Hell And Back

If cars could talk, I think most of them would probably just be complaining all the time. Loudly. They would whine about not having their oil changed often enough, about speed bumps, or maybe about kids spilling drinks inside them. Some of them would most likely piss and moan about not getting to “stretch their legs” on the open road often enough. Others would be begging to be painted a different color, or even to simply be run through a car wash every once in a while. A few of the grievances would be understandable, but for the most part, nobody would have anything real to complain about.

In a crowded parking lot world populated by obnoxious loudmouth econoboxes desperately vying for your attention, this guy would be way in the back by himself, staring at the ground, reluctant to even speak. There would be an awkward silence for what would have felt like an eternity, after which he would pick his weary head up, look you dead in the eye, and you two would share a brief moment of understanding. Just before you start to turn and walk the other way, a hoarse, gravelly voice- barley audible over the din of the parking lot- would utter “I’ve seen some shit”.

Datsun/Nissan 720 4×4 King Cab

Nissan 720 Truck Front

Way back when, before all Nissan Hardbodies sported a set of Escalade wheels there was the Datsun 720. I wasn’t sure what this thing was at first, just some old Nissan truck. I’d seen it around town a couple times, once down 32nd Street, and again around 19th and Union Hills. Recently I was finally able to get a closer look and still couldn’t tell what it was, there was no badging so I had to research it a bit. Apparently these trucks were sold as the Datsun 720 from 1980 to 1982 and switched over to Nissan 720 until production ended in 1986.

I’m not sure what the factory or dealership options were when these things were new but regardless of that I’d like to think that the original owner responded with a simple “all of them” when asked.. this including one hell of a graphics package (that’s almost, but not quite, as gaudy as what Ford offers for the Raptor). Don’t get me wrong though, I like it, it screams early 1980’s and I love it for that.

Nissan 720 Truck Rear

I can’t quite put my finger on how I would like to stereotype the driver of this truck. In fact, after about ten minutes of waiting to greet the driver I determined that I don’t actually want to know what they are like and went on my way. Whatever assumption you have about the owner of this truck is a fact (it’s more fun this way).

It’s good to see something old, clean, driven, and not beat to piss. I’m sure its offroading days are long gone, especially with those street tires, but you never know.

It’s a curiosity for sure.

A couple interesting notes I found in my research:
– In 1959 Datsun became the first company to import a compact truck to the US
– Only 10 or so trucks were imported that first year
– In May of 1986 the 720 was replaced by the Hardbody

VTAK Just Swapped In Yo

I saw this at the Ecology junkyard down on Broadway and it made me smile. I wonder how long this car drove around with that on there. It’s kind of funny, since it’s not a Honda. It’s  actually a Mk2 Golf, but of course, you probably already guessed that. Who else but a VW super-hipster would take a sharpie to his valve cover just for the sake of a little internet meme-derived irony?

Green tea is good.

Is that a Mk. IV or a Mk. V Jetta?

Actually it’s a little bit of both. Welcome to the confusing world of the Hispanic auto market. If something is popular, they just keep making it. What you see here is basically a Mk. IV Jetta chassis with an updated drivetrain, and refreshed front and back clips to better assimilate itself with the new (at the time) Volkswagen corporate face. Although this car is from south of the border, they actually sold the car like this in Canada too, as the Jetta City model. In the Mexican market it was known as the Jetta Clasico, which later changed to it just being called the Clasico. This is one of those later models. If you’ll believe it you can still get a Mk.IV Jetta like this brand-new in Mexico.

It isn’t too weird though: In Brazil you can purcahase a Volkswagen Type 2 ( the rear-engine van popular among our peace-loving, hallucinogen-abusing, wimpy “friends” of the Hippie movement.) brand-new with a radiator mounted in the front and and water-cooled engine mounted in the back! It’s conception dates back to 1947 and was first produced in 1950! Those “crazy” Hispanic people don’t like change. Personally, I wouldn’t mind if Chevy still made 88-98 GMT400 trucks with updated drivetrains (they actually sold vehicles based off this platform up until 2000 for those not in the know)

Anyways, the whole reason behind posting this is because not many people in the U.S. get to see what other markets are selling. In Arizona we often see many strangely modified cars from down below, but occasionally you’ll see a car like this or a Ford Lobo (Mexican market F-150) and other things like that.

Explorer Sport Trac: Adrenaline

I’ve never heard of these things before. Honestly, I didn’t even know there was a second generation of the Explorer Sport Trac. Apparently this started out as a stereo package for the Sport Trac and morphed into this “appearance-package” atrocity starting in 2008. Based off what was meant to be an SVT-lead performance truck, that idea was apparently scrapped, but kept the 2005 GT-R concept grille treatment. Something nowadays many other manufacturers can’t seem to avoid stealing as well (I’m looking at you SRT team).

So basically this thing is all show and no go. Being as it’s a quad cab with a pathetic excuse for a bed -and built from the Explorer platform- I shouldn’t be surprised that this is basically what you would call a “lifestyle” vehicle. Which I suppose is a nice way of saying that it’s only meant to look like its sporty and utilitarian, instead of actually being sporty and utilitarian. It’s a mechanical cod piece. I also shouldn’t be surprised that the lady driving this looked like she was off to get the kids from soccer practice, driving in a part of town that is exclusively new, upper-middle class suburbs.

During a year where Ford was making the Five-Hundred, Fusion and Taurus (fleet only) all at the same time, I feel comfortable in saying that this was the most useless, outdated and foolish-looking vehicle in their line-up. I hope it’s rarity ensures that I never have to notice another one and think “Oh, what the fuck?”

…Huh?

I caught this one a while back, out in Scottsdale, most likely around the time of all the car auctions that go on out there in the beginning of the year. When I saw it coming, I assumed it was some sort of Lincoln concept car for some reason, or possibly some kind of horrifying body kit slapped onto a Cougar, with sort of a Toronado Trofeo flavor. I was struggling to get my phone out of my pocket to get a picture and wasn’t really able to get a good look at it. It wasn’t until I got home and looked at the picture on the computer that I realized how obviously Fiero-based this thing was.

The car is actually a Zimmer Quicksilver, based on an stock 2.8, automatic Fiero. Only 170 of these atrocities were ever built.