It is common to find pickups with nearly five decades under their belt looking pretty battered and bruised. Most of them work hard to justify their existence, and their panels and paint pay the price. That is what makes this 1972 Mazda B1600 a breath of fresh air. Its panels are remarkably straight, and it has been sitting in a pole barn since 1980. The owner states that it has 55,000 original miles on the clock, and given how short its active life was before it went into hibernation, I see no reason to doubt that claim. Its paint looks tired, but below the surface, this is a solid little vehicle that would make a satisfying restoration project. If you find yourself sorely tempted by this classic, you will find it located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and listed for sale here on Barn Finds Classifieds. You could park this marvelous old Mazda in your garage for $3,950.

There’s a bit for potential buyers to consider with this little Mazda. It wears its original Medium Blue paint, although this now shows its age. There are numerous small cracks and some checking, and there’s little doubt that it would benefit from a repaint. Surface corrosion is beginning to peak through the paint in these spots, so the buyer will probably choose to strip the vehicle to bare metal to achieve a high-quality finish. Alternatively, they could neutralize the surface corrosion and apply a clear coat to preserve the vehicle’s survivor appearance. The surface corrosion seems to be the worst of this classic’s problems. As previously mentioned, it has appeared through the paint in a few places, and the vehicle’s underside also wears a consistent coating. However, genuine penetrating rust seems to be confined to a tiny spot on the passenger side rocker. It isn’t bad, and the buyer could tackle it with a simple patch. The panels were a few marks and bruises, but these could be addressed without resorting to panel replacement. The back window is missing, but the remaining glass looks in good condition. Overall, this looks like a restoration project that would be perfect for undertaking in a home workshop.

While the seat is missing and the door trims have seen better days, this Mazda’s interior still manages to pack a surprise or two. My fingers itch when I look at this photo because all I want to do is get to work and clean that dash. The lack of a back window has allowed plenty of dust to find its way inside this pickup since 1980, and most of it seems to have landed on the dash. When you look below that dust, the dash and pad appear to be in excellent condition. There is no evidence of cracking or other problems, and nobody has cut the dash to install aftermarket components. The gauges look crisp and clean, while the same is true of the wheel. This interior would present exceptionally well with everything thoroughly cleaned and a new seat, door trims, and carpet.

Lifting the hood of this classic reveals a 1,586cc four-cylinder engine that would have punched out 94hp in its prime. The power found its way to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. Given this pickup’s low weight, that combination equated to lively performance when this vehicle was new. It seems that it hasn’t fired a shot in anger since 1980, and the buyer might face some tinkering to coax it back to life. The owner says that the motor turns freely. Given how relatively bulletproof these Mazda engines are, it may be a matter of performing some essential maintenance and a fuel system clean to have that four purring like a kitten. There’s no doubt that perishable items and the brakes will require attention. Once again, these are tasks that the buyer could tackle in a home workshop. The owner states that this pickup has 55,000 original miles on the clock, and since it only saw eight years of active duty before it was placed into hibernation, I find this claim very plausible.

The 1972 Mazda B1600 it’s not a megabucks vehicle in the current market. However, light pickups continue to grow in popularity, which means that values are also climbing. That could make this one a fantastic long-term investment. It is also worth considering that it represents a pretty straightforward restoration project, and it would be a brilliant one for a first-timer to tackle if they harbor a desire to be hands-on. If you have been searching for an affordable project, this Mazda is worth a closer look.