Good morning! Today we’re diving into the world of old compact pickups, from back in the days when such things existed. They’ve both seen better days, but they both have potential to be a lot of fun for not much money.
Yesterday we looked at two slowpoke sedans, and I guess I should have known the old diesel Mercedes was going to run away with it. Probably the only race this thing has ever won, or will ever win, but I don’t begrudge it. It’s hard to say no to a rust-free, yellow, manual Mercedes that just needs a sympathetic owner.
But I’m torn on this one, actually. The 240D would be less work, but I think the Plymouth would be more rewarding. I like that mid-50s style, just before everything went crazy, and that engine looks about as complicated as my lawn tractor. I’d have to see them in person to decide. If the Plymouth is better than it looks in pictures, I’d take it – but I fear that it’s worse.
Nowadays, the term “mini-truck” usually refers to the kei-sized cabover trucks from Japan, like the Suzuki Carry and Daihatsu Hijet. But when I was younger, it meant something altogether different: compact trucks, modified with wild paint jobs, fancy wheels, and more horsepower in the stereo than in the engine. It was very similar to the custom van scene in the 70s, but with Mighty Maxes and B2000s instead of Vanduras and Econolines.
Not everybody went whole-hog with the modifications, of course; millions of people just bought these little trucks and cheerfully beat the hell out of them, with maybe a new set of wheels or a Kraco amp hanging under the dash to show they were peripherally part of the scene. These two trucks appear to be refugees of that scene, with only a few little scars to show they were there. Let’s check them out.
1972 Datsun 521 – $1,700
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Portland, OR
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs, but I don’t think it’s drivable
Datsun’s small trucks in the US market date all the way back to 1958, but it was in the late 1960s and early 70s that they really became popular. The 520 and 521 ran from 1965 to 1972, making this the final year for this style, before it was replaced by the 620. The 521 has the distinction of being the first compact truck available in the US with a true half-ton cargo rating.
It’s powered by Nissan’s L-series inline four, displacing 1.6 liters. It has a four-speed manual transmission driving a typical truck solid rear axle on leaf springs. The seller says the engine runs and the transmission is “fine,” but I don’t think the truck is ready to drive off. A photo in the ad shows the truck with the bed removed, which is nice because you can see it isn’t rusty, but I have a feeling the bed still isn’t bolted down. You’ll probably have to trailer it home and do a little work putting it back together.
The interiors of little trucks like this are nearly always trashed, and this one is no exception. It’s also pieced together from a few different vehicles, which is also not uncommon. That blue velour bench seat didn’t start out there, and I think that steering wheel is from an old Pulsar or something. It doesn’t matter; if you’re going to fix it up and customize it, you’ll rip all that out anyway, and if you just want to use it as a truck, you’ll throw a blanket over the seat and call it good.
I can’t tell if it has been painted in red primer or if that’s just the original red paint but really badly oxidized. The good news is it isn’t rusty or banged-up; with a new paint job, even a cheap DIY one, it would look pretty good. The turbine-style mag wheels are a nice period touch. There’s a cowl-induction style hood scoop you can just see in this photo. It’s silly, but it’s probably best to just leave it, unless you can find another hood.
1979 Ford Courier – $2,200
Engine/drivetrain: 2.3-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed manual, RWD
Location: Dallesport, WA
Odometer reading: unknown
Operational status: Runs and drives well, daily driven until recently
The Big Three all looked to Japanese partners for their small trucks at first, before designing their own. Ford partnered up with Mazda to bring us this little truck, the Courier. It’s essentially a Mazda B-series with a few tweaks. This one, however, is a little bit special: it features Ford’s “Free Wheeling” trim package, which consisted of stripes, a brush guard, a roll bar, special alloy wheels, and some other bits and pieces. This one has lost its alloy wheels somewhere along the way, and has shed its roll bar in favor of a toolbox, but the rest is still there.
The Courier was originally powered by a Mazda engine, but this second generation offered Ford’s 2.3-liter four-cylinder, which of course powered millions of Pintos, Mustangs, and Rangers over the years. It’s coupled to a four-speed manual, and the seller says it runs and drives well. In fact, they drove it daily for two years before replacing it with another truck recently.
True to form, the interior is a mess. One door panel is missing, and the other appears to have been painted white at some point, along with the dash. People did weird things to mini-trucks in the 80s. The seats would have originally been black and white plaid cloth, and they may still be, under all those layers of seat cover, but I doubt they’re in any acceptable condition. Better to just find a nice pair of bucket seats out of a junked Ranger or something.
It’s badly faded outside, and the stripes are still there, but they don’t look great. It rides on steel wheels with dog-dish hubcaps now, shod with meaty all-terrain tires, a little silly considering it’s 2WD. It has some rust, most notably in the bottom of the front fenders, but I’ve seen a lot worse on these.
The best thing about these is that they’re both perfectly capable of being used as trucks, for hauling stuff to the dump, or picking up mulch for the garden, or whatever, not something you can do with just any old project vehicle. You could go deep and really fix them up, but I don’t see the point. These are cheap little toys that happen to be useful for Home Depot runs. Which one looks like the better deal?
I vote for the Datsun because it’s not a Ford,and the Ford barely has anything left of the cool stuff that made it special in the first place.
I didn’t check the ad. Was some alien whose blood runs black shot in the passenger’s seat of the Courier?
This is a tough one. Datsun stuff is hard to find and the metal is thinner. Probably rarer? I think the Ford for those reasons. Can find parts easier and the 2.3 was in so many things for years. Uhaul also had tons of the Ford’s so should help in parts availability rotting in various places.
Courier for me. It has a more common engine with more power and seems like it will need less work for it to be usable.
I almost always say 520,521,620. But that stripe package on the courier is a winner. The 2.3 seals the deal. Although I have fond memories of an L 16 in a Datsun 510 in highschool
I’m in CA and only one is pre-’75. The datsun wins by default.
That Datsun dash has no cracks!?! Or am I not seeing a dash pad? Its got dual circuit brakes, but too bad it lacks the cool mirrors and front chrome bumper. The hood’s gotta go and the carb needs to be put back on ebay. Mabe a grand takes it as a parts car for a bit better 521.
Neither, but tell me more about the big Bronco in the last pic.
Rough shape, but that Datsun is weirdly irresistible to me at that price.
It seems like I’ve seen the whole restomod thing done on these Datsuns several times, which means Ford for me. I’d keep the exterior, but restore the interior and maybe put a more modern powertrain in it. These things are nothing but sheetmetal and a powertrain, and weigh next to nothing, so the options for engine upgrades are limitless. Someone swapped a Harbor Freight lawnmower engine into an early Ranger at some point.
I miss small trucks! I’ll take the Datsun (over an ugly Fix Or Repair Daily) I like the 521 body style a lot more and that engine will last a long while. I don’t mind it being grungy; will fix it up some and paint it blue.
That Courier just sucks, doesn’t even have the Mazda engine, and that is a bad spot for those wires right next to radiator!
If either of these were within a hundred miles of me, I’d have AAA flatbed them home this afternoon.
At one time I was wanting to buy a Datsun like that and rebody it as a faux 50s racer- sort of in the Morgan-old yeller continuum.
“Christine’s homely older sister”??
Smh…
And to think people wonder why so many women don’t feel more welcome in some automotive circles.
I’m pretty familiar with the Datsun’s engine as it looks like the 1600 in ’68 510. In fact I see a lot of 510 DNA in the front styling of this one. The Courier might be more drivable at the moment, but the painted dashboard is strange and unattractive.
Both, but since that isn’t an option, I chose the Datsun. The 521 is just a great design, despite the hood scoop, and I would love one to scoot around in. The Courier is great too, but I love the design of the 521 more.
if that Datsun were anywhere on the eastern seaboard, i would buy it today
In theory the Datsun is the better choice, but it definitely seems to have a lot more red flags than the courier posting. I would maybe still go Datsun if I could talk him down to a grand. and I actually wanted either of these vehicle for anything.
The Ford at least has an air cleaner, no air cleaner on a vehicle is almost always an immediate no for me.
The Ford is probably the correct choice, but I’d actually keep the Datsun. The grubby interior of the Ford gives me the feeling it’s ready to retire.
Datsun for me. I had a 72 510, put a BRE suspension & exhaust kit on it, Chrysler hemi distributer advance spring. The rest stock, it was absolutely bullet proof. I could blow off Porsche 912’s in a straight line & the twisties, wish I had it today. This truck has the same drivetrain & steering (recirculating ball). Easy to work on, fun to drive. We borrowed one from a friend and drove from Dana Point up to the wine country, then back along the coast. Never missed a beat.
I took the Datsun, because I am more familiar with them. The first car I really worked on was a B210, but I would want to double check that it is not rusted out. Those things started rusting the day they left the factory, so I would be shocked if it still had floorboards, but they are dead simple to work on.
Datson looks better, better for restomodding. Courier is made of boring, and as such better for as-is.
Kinda worried the engine bay is too small for modern engines on the datsun.
real question is since the Courier seems to have a pinto motor in it, does a standard 302 out of say a 90 Mustang fit… and do you have enough interest in the mini truck in general to expend the energy to find out.
Where is that 90 Mustang 5.0 again? Fix that up instead of the Courier
Note the hood scoop on the Datsun.
I’ve been tempted by that 521 on Craigslist for a little while since I’ve been thinking about picking up a non-runner and LEAF-swapping it. But this is not that truck.