DATSUN MINI-TRUCK

WINS CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

NO, THIS ISN’T A HEADLINE FROM THEONION.COM — IT’S LEGIT! From the Concours d’elegance of Texas: “This 1972 Datsun 521 (a pickup from Nissan’s Heritage Hall that is affectionately known as Sweet Pea) was honored as a Class Winner in the Truck Category at the recent Concours d’elegance of Texas (COT). The Concours featured a truck class, which is not common in classic car shows.

“Nissan was a premier sponsor for this sixth annual COT, which was held at the Richard Greene Linear Park in Arlington, Texas.

“This year’s Concours d’elegance of Texas featured 125 of the finest motorcars in America, many seldom seen publicly. It was a great opportunity to see mechanical sophistication, elegance and the best in automotive style—all traits embodied to some extent by this pristine green Datsun that comes from an era when small pickups were just that, small.”

So what does this mean for owners of classic minis, especially Datsuns? Truck enthusiasts have always coveted them, but will we see an increase in interest from the general public, such as with the Datsun Fairlady/240z? Will prices begin to rise and eventually make Datsuns and similar vintage mini-trucks unaffordable? Will you think twice before ’bagging/body-dropping your old Datsun truck? Probably not, but buy an extra one and keep it stock, just in case.

We’re just hoping to see an increase in the number of restoration parts available for old Japanese trucks. NOS supplies are dwindling fast, so if these things start getting the respect they deserve at the caviar shows and from others who previously ignored them, we might start seeing some quality reproduction parts down the road.