Retro-filled shots to the arm are a popular way to endear a car company to its fan base, especially us pickup truck wonks who pine for the so-called ‘good old days’ when things weren’t really good at all. Nevertheless, it generally only takes a stripe-n-wheel package to get some fans all hot and bothered – and Nissan has tapped into this with gusto at the Chicago Auto Show.
First up is the Project Hardbody, a name many of us remember from the ‘80s and ‘90s when Nissan hawked a compact truck of the same name on these shores. This is also a good time to remind everyone that a Hustler package was available in some markets, meaning customers could sign a 48-month note on a machine called a Hardbody Hustler. Excellent.
This time around, the Project Hardbody incorporates a yaffle of visual clues from that era, including a tremendous set of wheels with faces made from chunky geometric shapes. Adding to the drama is a 3-inch lift with 17-inch BFGoodrich KO2 tires and a black front fascia with amber-tinted fog lamps. A light bar, some throwback 4×4 graphics, and gnarly skid plates round out the deal. All this thing needs is a stripe package from the old Desert Runner trim to put this nostalgia into high gear.
Project 72X takes its cues from the old-school Datsun 720 pickup truck and is immediately identifiable by its white-painted steel wheels. The stripe package will time warp you back to the early-‘80s and looks pretty good against the grey factory paint. There’s a 2.5-inch lift kit under the truck along with a set of Hankook all-terrains. The stylized cab extender is denuded of forward-facing lights in this example.
Last out of the gate is Project Adventure, a take on the ever-popular overlanding hobby, a type of self-reliant off-roading in which one carries just about everything they need for a couple of nights off the grid. Here we find a light bar, roof cargo basket, and a smattering of accessories like fuel cans and recovery boards. Don’t laugh at the latter – you author has put those things to good use in both muddy and sandy situations and can confirm they’ll get you out of a jam in jig time. Mechanically, this concept has a 5-inch lift kit, BFG mud-terrains, and a custom snorkel.
While some auto show efforts are pure flights of fancy, what’s shown here – especially the Project Hardbody – is easy to execute since it’s comprised of mostly bolt-on parts. If Nissan is seeking a way into the hearts (and wallets) of its fan base, they should at least make items like those wheels and front bumper treatment available through their parts department post haste.
[Images: Nissan, 2022 © Tim Healey/TTAC]
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I was hoping for a standard cab, standard bed version with manual transmission. Stop teasing us, Guy!
Steve-what do you think the take rate would be on such a vehicle-On every 100 units of Frontiers sold how many would be what you mentioned?
Has everyone on God’s green Earth lost their sense of humor? OF COURSE Nissan is never going to build such a truck. A pity – but still the case.
I’ll second your comment. My double 0 is just that, standard cab 2 x 4
5 speed. Been a dandy all these years.
Those Desert Runner wheels on the Hardbody are great.
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/03/rare-rides-nissan-hardbody-desert-runner/
I had those wheels on my 95 Pathfinder. I thought they looked cool until some kids stole the center plastic triangle pieces. (They just snap off)
Glue some Doritos on there, good to go.
In red color and wing spoiler on the back it would be my dream car, only if they were equipped with MT and Recaro seats.
Nissan did a good job on the looks of the new Frontier but from what I’ve read, the underpinnings and interior is old and antiquated.
Nissan has grown the Frontier a lot in size. I am sure its a good truck but its too big for me.
Like everything else – its oversized. Guess they haven’t seen that Ford can’t build enough Mavericks and the Santa Cruz was the fastest selling vehicle out of the gate.
Make something 80s sized and my interest level goes up. Throw in a graphic EQ for the stereo too while your at it please.
That’s why I finally ordered a Maverick in spite of wanting a regular or extended cab and longer bed. The Maverick and Santa Cruz are the only compact trucks on the market and not being as tall made it a better choice especially since my wife who has health issues has a hard time getting in and out of taller vehicles even with my Isuzu I-370 with running boards. I’ll live with the smaller bed I will just have to haul with the tailgate down when hauling longer loads.
I could see several retro-ish stripe/style packages working for the Maverick. The aftermarket is probably going to be nuts. I’m an oddball, but that truck would be perfect with a column shifter and a bench seat with a flip/fold armrest/console like my y2k Taurus had. Plaid seats like a mid-70’s Pinto (or anything) and a tape stripe scheme like the “Cruising Wagon” specials. Drooolllll
No machine gun mount? Maybe that wasn’t an 80s thing.
You have to get the Nismo package for technicals option.
The original Hardbody wheels that inspired those were ahead of their time. The 720-lookalike concept looks neat too, although it’s just too big to make me properly nostalgic for mini trucks.
The ‘hardbody’ wheels are straight up clones of the D21/WD21 Pathy ones, and the originals actually have the same bolt pattern, bot probably won’t clear the modern brakes.
The 720 ‘4×4’ graphics I remember were different (foot-tall ‘4×4’ on the doors with a stripe going all the way back) but having seen quite a few of the new Frontier (including one down the street), it’s probably ripe for some retro cosmetic packages.
I love all this Retro-Stuff (and would/may buy it). Kinder times, better times. Good memories.
In person these new frontiers look nicer then in pictures. The interior hoever feels dated to me, and I was disappointed they didn’t add some room to the back seat.
As head up to deal hunters out there. Nissan is offering a PRO4X crewcab on a $199 a month lease here in the North East. Only 10k miles a year so doesn’t work for me but other wise pretty decent deal.
Stepside bed is needed.
Not tempted by any of them. That may change on a personal viewing, however.
Haven’t heard from you in a while so how is the Colorado doing? I ordered a Maverick XLT hybrid in July and it will be produced in March.
From the Headline, I was expecting 3 new designs. Instead it’s the same oversize, awkward, nose-heavy design as always with new wheels and some graphics… boo! I say.
One day car makers will actually build something, and we won’t get to choose what they build- it i going to be whatever is more profitable for them