Cloud White is the color (or tone) of this 1995 Nissan D21 Hardbody XE King Cab 4×4 pickup, and it’s quite a departure from the company’s first pickup offered in the U.S. in the late 1950s, the 220-series. The seller has this Hardbody 4×4 posted here on craigslist just southeast of Portland, Oregon, and they’re asking $11,700. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Curvette for the tip!
I love the unique rear side windows on Nissan’s D21 (the follow-up series to the 720) pickups with the windows wrapping around to the roof a bit on each side. The Hardbody pickups, named for their overall rugged look and also for the double-wall bed, was the company’s first really modern pickup, and this S-body version, the King Cab, was designed in Nissan’s digs in San Diego.
Despite the double-wall bed (this one is also wearing a bedliner, so does that = a triple-wall bed?), the body panels can still exhibit dents from the outside as expected. This one is showing a small dent on the right front fender, which may or may not be able to be massaged out by a PDR specialist. I’d want to give that a try; this l’il rig looks just about perfect otherwise.
The D21 Hardbody pickups were offered in the U.S. from 1985 through 1997, in rear-wheel drive and 4WD, and in single and extended-cab versions that Nissan referred to as the King Cab. It’s the perfect cab size, in my opinion. There is enough room back there to at least somewhat hide your luggage or other gear, and you can haul a couple of actual humans back there in a pinch when you fold down the hidden seats on each end. The rest of the interior looks nice, other than some obvious sagging on the left side bolster of the driver’s seat. The cool part, other than this truck having 4WD, is seeing the 5-speed manual.
The other great part is seeing the VG30E fuel-injected SOHC V6 with 153 horsepower and around 180 lb-ft of torque when new. Backed by the 2-speed transfer case and 5-speed manual, sending power to all four wheels when needed, the seller says this truck has 89,000 miles, and it runs and drives “excellent,” and everything works as it should. You could do a lot worse with your $11,000 than owning this good-looking Nissan 4×4. Have any of you owned a similar one?
Scotty!!! I can actually attest to how durable these trucks are. Many years ago I delivered a lot of lumber, sheetrock, roofing shingles ( etc. Etc.) To a really great builder. I lost count how many homes he built, but anyways, he had one of these. A little older. 4 WD extended cab. He had well over 300K hard earned, hard worked miles. Other than normal wear and tear items like clutches and brakes, it was original. The motor was never touched. He “replaced” it with a half ton Chevy that, truth be told, he also worked very hard and had good results with. But he never got rid of the Nissan. Sat in his barn. Rust was unfortunately the main issue. It seems like a very reasonable price and looks great. I’m with SG, perhaps a PDR pro can get that little dent out. Or make it better. So…. I also want to say… Is there ANYTHING Curvette can’t find? We have a good number of folks who submit all kinds of vehicles and I truly enjoy that and want to say thank you. And Scotty, of course to you and the other writers as well, a huge thank you for your time, insight, and research that go into all your write ups.
You are way too kind, Dave, thanks much! I love the stories that you and others share. We should have a feature that shares readers’ stories. Hmm… (scratching gray chin whiskers)
Well Scotty….. That makes two of us with grey chin whiskers.