What do we really mean when we call this 1984 Datsun 720 King Cab a time capsule?
08/31/2020
There's a lot to like about the condition of this 1984 Datsun 720 King Cab pickup for sale on Hemmings.com: The presale detailing makes it look good under the lights, and those original vintage graphics are good for inspiring some Eighties nostalgia. We're just as enamored, however, by the outgoing era that it captures with its unrestored condition. That tippy-toe stance, all too common among late Seventies and early Eighties light four-wheel-drive vehicles. Those manual hubs and white painted steelies. The cleats curled up under the bedside lips. Those tiny little jump seats in the back of the cab. The confusion about whether to call this a Datsun or a Nissan.
It all just goes to show that it's not just worth preserving older vehicles for preservation's sake. Rather, the time-capsule aspect of older cars and trucks reminds us of all the things we'd forgotten about cars and trucks from a certain period—or, alternatively, serves to teach those lessons to younger enthusiasts—and even something as humble as an old Japanese compact pickup can do a good job of showing us just who we were a generation or two ago.
From the seller's description:
This desirable 720 King Cab was sold new in Arizona to it's original owner, and was acquired only a few years ago by another owner who hardly used or enjoyed it. It's a truck with essentially 109k one-owner miles. It's a fantastic well-preserved example in great colors and options showing only very light use with an average of less than 3,000 miles per year !
The bodywork on this truck is excellent overall, save for some small dents on the hood, probably from garage storage. I'm sure they can be removed by a paintless dent remover specialist. The roof is excellent, along with very nice straight sides of the main body and truck bed, with only a couple very light scrapes. The inner truck bed is very good, and shows just minimal to light normal use. There are a few dings on the bottom edge of the tailgate. Paintwork all around is a perfectly consistent finish and we believe it to be 100 percent original paint from the factory along with it's original 4×4 graphics in a striking orange. Paintwork is very nice and glossy overall with a few chips from normal use. Glass is original except for a typical earlier windshield replacement. The car's badges still look vibrant with good color.
Inside the truck, it's 100 percent original interior trim is in beautiful original condition only showing some slight minimal wear. Door panels are in mint condition. The original cloth beige bucket seats are miraculously near perfect and very comfortable/supportive. The complete dashboard with it's faux woodgrain is very nice, with the top pad showing only two minor repairable cracks- not bad at all for life in the Arizona sunshine…The rear jump seats and rear panelling all look very nice. Carpets have been cleaned and look very good. The headliner is mint. All of the seat belts operate correctly. The truck is still fitted with it's working original Datsun AM/FM cassette radio which actually sounds quite decent. The truck includes it's original lifting jack, 2-piece handle, riser, lug wrench, and Nissan storage pouch.
Mechanically, the truck feels excellent and starts first time on the key. There's no smoke or noises on start-up. It settles into a nice idle once warmed and perform/ behaves entirely properly out on the road. The A/C system could use a recharge. The engine bay is very sanitary and clean showing beautiful original paint with all correct and original decals. There's evidence of good maintenance including newer coolant hoses/belts and ignition wires. Engine oil and coolant both look perfectly clean and up to the mark. The truck is wearing a fresh set of Goodyear Wrangler tires. The undercarriage received some “chassis black” coating at some point in it's life for protection, and everything under there looks normal for a 100k mile truck. This truck operates correctly and drives beautifully down the road.
1983 Datsun 720
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