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Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:25 pm
by Bwk2000
Soooo, a Ram 1500 Hemi has a smaller payload capacity than a ‘70’s Datsun 1/4 ton pickup. Almost forgot how dangerous things were back then. What were they thinking?
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Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2023 10:33 pm
by redroadster
They sold out quick , to farmers more a utility vehicle though
Every spring here they came in for service in droves they were built for Asia driving for sure I had a 620 , 30 yrs ago
If you got rear ended you head could break the back glass on early ones no headrest
Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 6:26 am
by rwmann
New England Region SCCA hauled and distributed fire bottles, phones, and other race track equipment in one, as I recall, supplied by Bob Sharp Datsun. Bryar, Thompson, Lime Rock… back in the good old 1970s and 80s.
Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 9:55 am
by Bwk2000
I do remember them being popular as farm and rural parts shop runabouts. Don’t remember ever seeing one that wasn’t a rust bucket … Must have been dirt cheap - But hauling 1400+ lbs in one would be insane.
Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:58 pm
by Fetch
I had a '79 Lil Hustler new off the lot. If I remember it was about $7,000. No rear bumper and no radio.
Drove it from SF to San Diego to Spokane Wa. Fun truck, had all four wheels off the ground a couple of times. With my wife in the cab I could hit second gear and her head would hit the rear glass. She would get pissed.
1400 lbs payload? I did haul a heaping load of dirt and I could feel the axle riding the bump stops. I was more worried about the tires.
Yes, it rusted away.
Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2023 6:43 pm
by Bwk2000
Fetch wrote: Tue Dec 05, 2023 3:58 pm
I had a '79 Lil Hustler new off the lot. If I remember it was about $7,000 …
Probably even less than that. Our Chevy K5 Blazer of the time was only about $5500 (family bought a new one around ‘78).
*Edit - I think we may have had a trade-in for the Blazer back then as well. Can’t quite remember, but it wouldn’t have been worth much at any rate.
Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 8:07 am
by SOUPY
The suspension on the early 70s models were SOOO stiff you had to put weight in the back to smooth the ride! A camper top like in the picture in the brochure above had a wood frame and that weight really helped!
Re: Things that make you go hmmm - Datsun li’l Hustler Pickup
Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 11:45 am
by redroadster