It’s no secret I love original graphics on the sides of vintage cars and trucks. That’s why this very-well preserved 1982 Datsun 720 Sport Truck caught my eye, along with the fact that it’s sitting among rows of late-model Hyundais. Good Lord, I hope no one traded this awesome 4×4 on some dorky Santa Cruz CUV; if they did, they’ll find their new ride has none of the offroad chops of a genuine Sport Truck! This Datsun is a desirable spec, with four-wheel drive and locking hubs, along with a manual transmission. You’ll find this slightly tatty survivor here on eBay with a $4,995 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.
The Sport Truck package got you a variety of mechanical and trim upgrades, including the aforementioned hubs, beefy wheels and tires, a 5-speed with overdrive and ventilated front disc brakes. With impressively clean bodywork and seemingly no rust to contend with, this is a truck you can begin using immediately, and it’s just scruffy enough that you won’t feel bad doing so. The price seems more than fair, too, especially if the option to submit a best offer is a real one. The seller says it has a clean history report, and based on the consistent wear to the side stripes, we have little reason to suspect a major accident.
The 1982 model would have been equipped with a 2.2L four-cylinder, coming one year prior to Datsun rolling out a bigger 2.4L that they claimed offered the best horsepower in its class. So while this one is likely a bit more timid, these trucks weren’t built for speed in the first place. Also, as an earlier model, this 720 was likely still assembled in Japan as 83.5 models began Datsun / Nissan’s manufacturing operations in the newly opened Smyrna, Tennessee location that still churns out new cars and trucks today. The seller doesn’t provide much in the way of details about the truck’s mechanical health, only noting it has new tires.
There’s just one photo of the interior, and from what I can see it looks plenty clean. The original radio remains in place, which is a good indication this truck hasn’t been messed with much. The gauge package in the center stack always struck me as a nice feature, and combined with the unbroken HVAC knobs and other controls, presents this as a truck that was used somewhat gingerly. The El Paso, Texas location also inspires further confidence that its dry body and rust-free condition isn’t a fluke, and for the asking price, this looks like a nicely preserved Datsun without many stories.
Great trucks, Datsun’s shining moment, in trucks, anyway. Never find them looking like this north of the Mason-Dixon line. Somebody gonna get a nice truck. Warning to new owner, one salt bath is all it will take, which clearly, this truck never saw, and it will look like every other Asian truck in no time.
These are really, really good trucks. And a 4 x 4 no less. Somebody better grab this and quick. It won’t last long.
sold!
And it’s gone…. One of the best deals I have seen in a while. Probably see it listed again in a month with a spit polish detail job for double the current asking price.
@Ray, your right on, a flipper saw $$$ and grabbed it quick so we shall see this same truck soon.
Last similar truck on here was that black and blue king cab for over 17 grand. I like this one better. But it’s gone, evidently.
I had a 720D 1981, my first and last brand new truck. I got the auto armor guaranteed rustproofing for life…it had huge holes in it within the first 2 years despite about 25 waxes and it stored inside and not used the first 5 months and garaged predominantly. The reconstituted metal came with its own rust inside. I sold it to a guy from Guatemala who shipped it there,despite it getting lighter every day.Diesels were the best thing about this truck but it came with a $2000 premium over the gas model.33mph and 100mph top speed