For most of us, a small pickup like this 1977 Datsun 620 King Cab is more than enough truck. If I didn’t have a small Japanese pickup already I’d be a serious bidder on this one, and in many ways, this is a much nicer truck than mine due to having more room for my long legs. The seller has this original truck listed here on eBay in Salt Lake City, Utah and the current bid price is $2,950, an absolute steal.
The Datsun 620 trucks came after the 520 pickups. Next in line? You’re right, the 720. The 620s were made from 1972 for the 1973 model year until 1979 and 1977 was the first year that the extra cab version, which Datsun called King Cab, was available. They’re known as the Li’l Hustler and Li’l Hustler stretch, depending on the wheelbase size, and came with either a 6′-0″ box or a 7′-5″ box. This is absolutely the truck that I need, being 6′-5″ tall. I don’t like gigantic vehicles so a small truck with more legroom than my “Dodge” (Mitsubishi) truck would be ideal.
The company offered two different wheelbases – a 100.2-inch regular and a 109.6-inch model known as the Li’l Hustler Stretch. Make mine a King Cab regular wheelbase model like this one, and since this one is reportedly still wearing its original paint, this is the one that I would want. That isn’t to say that it’s in mint condition, there is a bit of rust, and a little wrinkle in the roof, although compared to most of these trucks around the U.S., this one appears to be rock-solid. The bed looks great but you can see some surface rust on the very cool and tight rear bumper that isn’t even really a bumper.
You can see that the Salt Lake City summer heat has taken a toll on the seat covers, but that’s an easy fix. The extra cab portion behind the front seats would be handy for storage, and with 5.5″ of seat travel and reclining seat backs, there’s a bit of extra room for those of us over six feet tall. This truck has a standard four-speed manual, a five-speed was optional. The seller says that they purchased this truck from the second owner and it has had no body or paint repairs ever.
The engine is reportedly the original Nissan L20B, a 2.0-liter inline-four with around 110 horsepower and 108 lb-ft of torque and the seller says that it needs a bit of tinkering in order to run like the Swiss watch that it should be. They think that the carb needs a rebuild and they’re probably right. They also suspect that it may need some front-end work, which after so many decades is probably in order anyway. This is a lot of truck for very little money, would any of you ever be interested in such a small pickup or do you need a full-size four-door truck?
Owned 2 of these back in the day, very good and cool vehicles.
I bought a 1979 Lil Hustler king cab brand new in 1979. I had them put white spoke wheels, raised white letter tires, and 8 track tape player in it before I took delivery. It was a great little truck and with gumbo mini mudder rear tires I never got stuck going hunting. Sold it in 1985 to buy a full size truck but wish I kept it. I owned a 1975 Chevy luv before the Datsun. I bought the luv used and had several problems with the engine. The new Datsun cost 6795 dollars in 1979.
These are great little trucks, had a 79 with a 5 speed and aftermarket AC. Unfortunately rust decided to have its way…
Disc brakes came in ’78.
Imagine this. An honest to goodness MINI truck. The new models are gigantic super duty monsters compared to this. I previously owned a 1991 Nissan truck and I loved it. I miss these honest to goodness little trucks. Ideal for basic transportation and light cargo/towing duties
Agreed. With today’s technology, a small steel unibody hybrid frame truck could easily get 35mpg as a commuter, reliably. Add a hybrid drivetrain it’s more power and 45mpg. And reduction in climate change. With utility with you as needed, especially that cubby behind the seats. A 3rd door on passenger side for rear access.
The seats are goners.
That wouldn’t be a problem…except, where are you going to get replacements? For 15 years, now, seats have had airbags built in.
Other than that…I like. Except for the earlier year, it’s exactly like mine was, 35 years ago.
How do I bid on this truck?
Go on E-Bay and make a bid.
As of 7/20 bidding up to $5251 with 3 days left, still a bargain?
no
Yes – for this truck – anyday
Nope, not a bargain. It’s at $5951 and that’s more than I’d pay for it.
My own, back in 1990, cost me – at a used-car lot – $1700. That translates to $4100 using the BLS Inflation calculator.
And back then, there were parts available. Plenty of rusted-out ones in wrecking yards, for support. Not now.
I don’t know how to stop those from rusting. Just not using it on salty roads isn’t nearly enough. Japan, back then, used thin sheet metal and spray-on primer…not E-Coat, as Ford engineered, then licensing to GM and Chrysler.
So they rust. Unless you’re prepared to leave it in the desert, it’ll rust even as a Sunday C&C display.
I had a regular cab version of this truck, with auto. trans. It was easily the slowest vehicle I have ever owned, and I’ve owned over 100 vehicles.
You guys keep mentioning the cool rear bumper. There is no rear bumper. My dad had one of these new in 74. He paid extra for the optional rear bumper. Same thing on his new Chevy luv in 80. For the record the luv was a much better pickup. Drove it for 27 years.
In my eyes – this is the best looking small truck ever built – especialy this rear bumper/lights configuration!
Yes, styling was a home run. Unfortunately, the person or team who came up with the style, either lost inspiration or (probably) wasn’t allowed to carry it forward. Nissan’s styling peak, and it was a great peak, seemed to come in 1970-72. Then came bumpers; and while Nissan was sorting that out, the Financial guys took over from within the company.
Exactly as they did with Ford. David Halberstam, in his book The Reckoning, compared the two companies…the two perennial second-place companies in Japan and America…and found a lot of similarities. Reckless executives – Henry Ford was a chaotic genius, who didn’t understand corporate management and ran his huge company on whim. Nissan was formed out of mergers, was close to being forced into other corporations by Japan’s government (that was how they handled corporate insolvencies) and America was make-or-break. And they had the perfect person in “Mr. K” – a Nissan exec sent to America as punishment, who found he liked America and Americans, and they, him. Against the stodgy Nissan leadership, he ramrodded America-required improvements and marketing techniques, making Datsun for some years the biggest Japanese import.
And it all went away when the bean-counters took over. Just as with Ford, where they almost went bankrupt trying to save costs, at Nissan they saved costs to where only a takeover by Renault could keep them a going concern.
I respectfully disagree with your styling comment that Datsun’s styling peaked in 1970-1972. I owned a 1991 Nissan Hardbody (1986.5 to 1996) and these were distinctively styled, attractive, affordable trucks too.
Old timer here. It really is unusual to see one of these today. They started rusting like as soon as they came off the assembly line. These were popular as well as the Ford Courier, Toyota Hi-Lux, and Chevy Luv….all small pick-ups of the time period. Neat to see. Good luck to the new owner!
You forgot the identical twin of the Ford Courier, the Mazda B2000. I actually remember seeing more of those than the courier. It actually sold better.
I almost bought one of these new. I compared the four on the market then, Datsun, Toyota, Chevy Luv and Ford Courier. Was going to buy the Ford, I liked it best, but their financing back then was too strict against first time buyers, so I ended up with the Toyota, financed through GMAC. The Toyota seemed to be of better quality, finish and fit wise. Had a larger engine as well as the 5 speed, and a real steel bumper. The Datsun just felt and sounded tinny.
Small trucks have their place, but just not for me anymore. I regularly pull trailers with heavy loads, so it’s full sized for me. Can’t afford a new one so my old 99 will have to do.
I’ve owned a 2000 Nissan Frontier XE, the descendant of this truck, for 23 years and almost 300K miles. It’s an extended cab, with a 5 speed, 2400cc 4 cylinder, 4X2. It was built in Tennessee.
I commuted 92 miles a day in it for 20 years. The only major repair It’s ever had was a rebuilt transmission in 2013.
It’s been garaged, and has no rust, and burns no oil.
It’s the best vehicle I’ve ever owned.
Nissan got it right!
At present I own the big brother of these, 2001 Frontier king cab 4×4 with the 3.3 V6. Still in perfect condition with 110, 650 miles. No rust. One of the best vehicles I have ever owned
We had these as work trucks on the ETR (Eastern Test Range) in the 80s very good little trucks (even a whole hand full of crew cabs) as typical they rusted out but we drove them for at least 8 years then they went to DRMO sales I bought one for 300 bucks drove it alot more. Id love to have another one.