This Rare 1970 Datsun Is a JDM Hot Rod Pickup Mashup
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Here’s the recipe for this custom 1970 Datsun 521 pickup hot rod recently offered on eBay. Start with the base of a solid work truck. Then toss in some vintage mojo, and season with JDM hoonigan vibes. Voila! You have the hot small pickup currently residing in Beverly Hills, Calif.
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Not many of these early Datsun pickups made it to US shores. But the Japan-built small pickup made a splash in the American truck market in the 1970s.
Actually, Datsun trucks were first imported to the US in 1959. But it was a decade later when American buyers started warming up to these smaller, versatile pickups. Other Asian manufacturers started exporting their own tiny haulers. And before long, domestic manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon.
Small Truck Precursor
The Datsun 521 platform is straightforward. But a builder transformed the Japanese pickup into a quasi-American show truck in the 1980s. The Datsun took on an iconic Buick aluminum 215 cubic-inch V-8 engine, loads of custom bodywork, and tuck and roll interior upholstery.
The Datsun uses heartland hot rod custom features including a chromed grille, blacked-out headlight covers, and a full chin spoiler merged into wide wheel well flares.
The top was chopped. The shorter windows are framed by extended external sun visors. Out back, a soft tonneau protects goodies in the bed. The rear bumper is embedded with arrow-shaped red lenses to signal turns.
The finished product is a precursor to today’s feature-rich, powerful American compact pickups—such as the Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger.
Those new models can’t touch the ’70 Datsun 521 for style. Meanwhile, the Datsun does a decent job of competing with today’s more powerful engines. The Buick aluminum V-8 weighs just 324 pounds but produces 185 horsepower. The featherweight engine is supported by a classic Muncie 4-speed transmission.
Buick introduced the V-8 in 1961 and produced it for only two years. The rare American engine finds a home in a rare import pickup.
Former Show Truck
This Datsun 521 was in long-term storage. But everything was refreshed, according to the seller. The Buick motor runs great, and the truck’s body is “super straight,” and the exterior paint “presents beautifully.”
The seller is a Datsun Z collector. He says the 1970 truck should appeal to Datsun collectors or “anyone looking for a cool vintage car at a great price.”
At the same time, this truck can haul lumber. Trips to Home Depot should be rollicking. This Datsun with American power has the equipment and stance needed for drifting, burnouts, and other antics. The 1970 Datsun 521 is an impressive package: a daily driver, a hoonigan work truck, and a classic head-turner all rolled into one.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.