Nissan's stripped-down, fuel-sipping MPG trim of the 720 pickup was tuned so aggressively for mileage that it was banned from sale in California over emissions.
Lead trim: 1.8 L L18 (Europe, 80 PS) · up to 103 hp
Nissan Truck720 · 1979–1986
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FactNissan's stripped-down, fuel-sipping MPG trim of the 720 pickup was tuned so aggressively for mileage that it was banned from sale in California over emissions.
Introduced in October 1979 as the successor to the 620, built at Kanda in Japan (to 1986), from 1983.5 at the new Smyrna, Tennessee plant (to 1986), and in Mexico into the early 1990s. A four-door crew cab was sold in most markets except North America; the US had regular and King Cab bodies in GL, DX, XE and sport-truck ST trims, in 2WD and 4WD, with the Lil' Hustler and an MPG model tuned for economy. A 1983 update brought a larger grille and bumper and round gauges; US trucks were the "Datsun 720" until 1983, then "Nissan 720". The Z24 2.4 L twin-spark four arrived in mid-1983 and single-point-injected Z24i in some 1986 STs; diesels came from the Nissan Diesel division. From 1984 to 1986 a Matrix3 "Bushmaster" covered-utility conversion of the King Cab 4WD, similar to the first Toyota 4Runner, was sold as a predecessor to the Pathfinder. It was the first vehicle to leave Nissan/TEOKAR's new Volos, Greece plant in February 1980.
Collectors Spotted in the Nissan Truck Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Nissan Truck yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
4 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 L L18 (Europe, 80 PS) | 1979–1983 | 1.8 L Inline-4 | 79 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| 2.0 L Z20 carbureted MPG (US, 95 hp) | 1981–1981 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 95 hp | 112 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| 2.2 L SD22 diesel (Europe, 64 PS) | 1979–1986 | 2.2 L Inline-4 | 63 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| 2.4 L Z24 twin-spark (US, 103 hp, from mid-1983) | 1983–1986 | 2.4 L Inline-4 | 103 hp | 134 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
An estimate, for the 1.8 L L18 (Europe, 80 PS) trim: fuel on its EPA figure and a dated national price, upkeep on a per-mile average for the kind of car it is.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
This truck's two body styles had two different home countries: the regular cab was designed in Japan, but the King Cab's styling came out of Nissan's own studio in San Diego.
Nissan's stripped-down, fuel-sipping MPG trim of the 720 pickup was tuned so aggressively for mileage that it was banned from sale in California over emissions.
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Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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