PATROL PASSION
A Long History with Nissan Continues
This ’90 Nissan short-wheelbase diesel Patrol is Chuck Kurtz’s third Patrol, and most capable yet. Kurtz has a long history with Nissan, one that dates back to the 1960s when his father owned a Datsun/Lotus dealership in Pennsylvania. His passion for the brand was solidified with a long and storied history with racing a wide range of Nissans in America.
Nissan Race Life
Kurtz’s father road-course raced Datsuns and Nissans all his life. He actually built up a successful race team to such a level that it became the Nissan Factory Team in the IMSA GTU series, racing Nissan 240SXs during the 1990s. At its peak the team ran a three-car program in the GTU series, winning numerous driver championships and manufacturer championships for Nissan.
For three years during 1983 to 1985, Kurtz himself raced a Nissan 4x4 720 pickup in a Pennsylvania short-track off road series. From there he built a long racing career, nearly all with Datsuns and Nissans, that spanned SCCA, IMSA, GTU, IMSA Firestone Firehawk Endurance Series and more. He raced 280ZXs, 300ZXs, 240SXs and 4x4 Nissan pickups. He finished off his racing career racing in the 1990s in Formula 2000 and lots of endurance races, including a GTU Class win at the 12 Hours of Sebring and finishing 13 24-hour races.
Kurtz also had the opportunity to instruct at SCCA competition driver’s schools and Nissan dealer launch events for the 300zx and many 4x4 trucks. After years with Nissan and with driving in his blood, Kurtz eventually turned to off road and overland adventures for his vehicular recreation.
“FOR A PASSIONATE NISSAN ENTHUSIAST, THE SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE OFF-ROAD-CAPABLE OVERLAND
MACHINE LED DIRECTLY TO A SHORTWHEEL-BASE ’90 NISSAN Y60 PATROL.”
Patrol Passion
The earliest memory Kurtz has of the Nissan Patrol is as a 3 year old helping his dad clear land with a ’66 Patrol to build their house upon. That old Patrol stayed with his dad all the way until the late ’90s. It finally succumbed to rust after serving many years of snow-plow duty at his family’s Nissan/Mercedes Benz dealership in State College, Pennsylvania.
The first Patrol Kurtz owned himself was a $500 basket case of a vehicle. While he got to enjoy it a bit, he just couldn’t find the parts needed to keep it running. This was pre-internet, and well after Nissan no longer offered parts support for the Patrol. That machine was eventually sold to make room for other projects.
In 2013, Kurtz found a Patrol he just couldn’t pass up. It was a ’67 G60 model, that was miraculously rust free. He has and loves this old machine to this day. It’s a primitive and slow machine, however, which isn’t ideal for long drives and extended overland adventures.
Overland Inspiration
As you’d imagine with an automotive enthusiast like Kurtz, he doesn’t just have old Nissan Patrol’s in his vehicle quiver. His daily driver, tow rig and big overland adventure vehicle is a well-built ’14 Nissan Frontier.
He attended the 2018 Vermont Overland Birdwatching Safari with his Frontier but came away from the event thinking that he needed even more capability. Ground clearance was the Frontier’s main deficiency in challenging off-road terrain. Getting the clearance and capability out of the Frontier would mean major modifications, which would also greatly reduce its road manners and towing ability. Because of this, Kurtz decided to start the search for a purpose-built
“KURTZ HAS OWNED 15 DATSUN AND NISSAN 4X4 TRUCKS OVER HIS LIFE, SO GOOGLY EYES CAME QUICKLY WHEN HE
LOOKED UPON THIS ’90 PATROL.”
off-road machine that he could use to tackle more challenging overland adventures.
French Patrol
For a passionate Nissan enthusiast, the search for the ultimate off-road capable overland machine led directly to a shortwheel-base ’90 Nissan Y60 Patrol. Kurtz found this example at just the right time on Bring-A-Trailer, and purchased it from a gentleman who had imported it to the U.S. from his home country of France. Not only was it left-hand drive, but it was more than 25 years old, therefore legally imported into the USA.
Kurtz has owned 15 Datsun and Nissan 4x4 trucks over his life, so googly eyes came quickly when he looked upon this ’90 Patrol. Besides the brand, the cockpit of this machine is also very similar to his much-loved Nissan trucks from the 1990s. The seats, the switches, the layout and more all just felt immediately comfortable to Kurtz.
Building Capability
Once Kurtz was able to procure this quality machine, he set about making it the most capable Patrol he’s ever owned. First up was to sort out the suspension. He worked with the team at Main Line Overland, which lead him to a Dobinsons 3-inch suspension lift system. The main reason he went with this kit was that it came with the necessary transmission mounts to prevent high-angularity driveshaft U-joint issues. The Dobinsons suspension package for the Patrol consists of springs, shocks, panhard rods, bushings, bump stops, and a steering stabilizer. They are all designed to work in harmony, and have been used and abused for years, earning the respect of the Nissan Patrol community.
The 3-inch lift allows for fitment of a 33-inch tire. Kurtz chose the Goodyear Wrangler MTR, which he wrapped around his favorite off-road wheel, the 17-inch Evo Corse Dakar Zero. He’d been wanting to use their Matte Bronze wheels on something for some time, and this white Patrol was just the ticket.
For a better entry angle, solid recovery points, a winch mount and front impact protection, an old-school ARB bullbar is