We’ve gained a lot in recent years when it comes to cars, especially in terms of safety, but we’ve lost some cool stuff too. You don’t see many removable body parts anymore. Sure, you can still take the top and doors off your Jeep or Bronco, but nobody ever does. The two cars we’re going to look at today have removable rear roof sections that are probably light enough to actually take off with the help of a buddy.
I guess the majority of you share my affinity for old Mazda trucks, because it won yesterday. I’m a little surprised; I expected the 4Runner to put up a better fight. It sounds like the body damage didn’t do it any favors. If it were in better shape, it might have fared better, but then it wouldn’t have been $3,500.
I dig those old 4Runners, but I think I’d take the Mazda too. I had an earlier B2000 Sundowner when I lived in Minnesota, and I loved it. I have no need for another pickup, but a truck like that could be for fun, not just utility.
One of the things I like about the forthcoming Slate truck, and there’s a lot to like, is the reconfigurable body. It can be a pickup, two different styles of SUV, and probably other things too, once the aftermarket gets hold of it. But it’s definitely not a new idea. Both of the cars we’re going to look at today have removable rear roof sections, and one of them could be replaced with a whole new setup if you so desired. Let’s check them out.
1989 Nissan Pulsar NX – $3,495
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline-4, five-speed manual, FWD
Location: Sherwood, OR
Odometer reading: 146,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Every time I see a Nissan from the 1980s or ’90s, it makes me wonder what the hell they’ve been doing for the past fifteen years. I mean, look at this thing: dramatic styling, T-tops, and two different owner-changeable rear body sections, and this was an economy car. Not the cheapest one Nissan offered, but not a whole lot more expensive. There’s no reason it can’t build stuff like this anymore, except fear that it won’t make as much money as the powers-that-be want. A modern Pulsar NX could be a really cool car, and it’s totally doable. But I suppose we’ll just have to be content with an old one.
There’s nothing special about the Pulsar mechanically; it’s the same thing as a Sentra from the era. It has a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with throttle body fuel injection that makes 90 horsepower, pretty typical for the time. It’s front-wheel-drive and has a five-speed manual. It runs and drives great, and the seller says they’ve never had any problems with it.
The interior is pretty well-preserved, but the seat fabric has a few popped threads that are concerning. You’ll have to be a little gentle with it, I think, to keep those seats nice. It doesn’t look water-damaged, though, which bodes well for the condition of the T-top seals.
I’ve always really liked the styling of the Pulsar. It’s a cool little car, with a lot of interesting details. This one is a little faded, but it’s straight and rust-free. It only comes with the standard hatchback, but that’s not a surprise; I haven’t seen one with the “Sportbak” station wagon back in years. I think it was more popular in the brochure than it was in real life.
1990 Daihatsu Rocky SX – $4,200
Engine/drivetrain: 1.6-liter OHC inline-4, five-speed manual, 4WD
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Odometer reading: 148,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Japanese automaker Daihatsu has made some really cool vehicles over the years, but they aren’t well-known in the US. Daihatsu only officially sold cars in the US for five years, from 1988 to 1992. Only two models were offered: a tiny hatchback called the Charade, and this little 4×4, called the Rocky. These things are unbelievably rare. I haven’t seen a Rocky for sale for a very long time, and the last one I saw wasn’t nearly as clean as this.
Like its rival the Suzuki Sidekick, the Rocky is a body-on-frame design with a live rear axle and independent front suspension. It has four-wheel-drive through a dual-range transfer case. The engine is a 1.6 liter four-cylinder. This one runs and drives well, and it has a new clutch, but it does have a leaking power steering pump. You might just have to keep adding fluid to it for a while; I think a new pump might be hard to come by. Oh, and yes, that’s an aftermarket air filter, but the stock air box is included if you’d rather put it back to original.
The Rocky’s seats have fabric faces, but vinyl backs and sides. And it appears that vinyl isn’t Daihatsu’s strong suit. Both seats have cracks and rips in the vinyl portion. It’s worse on the driver’s side, as you’d expect. It’s in good condition otherwise, and the seller says the air conditioning works.
This Rocky was used as a tow-behind dinghy for an RV for many years, so it’s equipped with a tow bar on the front. And someone installed those awful-looking LED headlights in it. But it has cool two-tone paint in good condition, and five nice alloy wheels. More importantly, it isn’t rusted out.
You don’t see many of either of these on the road anymore, and you didn’t see many Rockies to begin with. Either one would give you plenty of cred at an ’80s/90s show like RADwood, and both should be fun to drive. Which one is more your style?
