We’ve gained a lot in recent years when it comes to cars, especially in terms of safety, but we’ve lost some cool stuff too. You don’t see many removable body parts anymore. Sure, you can still take the top and doors off your Jeep or Bronco, but nobody ever does. The two cars we’re going to look at today have removable rear roof sections that are probably light enough to actually take off with the help of a buddy.
I guess the majority of you share my affinity for old Mazda trucks, because it won yesterday. I’m a little surprised; I expected the 4Runner to put up a better fight. It sounds like the body damage didn’t do it any favors. If it were in better shape, it might have fared better, but then it wouldn’t have been $3,500.
I dig those old 4Runners, but I think I’d take the Mazda too. I had an earlier B2000 Sundowner when I lived in Minnesota, and I loved it. I have no need for another pickup, but a truck like that could be for fun, not just utility.
One of the things I like about the forthcoming Slate truck, and there’s a lot to like, is the reconfigurable body. It can be a pickup, two different styles of SUV, and probably other things too, once the aftermarket gets hold of it. But it’s definitely not a new idea. Both of the cars we’re going to look at today have removable rear roof sections, and one of them could be replaced with a whole new setup if you so desired. Let’s check them out.
1989 Nissan Pulsar NX – $3,495
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline-4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Sherwood, OR
Odometer reading: 146,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Every time I see a Nissan from the 1980s or ’90s, it makes me wonder what the hell they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years. I mean, look at this thing: dramatic styling, T-tops, and two different owner-changeable rear body sections, and this was an economy car. Not the cheapest one Nissan offered, but not a whole lot more expensive. There’s no reason it can’t build stuff like this anymore, except fear that it won’t make as much money as the powers-that-be want. A modern Pulsar NX could be a really cool car, and it’s totally doable. But I suppose we’ll just have to be content with an old one.
There’s nothing special about the Pulsar mechanically; it’s the same thing as a Sentra from the era. It has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with throttle body fuel injection that makes 90 horsepower, pretty typical for the time. It’s front-wheel-drive and has a five-speed manual. It runs and drives great, and the seller says they’ve never had any problems with it.
The interior is pretty well-preserved, but the seat fabric has a few popped threads that are concerning. You’ll have to be a little gentle with it, I think, to keep those seats nice. It doesn’t look water-damaged, though, which bodes well for the condition of the T-top seals.
I’ve always really liked the styling of the Pulsar. It’s a cool little car, with a lot of interesting details. This one is a little faded, but it’s straight and rust-free. It only comes with the standard hatchback, but that’s not a surprise; I haven’t seen one with the “Sportbak” station wagon back in years. I think it was more popular in the brochure than it was in real life.
1990 Daihatsu Rocky SX – $4,200
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline-4, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Odometer reading: 148,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Japanese automaker Daihatsu has made some really cool vehicles over the years, but they aren’t well-known in the US. Daihatsu only officially sold cars in the US for five years, from 1988 to 1992. Only two models were offered: a tiny hatchback called the Charade, and this little 4×4, called the Rocky. These things are unbelievably rare. I haven’t seen a Rocky for sale for a very long time, and the last one I saw wasn’t nearly as clean as this.
Like its rival the Suzuki Sidekick, the Rocky is a body-on-frame design with a live rear axle and independent front suspension. It has four-wheel-drive through a dual-range transfer case. The engine is a 1.6 liter four-cylinder. This one runs and drives well, and it has a new clutch, but it does have a leaking power steering pump. You might just have to keep adding fluid to it for a while; I think a new pump might be hard to come by. Oh, and yes, that’s an aftermarket air filter, but the stock air box is included if you’d rather put it back to original.
The Rocky’s seats have fabric faces, but vinyl backs and sides. And it appears that vinyl isn’t Daihatsu’s strong suit. Both seats have cracks and rips in the vinyl portion. It’s worse on the driver’s side, as you’d expect. It’s in good condition otherwise, and the seller says the air conditioning works.
This Rocky was used as a tow-behind dinghy for an RV for many years, so it’s equipped with a tow bar on the front. And someone installed those awful-looking LED headlights in it. But it has cool two-tone paint in good condition, and five nice alloy wheels. More importantly, it isn’t rusted out.
You don’t see many of either of these on the road anymore, and you didn’t see many Rockies to begin with. Either one would give you plenty of cred at an ’80s/90s show like RADwood, and both should be fun to drive. Which one is more your style?
If I didn’t long for a 300ZX (S31) so much, I might be pricing flights to Oregon. Love the Pulsar, and this is a decent specimen.
Pulsar NX for the win. My buddy’s dad bought one when we were in high school and he let us drive it a fair bit.
Pulsar.
No Brainer.
Gimme.
I picked the Rocky only because I want a continual reference for Bullwinkle jokes.
The Pulsar is, and always was, a cool little car. It always projected an upbeat vibe and always seemed like it would be a fun ride, even if it wasn’t going to throw your head back in the seat. Obviously, that’s my vote – but I have to admit that the Rocky is a cool little vehicle. The concern there would be locating even the most common replacement parts. I’m sure they’re available somewhere, but the cost of getting them would be exponentially higher than what you’d have with the Nissan.
Yo, Adrienne, we did it!
The Rocky. It’s cool and rare and 4 wheel drive.
Parts do concern me though.
Holy crap, the Mazda won?! When I saw the polling, the 4Runner was seemingly running away with it! I’m impressed!
I drove my spouses Pulsar in the rain and it hydroplaned the front wheels! Kinda scary to have both drive and turning wheels off the ground and unresponsive. Rocky for me.
That could have been due to crummy tires. Old tires get hard and lose grip, especially in the rain. Off-brand tires are even worse for this.
I went with the Rocky but would be happy with both.
I voted for the Rocky. Both cars are cool, but Daihatsu actually is high quality, and most people don’t know that. Toyota supported UDSM Daihatsus until at least 2002.
Fun fact: the Rocky wasn’t available with an automatic here, but it was available in other markets. That’s funny because automatic is most popular here.
My 15 year old really digs 80’s era import cars, bonus points if they have flip-up headlights. He’s been looking at MR2s and FB RX-7s, so I casually mentioned a Pulsar NX one day. He was sold on it, especially with T-tops. However, I’m not driving across the country to get this one (or fly out and drive it back). Too big of a gamble for a nearly 40-year old economy car. Still, it’s my pick with imaginary internet money today.
I had this exact Pulsar (same color scheme right down to the blue interior!) that I bought through the newspaper classifieds in ‘91 with 60k on it. I paid $3500 for it… the exact asking price of this one in 2026. These pics bring back fond memories.
I camped all over in that thing, often far off-road among the toyota trucks and cherokees of the day. You might be surprised to know that if you’re young and flexible you can fold down the passenger and rear seats and sleep diagonally in the back just fine. I am 6’3”.
The only unreliable part of this car was the popup headlight relays. They popped up just fine but I always walked around the front of the car after parking to fist bump one or both lights down. As a buyer, if there are no pictures of the car with its lights closed I would assume they don’t work.
Really need a BOTH button today.
I could go for either and be happy. I’d use the Rocky for some rock hopping fun and the Pulsar for some T-top weekend cruising. I haven’t seen either of these in decent condition in years. I’m a little bummed about the power steering pump in the Rocky but would deal with it as needed. The price is at $4000 for it now.
That Pulsar though takes me back to high school. And yeah, what the hell happened to Nissan? They totally lost their way. I owned 3 of their cars from the 70’s and 80’s and they were awesome and interesting and drove great. Now it’s those Sentras or Atimas and duct taped fenders. Their SUV’s are mostly hot garbage and nowhere near their competition. But today, I’m voting Pulsar but would be happy with either.
The Rocky was a surprise, were it not for the torn seat and what-were-you-thinking-with-that-cheesy-airbox, I might’ve been convinced.
But the Pulsar has risen in my car-world from “WTF is this silly designer-gone-wild nonsense!” initial take to pretty much everything Mark said. The automakers could totally sell stuff like this today, but we Americans (especially) can’t have nice things.
Oh, and we just got back from a week in Copenhagen. I’ll try not to be too insufferable about what’s effed up and BS about the “land of the free” in the days ahead, but boy howdy, it is hard not to be when you see what a nation that has a lot of wealth to spread around, actually does spread it around.
I chose Rocky but I’d rather have both!
Both, but the Pulsar moreso for the taillights
Going for the Pulsar. Could be a terrible car, but with those taillights, it’ll get my money every time. This one happens to be in pretty great shape, I’m all in.
Can I choose both? Please?
…pretty please?
No complaints about either of these. These prove you can still get something fun without spending a lot of money.
Daihatsu is interesting because I like small off roaders. The Pulsar is interesting because it is rare and in great condition.
I voted Daihatsu. I changed my vote to the Pulsar. I am contemplating changing it back to the Daihatsu, at which point I will then contemplate changing my vote back to the Nissan.
I think that means today is a “both” day.
Great way to end the week, Mark!
Wow! Two “BOTH!” days in a row!
Pulsar!
Two years ago I lived a quarter mile down the road from someone with a rotting Rocky in their front yard. One day I was looking at it a different rocky drove past me. Even then I knew, this is probably be the last time I will ever look at two Rockys simultaneously.
I’d enjoy driving the Pulsar more, and worry less about parts availability. Easy choice for me.
Seems a Tracker would be a less risky way of scratching the Daihatsu itch.