like this: it was a 240Z-swapped mini truck that was a kind of reddish-purple and would do burnouts for days. While I have my favorites from the Japanese market, a mid-Seventies 620 truck like this one would still sit very high on my list.
There is a simplistic elegance to the 620 that trucks have lost over the years. It’s a good size for a small truck…it’s not cartoonish like a Kei-sized vehicle, but it’s just a hint smaller than an early Chevrolet S-10, and it doesn’t pay a price in interior room. The L-18 four-cylinder won’t win any power awards, but they are a sewing machine that will run forever if you treat it right, and the four-speed manual transmission makes the deal that much sweeter. Finding one as nice as this mildly restored, one-owner example is going to be a bit of a nightmare, but look at it and tell me that you wouldn’t mind having a small truck around.
Photo circa 1994-95.
It’s the cars that you grew up with that have a lasting effect on you as an adult in this game, and apparently that’s the case here. I don’t know if I would like a stock one or if I’d be hunting down an S30 inline-six to shove in it. What can I say…that little purplish truck screamed.
eBay Link: 1974 Datsun 620
What did I say?
Small Japanese pickups from the 70s in mint condition would be so rare that they would fetch stupid money – that was after reading the piece about the Skyline/pickup last week.
So any plans of seriously modifying this diamond would have to be reconsidered as who wants to cut up a possible blue-chip investment! I would have never thought back when these trucks were rotting away straight out of the showroom that I would have used those words 30 years or so later – such is the vagaries of the classic car market….
Skyline R32 motor anyone? Or how about 4WD and the turbo boxer 4 from an Impretza…..
How about a LS swap? Just kidding, sweet little truck
You may be on to something with that Turbo Boxer 4/4WD swap there Geordie. Keep the wheels and get some better tires and no one would know the difference until it goes BRAP BRAP BRAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAPAP and leaves them eating dirt. The only other things I would install would be Air Con, Cruise Control and a nice stereo. No subwoofers though. Just a nice head unit and a nice set of speakers.