Nissan Datsun 720 pick up truck range and history 

Vehicle details

Manufacturer:	Datsun
Production:	1980 to 1986
Class:	Commercial vehicle
Assembly plants:	Fukuoka, Japan
Body and chassis
Body styles:	pick up
Doors:	2-4 door
Chassis/body:	steel
Engine and Powertrain
Drive:	Front-All wheel drive
Engine Type petrol:	1.5-2.4 liters
Engine Type diesel:	2.2-2.5 liters
Transmission:	4-5 speed manual,3 speed auto
Weights and Dimensions
Wheelbase:	2,575-2,815 mm
Width:	1,610-1,685 mm
Height (unladen):	1550mm
Ground clearance(unladen) :	200mm.
Track Front-Rear	1290mm
Weight (kerb)	1090kg. (21.46cwt.)

The Datsun 720 is a pickup manufactured by Datsun in Japan and the United States from 1980 to 1986. This was also exported to Australia , Europe and the Middle East .

History

The Datsun 720 was available with a normal and extended cab ("King Cab"), with a long and a short bunk. In some export markets, a 4-door double cabin was also offered. There was also a utility like the early Toyota 4Runner . This construction was called Bushwacker and was available as a retrofit.

From May 1983 until the discontinuation of the model in 1986, the Datsun 720 was created in the new Nissan plant in Smyrna (Tennessee) .

In the model years 1980-1983, the cars had flatbeds with single-layered side walls with protruding upper edges and lashing hooks, two decorative vents on the hood and taillights on the lower rear panel.

For a while, the 1983/1984 built in the US models still had the bunk with single-layer sideboards and lashing hooks, but already taillights at the rear corners of the bunk with yellow flashing lights, which were located above the red brake / taillights, with the reversing lights remained in the old place under the tail lift. Also, the front of the vehicle has been changed and got a larger grille, a larger bumper and larger position lights. There was also a redesigned dashboard with round instruments instead of the square ones. At that time, the normal cab was slightly lengthened and the vents behind the doors were changed from a high to a narrow shape, which corresponded to the height of the window opening. The extended cab (King Cab) remained unchanged.

The last series from 1985 to May 1986 had double side walls, visually softer designed side panels and modified tail lights at the corners, which resembled those of the Chevrolet S-series . Some export models continued to be delivered with the earlier flatbeds.Other variations of the US model in addition to the KC (King Cab) were the GL, the DX, the ST (Sport Truck) and a chassis with cab (only rear-wheel drive).

The Datsun 720 was with rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive.However, before 1984, the front suspension of the four-wheel model was a variant of the suspension in the rear-wheel drive model.

From May 1979 to 1980 was used  the 2.0 liter R4 carburetor L20B, but soon after it went to the Nissan Z engine. The models for the Middle East had the 1.8 liter R4 L18 petrol engine.

In 1981/1982 there was the 2.2 liter R4 Z2 petrol engine and the 2.2 liter R22 SD22 diesel engine. 

In mid-1983, the Z24 (a 2.4L R4), the Z20 (a 2.0L R4), and the SD25 (a 2.5L R4 diesel) were introduced. In the American market there was the diesel engine only from 1982 to 1985 in the rear-wheel drive model. In 1986, the 2.4 l R4 Z24 petrol engine was equipped with an injection (Z24i) on request; some export models were equipped with the 1.5 l R4 engine J15, the 1.6 l R4 engine J16 or the 1.8 l R4 engine L18 (all with carburettor).

 The 2.0 or 2.2 liter Z20E and Z22E injection engines were not installed in the 720. But you can easily adjust them and the cars look like originals after installation.

The Datsun 720 was replaced in May 1986 in Europe by the Nissan D21 , which corresponded to the North American Nissan Hardbody Truck. In Asia and Africa this model was offered as Datsun D21 until 1997. The D21 has the same chassis as the 720, and the 2.4L R4 Z24i engine is included as standard, but the body and interior have been redesigned.