Nissan Hardbody Baja Truck - Off-Road Legends: The Folk Hero's 4x4

Is the Nissan Hardbody the greatest 4x4 truck of all time? This compact truck is one of the most well made Nissans of the day, with many of these trucks that M.S.R.P.’d for $7,199 in the late 1980’s (or $17,495 today) still on the road. It won some serious Baja 500 events and has competed with the best of the hard-to-kill truck crowd in the Mint 400, the NORRA 1000 and the Baja 1000. It’s easy to fix mechanical arrangement and absence of electronics makes it so there’s not much to break, and a lot can be fixed on the fly if you get stranded off-roading.

We’re going to go over the history of the Hardbody. From its days as a Datsun D20, to it’s D21 inception at Nissan Design America in San Diego in the mid-80’s, to its eventual discontinuance in 1998 in America (or 2008 in Mexico and 2014 in Venezuela) and replacement by the more mid-sized Nissan Frontier, this high altitude-desert-and-ice-mountain-climbing survivor is one of the toughest builds in NIssan’s history. Mind you, the Hardbody came to be before the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance, which assembled in 1999.

We’ll talk about the Hardbody’s engine, suspension, drivetrain, cultural and spiritual significance, how much fun the Nissan Hardbody is to drift, and much, much more.

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Written by: Michael Van Runkle & Jean Bernard
Hosted by: Michael Van Runkle
Edited by: Luca Hideo Okido

[damuhongmaldita]

My first car is an '86 1/2 D21 with the Z24i engine (8 plugs!), 5-spd manual transmission and A/C! It now has 378K miles and I still drive it to work everyday. I have since owned Lexus and Infiniti cars, along with an S2000 but my D21 is the most reliable car I have ever owned.

[mikefromvernon]

I had an 87 hardbody 4x4 with the 4 banger. Too bad rust took it. Loved that thing. Took it up to my friends fishing cabin and it did everything. Hauled rocks, fire wood, skidded logs and even took a 12' aluminum boat to out of the way lakes. We never got where we were going fast but it always got us there and back.

[DKris]

280k miles and mines still running like a charm. Had no idea of the d21 Baja trucks. Great vid, thanks!

[danielescobar]

I love my 720. Can fix in any parking lot. Got a weber carb, cam, and headers on it. Very nice.

[krashkip]

My husband, John Kennedy, worked for both Spencer Lowe and Frank "Scoop" Vessles when they were racing with Nissan. It is fun to see these truck included in this video 🙂

[FastJack_]

Also the 720 was one of the first independent front suspension 4wd pickups, beating out Toyota. This not only improved ride comfort but also gave it the edge in Baja racing.

[johngreene]

I really miss the mini trucks. Wish they would make a comeback

[LeftoverHamsters]

Love my '84 720. It was my great grandfather's, and I've used it to haul more stuff in 1 trip than most of the modern trucks around here move in a year. Excluding the fuel gauge everything just works. Always.

[MikeyGSify]

My dad had a hardbody nissan. Closest i owned was my 1999 nissan frontier, Se off road package, v6 4x4, 5speed. I never should of sold it. Was so fun. Drive a Titan now. Not the same

[rolzspike]

1997 Nissan Hardbody 2.4 - 4X4 - busy rebuilding - took out rust - new seats (Amarok) new socks and tires - looking at supercharging the engine. A workhorse that has kept my business going for 24 years now.

[rwreynolds]

My dad taught me how to drive a 5 speed in his 1996 Nissan Hardbody. Unfortunately an ambulance totaled it out as I was making a left turn going down a main street. That was real smart as he was on the wrong side of the road with very little traffic coming. It had 200, 000 miles on it and ran perfectly even after that driver ran it over. My dad passed away in April of 2023. I miss him very much.

[frankfilippone]

I remember back in the 80s, my friend and neighbor bought a fleet of these Nissans for his courier company "Sunrise Courier" here in queen's NY, I can't explain to you how much they beat the shyt outta those little trucks! And they just keep coming back for more! And I also remember their in-laws buying a brand new pathfinder 2 door silver stick, it was so nice! With its slightly oversized tires and 4wd, I still to this day love that little truck! I'd take one over any of these computerized POS'S! I Personally drive a first Gen Tacoma Solid Axle Swap, No Options except AC, less is more to me, I love my simple, now Solid Axle truck, it's still a Minitruck and even with the 2.7 150hp motor, she hauls, from trails at Rausch Creek PA offroad park to 800+ Harley Davidson Motorcycles, she's a great worker!! I wouldn't trade her for the world! #TOYOTAWITHAJEEPAXLE #LAROJATACA

[shanetyler]

Got mine in 2006 owned it ever since only truck I have ever owned. It's a 1995 5speed extended cab v6 even has the LSD rear end. One of the most reliable greatest vehicles I have ever owned. If you take of it it will take care of you! Iam the Second owner of mine it was purchased for 16, 500 in 1995 had 52k on the Odometer when i bought it for 7500 in 2006.

[Theonenonlyavery]

My dad had a 1990 Nissan king cab (4cyl, 4x4) that I learned to drive on in 2001. He ran ems and would peel out when the tones would go off. He would red line it until out of ear shot. I also used to do donut and even jumped some railroad tracks at 100mph. That thing was awesome. It died at 430k miles.

[JasPlun]

I have a daily driver 1985 Nissan 720 4x4 with only 130k miles. All original and everything still works except the AC died about 3 months ago and I think it is an electrical componant failure. I will fix it before it gets too hot!

[Shinobu_D]

My 95 King Cab is the 3L V6 2wd 5speed I bought it my senior year of Highschool lowered it daily drove it all the way up until I wrecked it put a new core support on the thing now got 295/50/15s all around and use it for autocrossing after I built my own rear over fenders out of 4x4 front fenders absolutely my favorite vehicle I own so much so I bought a 2nd Hardbody but a 96 bagged and body dropped single cab for my show truck lol

[alanprichard]

Love mine with Datsun engine. Live in Canada. Hate finding parts.

[JoseHernandez-pbdy]

My father had a 86 hardbody and mazda b2000 that i also have good memories of reason why i have my 720 4x4 it just feels right

[P.Trim]

Had 84 d50 2wd long bed brownish, 89 little lifted d50 4wd short bed. Both used and a 93 Nissan 4wd new.

[Joshrwms]

Imagine an ELECTRIC Hardbody. Modern interior, classic exterior, electric motor. I think it would be sick!