This 1969 Datsun Patrol is a rare sight on our shores, and even harder to find today now that so many have succumbed to rust or outright abuse given their off-road capabilities. The Patrol is similar in concept to Toyota’s FJ40, and just as rugged – but seen far less frequently due to being imported in much smaller batches than the Toyota. Today, the Patrol is desirable as a vintage go-anywhere SUV, but the obscurity factor keeps prices reasonable. This example listed here on craigslist for $4,500 has had some personal touches made in homage to the classic colors Nissan used on its race cars and later wheels from a Nissan Pathfinder.
When you’re starting with a vehicle as utilitarian as this, it’s much more feasible to take on a project-grade example. There’s just less stuff to fix, given how spartan they were from the factory. Of course, in the case of his Patrol, you may want to spring for the luxury known as a soft top, or just drive around and let the interior get soaked – it won’t hurt anything. The Patrol doesn’t appear to be too rusty in photos, and given its California location, the tin worm has likely been kept at bay. Most of the surviving Patrols seem to be on the West Coast, and I’ve not seen one out east in years.
The interior is fairly rough, with the painted surfaces all showing plenty of wear and surface rust. Seating surfaces look surprisingly nice, making it seem likely that they’ve been redone at some point. The steering wheel is bus-like but you won’t care much considering the lack of any actual handling characteristics; that’s not the point of one of these. The beauty about putting one of these back together is you won’t have much to put back; in fact, the bigger question is how will you customize it? Does it stay as bare-bones as it currently is, or do you make it more hospitable for long-range overlanding missions?
Over land, over dirt, over river and stream – it doesn’t really matter, as these will go practically anywhere. The drivetrain typically consisted of a four-speed manual transmission paired to an inline six with a two-speed transfer case featuring part-time four wheel drive. The Patrol is a runner, and effectively offers the next owner a solid foundation in terms of the mechanical components being sound and the body not swiss-cheesed by rust. To me, vintage Japanese 4x4s are going to continue to be hot as collector’s items, so now seems like a good time to snatch up a rare beast like a vintage Patrol. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find.
NOt sure if this one is goning to generate a whole lot of comments so I decided throw in my 5c.
The 80ties models are legendary in Europe, similar status to Land Crusiers just a lot less$$$ 3 generations of.them were made in Spain with both Nissan and Local Spanish diesel engines (gas too)
Believe it or not, there’s a storage yard near me with one of these sitting. Looking at it, like the original FJ, it sure was a lackluster thing. It amazes me that SUV’s started out like this and look where they went. Patrols, I read, have been around since 1951, and looked a lot like a Willys. These, I believe, used the 4 liter, OHV in line 6, that like the FJ motor, was a stout unit, and powered everything from trucks to passenger cars. Cool find.
The engine was also found in Nissan forklifts. I thought about picking one up recently, but parts can be VERY difficult to source in the US. Hard tops are crazy hard to find and I imagine the soft tops and bows are not much easier. I still want one though.
No 2nd row DVDs and backup camera, how uncivilized, I’m out… What a 4×4 was meant to be!Realky like this one!
If you need something utilitarian, give this what it needs, paint it one color and spring for a top so you can drive it in inclement weather. Keep it forever.
If you move anywhere, take it with you. If I had the room……….
I have see one or two of these, reminds me more of a land rover than a land cruiser. It would make a great build better lines than a early scout imo , and about the size of an early Bronco for dirt cheap compared to what the Broncos are going for.
Nissan used to be Datsun, Datsun made the 240z, very similar if not the same motor as in the Patrol, I had to replace a distributor in a Patrol once and I got it from a forklift supply , same motor in some of the nissan forklifts too.
Sorry John but you are mistaken.
The datsun 240z used whats called an L-series engine – 4 and 6 cylinders from 1.3 to 2.8 turbo (280zx turbo) also used in maximas and earlier sedans and picups. This engine is actually from Mercedes, Prince motor had a license for it and nissan acqured Prince in the 60ties and made some changes not to need licensing.
Motor in the patrol is a P-series motor (think very large 6 cylinders) used in light duty trucks and whatever else needed a 4.0l or.bigger HD gasoline motor