Here’s another in a long line of compact pickups we’ve featured lately, ready for its third owner: this 1986 Nissan 720 shows about 167k on the odometer, but it’s supposedly equipped with a V6 and a five-speed gearbox – a desirable combination. Find it here on craigslist for $5495. We aren’t told if it runs, but hopefully it can be driven home from Black Forest, Colorado, without too much trouble. Thanks to Mike F for finding it for us! And now let’s dig into a few inconsistencies that a potential buyer should address before trotting off to Colorado….
First off, there’s no engine bay photo, and the VIN decodes to a 2.4-liter four-cylinder. In fact, the 720 was never equipped with a V6 from the factory. But we’re told there’s a 3.0-liter V6 in here somewhere, paired up with a five-speed manual. Engine swaps aren’t unknown, but shoving a V6 into this engine bay is a challenge, according to Ratsun forum participants. Still, Nissan’s successor to this truck, the D21, was sold with the company’s VG30 six, so that might be what lurks below the bonnet. The output difference was noticeable – about 103 hp for the four, and a respectable 138 for the six. Neither engine was meant for hauling horses, and barely hay, but gas mileage was good, and thanks to the 4WD, you wouldn’t get stuck in the winter mud.
The XE trim level provided buyers with “luxury” details in the cabin: cloth instead of vinyl seating; expanded options for AM/FM, air conditioning; better exterior detailing. Two-door and four-door, regular and “King Cab”, long bed and short bed versions were available. The carpet and door seals are worn here, but the seat surfaces and the passenger’s door panel are decent.
This example has been around the block a few times, with dents and blemished paint marring the exterior, but for as many miles as she’s seen … well, it could be worse. Rust spots on the rear bumper are the only corrosion in evidence, according to the seller. A new owner could probably squeeze another 50,000 miles out of this truck, depending on its current state of repair. What do you think, is this 720 worth the asking price?
Great trucks, you know, Toyota got all the thunder, but Nissan just as good. Splitting hairs which is better, but like Toyota, anyone that bought a Nissan usually stayed with them for life. And I don’t want to hear this malarkey, “oh, 167K, just getting broke in”,,,that’s simply not true. Granted, reports of well maintained ones can go 250-300K, but for most folks, 200K is all you get. Be a sunny day in the UP before you see ol’ Howard A. in an Asian vehicles. Not the old man thing, well, maybe a little, but I’m just a Yankee Doodle Dandy, and probably will die one, but I’m smart enough to know these are the best trucks. I find it hard to believe it’s not sold yet. Just shows, people today wouldn’t know a good truck if it ran them over. The stick possibly?
I’m with you Howard, Ford fan all the way but boy this could be a good old workhorse for a while. My F250 has no canopy and can’t since it’s always loaded up by me standing in the bed – hay, gravel, bark, plants whatever – so it might be great to have this lil truck with the canopy.
I also agree.They are tough little trucks.
DODGE fan here.
Right, Howard. I’ve owned two Toyota pickups and two Nissan pickups. All of them performed flawlessly for many, many miles, requiring only routine maintenance. I also owned a 2001 Nisan Pathfinder, mechanically similar to the pickup. A rare five-speed manual, it was still running perfectly at ~225,000 miles, in 2012, when I traded it for a new Miata. The car still had its original clutch! In fact, the only unscheduled work it ever required was the replacement of a faulty brake caliper.
Today the Miata is long gone (it too was a helluva car). My daily driver is a 2018 Nissan pickup (4.0 V6, manual transmission). Retired, I don’t drive as many miles. Still, I’ve put 60,000 miles on the truck, and I’ve never done anything but change the oil periodically and replace the battery, once.
I’m going to have to agree with all the above comments about how durable these trucks are. I knew a contractor years ago that had one. And he worked that thing into the ground. He had over 300K on it before he retired it. So, these do have the ability to work and earn their keep. I’ll confess, I like both “foreign” and domestic pickups. If I need something to pull a 32 ft triaxle gooseneck…… You have to look in the direction of Ford, Chevy or Ram. But a smaller truck? ( actually I’m eyeing Colorados and Rangers and Mavericks right now), but I would absolutely consider a Nissan or Toyota for sure. Nice write up Michelle!!! Thank you!!!
The featured truck is not a 720, it’s a D21, the successor of the 720, also known as Hardbody Truck in the US. They changed model in 1986.
The D21 is the standart cab, the MD21 the King Cab.
The D21/MD21 was available with the V6 engine.
I’ve got MD21 from 1991 (same model but King Cab).
Mine has the 2,5L turbo diesel engine; no racing machine but very reliable.
Here in New Zealand we call these engines “bullet proof”.
Most of them have 300’000-400’000 kilometers on them, still running strong.
Do like Mopar, Studes, IH, Jeep and VW trucks, but the Nissan Hardbody fits right in there – good as gold!
Wow thanks, THAT solves a mystery!
I came here to say the same thing. I had a D21 and it was one of the best trucks I ever owned. Sold it 8 years ago and the current owner tells me it’s still running hard.
I was going to say it’s a Hard Body, not a 720, but read the comments to make sure someone else did not say it first. They did put V6s in the Hard Bodies, but not the first year of production if my memory is correct. I’m not a huge fan of Nissans, I more of a Euro guy, along with Chevrolet and some Ford pickups, but I have owned 6 Nissan pickups and have one today. Like so many others, I wish they still made basic small pickups with manual transmissions and 6 foot beds.
My 96 4 cyl. Nissan pickup was basic, but a great little truck. I now own a 02 Frontier Crew Cab purchased new, now with 117K on it. All original drivetrain. Has hauled practically anything you can think of. Will keep it until the end.
Hands on a Hardbody!
Its actually a 86.5 d21 hardbody. I had a 2wd one for my very first truck. The little Z24 had 8 spark plugs and 2 coils. Had 240k on it when i sold it. It was actually a great runner but it definitely had some oddball things about it with the TBI. The “coolant pill” that advanced the throttle for high idle was finicky and it used to eat up distributor pick ups and missfire or not start. I beat that truck pretty hard and motor never gave up. Was a great fuel efficient truck and honestly I wish i still had one as a daily driver.
i would never buy 1 but the price looks right.
I honestly wish Nissan would bring these back like this not all of us want a 4 door truck and a New Nissan truck the box is so small you can buy the Honda Ridgeline and get more cargo room, Nissan wonders why they are struggling to stay afloat its because they took their trucks and SUV’s and got away from actual off road capable rigs and went with this gotta haul the family junk they build today.
Just thinking these old trucks lasted so long. The factories now make vehicles that wont last so they can sell more crappy vehicles. Im keeping my older vehicles and maintaining them
I bought a 87 hardbody after waiting forever on a GNX grand national. I had 1 month before transferring overseas. 3 inch lift 3 inch body lift . 33 inch tires pre-runner roll bar . Fiberglass front end and bed supports . Jimmy Conner racing in Arizona must have thought I was nuts . Literally spend 8700.00 in parts in one shot . Shipped the truck overseas and they wouldn’t let it in the country . Shipped back home and my brother in law drove it for 2 1/2 years .