This practically new 1987 Nissan Hardbody Pickup has just arrived on the BAT auction site. It could offer a unique, affordable, and fun way to break into the small-truck segment with an offer of $7,000 as of now. We expect the price to increase, but not to the level of a new Maverick, Tacoma or Frontier. And that’s the point, who wants one of those new alternatives when you could be riding around town in an older Nissan Hardbody that’s practically new?
Why Does This Nissan Hardbody Pickup Have So Low Miles?
Before I go too far, the reason this 1,100-mile truck was overlooked is that the Colorado Springs owner rarely used it. But instead of languishing out in the open, it shared space with a variety of classic Corvettes. In that environment, it was seen as a collectible memorabilia held to the same extent as Vettes.
The classic mini-van features some great aftermarket components, starting with the matching body-color bed cover. Additionally, the truck has fog lights, in-bed speakers, and a towing package. There’s also a connector for a tow ball and trailer lights, another useful perk. Although there’s no four-wheel drive, we love some of the factory details.
Those 14-inch steel wheels would have been one of the first things to get updated, but they’re a welcome touch. Power comes from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with factory fuel injection. That gives the Japanese truck 106 hp and 137 pound-feet of torque. To this day, your Carfax is as clean as the truck itself.
But don’t think you can hop on it and take it home. Because it is still new, everything original is still present. That means the tires, belts, and hoses are 36 years old. You’ll have to replace them, for sure. It also has the original engine oil. And since it’s there, there are probably some joints and other parts that have dried out.
Some things need to be replaced even with the low miles
That also applies to the fuel system. You need to boil the gas tank, blow compressed air through the fuel lines, rebuild the fuel injection system, and replace the fuel pump. That old gas can be nasty from sitting around all this time.
The same goes for the brakes. Cleaning up old brake fluid and replacing the rubber on the wheel cylinders in the rear should be a must. That old fluid can and will attract water from moisture in the atmosphere.
But those are relatively small needs in the overall scheme of things. The metallic gray body looks flawless, as does the interior. The seats have covers, so the upholstery of the original seats had hardly any contact with the rear. A good aftermarket AM/FM cassette unit gives those old cassettes you’ve been keeping in the garage a new importance. With a five-speed manual transmission, it should be a kick, and a much-needed departure from your slushbox transmission.
If we have convinced you, go to BAT and make an offer. We just don’t see how a new Ford Maverick can compare to the classic styling of a new 1987 Nissan pickup.