Keep on Truckin' err... Driftin'

Cheap?....Check

FR drivetrain ?....Check

Plentiful?....Check

Light weight?....Check

Simple and reliable?....Check

Variety of engine swap choices?....Check

All of the above are characteristics of an ideal drift car, except in this case I'm not talking about cars at all. In the 80's and 90's Japanese auto companies sold thousands upon thousands of mini-trucks in the US (and all over the world) and when you look at it, they offer a ton of potential as drift machines. The popularity of drifting in the US has lead to sky-high prices for traditional drifting platforms like the 240SX and the AE86. Besides the high prices, one look at your local Craigslist will show the large number of molested, poorly modified examples of these cars. While a pick-up truck may not seem like the best choice for drifting, the July issue of Drift Tengoku showed a couple Nissan mini-trucks that have been transformed into full fledged drift machines, and manage to look damn cool while doing it.

Built by Garage Miniz , on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, these two pickups have been tuned in the same style usually reserved for Silvias and Chasers.

The Red truck is a '92 D21 long bed (Hardbody in the US) and is powered by an SR20DET with an AXB60 turbine. It is has massive suspension/chassis work as well, including a narrowed rear end, and S13 Silvia steering components. The ultra-low ride height and 18x9J and 10J Work Meisters complete give it an aggressive look on the outside.

The white truck, an '85 Datsun/Nissan 720 is even more extreme. It is powered by an RB26DETT from a Skyline GTR, and as if that wasn't enough the turbine is a single RX6. The factory live axle+leaf spring rear suspension was ditched for that of an S13 and the brakes are from a Lancer Evolution. The radiator is mounted in the bed, along with a fuel cell and roll bar. The wheels are Work Emotion CR Kai. I won't go too far into the technical stuff, but if you want to learn more try to get a hold of the July issue of dori-ten.

Even though these examples are from Japan, mini-trucks were not big sellers there, as people generally prefer tiny kei-trucks or vans.  The US however, is full of used mini-trucks that can be picked up for next to nothing, so I wonder if more people will consider these pickups as potential drift machines.  Although they do not have the aftermarket support of something like an S13, they do have their advantages including the ability to carry a ton of tires to the track, low price and high availability, and if you can find a diesel model you will not have to worry about smog testing in California. I know there was one guy drifting an orange Mitsubishi pickup in the US, but other than that I don't recall seeing anything else.
Who knows, maybe someday when all the AE86's and S13's are either wrecked or have become collector's items, drift events will be filled with SR and RB powered Hardbodies and 1JZ powered Toyota trucks. If anyone is in need inspiration,the Garage Miniz shows just how cool drift trucks can be.

Comments

[Corey]

wow. i guess thats cool. that datsun is really nice i.m.o. its one thing to see a mini truck sitting pretty, but moving sideways? im not too sure if this will be big in US.. its just like a Honda civic slammed all the way with a v8 in it, trying to fit in with the mini truckers. but i guess we'll just have to see.
trucks have the potential.

-Corey

[mike brewster240]

god i wish it wasnt so hard to find them without rust in the northeast.

[Toycoma]

I have a 02 Tacoma I use to drift. It is what I learned to drift in when I started drifting back in 2003. I got some pictures on my myspace page.

[Johnny Udy]

Have a look at my pics on myspace, we use Holden utes factory fitted with LS1 V8's. The other ute I used to drift in competition had a vortech supercharged 408 ci motor producing 1022hp.

[Johnny Udy]

Have a look at my pics on myspace, we use Holden utes factory fitted with LS1 V8's. The other ute I used to drift in competition had a vortech supercharged 408 ci motor producing 1022hp.

[Johnny Udy]

Have a look at my pics on myspace, we use Holden utes factory fitted with LS1 V8's. The other ute I used to drift in competition had a vortech supercharged 408 ci motor producing 1022hp.

[Kevin D.]

The 85 Datsun 720 is dope. Actually Johnny C.(blue kouki SR5 coupe) has one at his shop. The owner of the truck had him swap in a SR20 in there, which was pretty cool. Are you still in the states? Last time I heard, you were going to go to Japan. Take care yo, ttyl.

[Mike]

Hey what's up Kevin? That 720 sounds pretty nice. I'm still in the states until Dec. 26, that's when I'm moving to Japan.

[Kevin D.]

O man! Welp I've been meaning to stop by the shop and say wussup, but I got caught up in a lot of work. I'll try to swing by during the weekends (if you are working). Let me know, if not hit me up online.

[Jase]

Do you have any info on how to convert torsion bar/leaf sprung mini trucks to coilover?

I'd imagine it's a pretty major job?

[Pat d]

Do you or anyone happen to know any more information on, or a wedsite/page about that red d21 Nissan truck? I'm undergoing a similar project and would like to know about the front end setup on that truck. Thanks.

[james]

i like that 720 im trying to put a rb26 in my 85 720 reg cab. i hope it turns out as nice as that one

[Stitch]

Had an 83 standard cab short bed perfect for an sr or rb swap but dummy me sold it, guy at work has a mint 84 sunburst orange and I think if I keep pestering him he'll eventually sell it or get a restraining order!

[assoomy]

i like nissan trucks and i have one truck from nissan

[Brandon]

I have two datsun p620 pickups that i drift, they were actually both free when I got them.
One has a L18 with a weber for now and the other one has a swapped 22r with the 20r head that shoots a footlong flame after revving past 5k. Although I was drifting around one day and one of the drums in the back seized up and threw me into a ditch. not fun.
another good car is a te72 (80-83 corolla) because of the direct bolt in ability of the ae86 gts parts (practically everything, including interior). I own one, about to get another, and even the stock little 3tc is so much fun.

-Woody

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My friend's grandfather had a Datsun 240Z with an RB20DET engine in it... it was fast, to say the least. He used to drag-race semi-professionally, and scared the crap out of everyone he lined up against. Then again, he also had a Datsun 280Z with a Chevy 400 in it. Now, that car was a pure beast. He tried to put in a Nissan V-8 from the Infiniti Q45, but switching from carburetted to fuel injected was a little more work than he wanted to do. Mind you, he is 80-something years old, so he knows very little about fuel injected cars having grown up on the prairies of Nebraska and Iowa where Chevys and Fords rule the roads.

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Drifting has evolved into a competitive sport where drivers compete mostly in rear wheel drive cars, and occasionally all wheel drive cars. The drivers within these series were originally influenced by the pioneers from D1 Japan and are able to keep their cars sliding for extended periods of time, often linking several turns.

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[ben nicholls]

i just brought a 720 for 500 bucks lol with a mint fordacidgreen mettalic and pearl paint job nearly assembled interior vinyledied white just gotta fix brakes n clutch make a tray and register it

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I haven't seen a Datsun for a very long time now. The name, remembering it brings a lot of memories to my childhood.