The Datsun 620 was Nissan’s compact pickup of 1972 to 1979 and the first Datsun truck that seriously worried the American manufacturers. It was sold in the United States as the Li’l Hustler and in Canada as the Sportruck, and it brought the King Cab, front disc brakes and electronic ignition to the small-pickup class.
Datsun 620 at a glance
| Maker | Nissan (Datsun), Japan |
|---|---|
| Production | February 1972 – 1979 |
| Bodies | regular cab and King Cab; two wheelbases; crew cab in some markets |
| US engines | 1.6 L L16 (96 hp), 1.8 L L18 (100 hp), 2.0 L L20B (110 hp gross) |
| Other markets | 1.5 L J15 (77 hp), 2.2 L diesel (66 hp) |
| Top speed | about 135 km/h with the J15 |
| Gearboxes | four-speed manual, five-speed from 1977, three-speed automatic from 1972 |
| King Cab | from 1977, cabin 24 cm longer |
| US names | Li’l Hustler (United States), Sportruck (Canada) |
| Firsts | long bed 1975, extended cab 1977, front disc brakes and electronic ignition 1978 |
| Replaced by | Datsun 720, from 1979 |
History of the Datsun 620
The 620 was released in February 1972 and stayed in production until 1979. It was a regular-cab truck, with a longer King Cab version added in 1977, and it came on two wheelbases for a total of six models. There was also a delivery van for Japan only, bare chassis for importers who fitted their own flat decks, and the U620, a crew cab utility with an integrated short bed that seated four. The styling kept the shoulder wing line, or “Bullet Side” accent, running along the flanks.
In most of the world the 620 used the 1.5-litre J15 with 77 hp and a claimed 135 km/h, and a 2.2-litre diesel of 66 hp was later offered in many markets. North America kept the Nissan L engine: the L16 of 96 hp for 1972 and 1973, the L18 of 100 hp for 1974 and the L20B, rated at 110 hp gross and 97 hp net, from 1975 to 1979. It was a 50-state car, with an exhaust-gas recirculation system that met California’s rules without a catalytic converter.
The 620 was the first Datsun pickup with a longer King Cab passenger compartment, known as the Custom in Japan. It used the normal bed but a cabin stretched by 24 cm on the longer wheelbase. It was also the first series in the line to offer an automatic gearbox, the three-speed 3N71, from mid-1972; a five-speed manual became optional in 1977. In 1978 the truck was revised with a new grille and front bumper and a wider track at both ends, and in South Africa the name changed from Datsun One-Ton Pick-Up to Datsun 680.
The truck earned a reputation for durability and weather resistance, and its engines were known for their reliability. That let the 620 compete with the larger American pickups and gave Datsun a strong name in the United States, where 40% of buyers said they never used the truck for work. It introduced the first long bed in 1975, the first extended cab in 1977, and front disc brakes and electronic ignition in 1978. The 720 replaced it in 1979.
Design and features
- King Cab: an extended cabin 24 cm longer than the standard one, offered from 1977.
- American engines: the 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre L-series fours.
- Diesel option: a 2.2-litre unit of 66 hp in many markets.
- Class firsts: long bed, extended cab, front disc brakes and electronic ignition.
- Bullet Side styling: the shoulder line that ran the length of the body.
Datsun 620 versions
- 620 regular cab: the standard truck on two wheelbases.
- 620 King Cab (1977–1979): the extended-cab version.
- U620 crew cab: a four-seat utility with a short integrated bed.
- Datsun 680: the South African name used from 1978.
The 620 replaced the Datsun 520 and 521 and gave way to the Datsun 720. More models are in the Datsun collection.
Video: Datsun 620 drag race
Video by Shiftys Hot Rods on YouTube.
Sources
- Datsun truck, English Wikipedia: 620 history, engines, equipment, market names
- Datsun 620, German Wikipedia: production years and diesel engine
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