These Datsun 620 pickups have appeared at CC quite a few times, with one post covering them extensively: The Long, The Short And The Ugly. The Long and Short being the long and short beds, with The Ugly appropriately being the Ute Coupe version. No one seemed to disagree with that assessment.
Then, about two years ago I found a 620 Ute Coupe that I shared in a post called Meeting the Ugly. That Ugly was a sorry-looking affair that belonged to a repairman not far from my home in San Salvador. Now I come across another one, but this time a nice one. And I mean condition, not looks. Yet, despite those looks, this old Datsun Ute Coupe has found a good deal of love. Proof that not all of God’s creatures may be beautiful, but that all can find love… if given enough time.
It’s well known that Nissan’s styling was rather wonky during the 1970s, and the 620 Ute Coupe fits within that mold. I admit that I have a soft spot for the original 620 pickups, with its shrunk-MoPar styling looking better than most other Datsuns of the period. Of course, Nissan of the ’70s wouldn’t let the 620 remain unscathed; and thus the Ute Coupe. And while I find the 620 pickups attractive, it’s clear that its Mopar-derived lines proved hard to adapt to the Ute Coupe.
Regardless of Nissan’s wonky styling, Datsuns of that period have a strong following in Central America. Maybe because car ownership was a new thing in the region when these sold and no one expected their cars to be ‘normal.’ Or nice looking. After all, when the need for wheels is strong, do looks really matter?
Whatever the case may be, I don’t know of many other places where people have such fondness for Datsuns of the ’70s. And you may have doubts about this Ute Coupe’s styling, but I’m pretty sure this one’s owner is a Datsun fan. Not a rare thing around here. The car’s well-preserved body and newer rims suggest it may indeed be a work in progress.
In my previous post, I added a bit of history on Nissan’s Ute Coupe history. Previous to the 620 generation, most of Nissan’s Ute Coupes had rather harmless styling and could easily get lost in daily traffic. The typical Japanese utilitarian small truck. Not so with these, which seriously departed from that tradition, and their shrunk Fuji-lage styling certainly made an impression.
Trust me; I saw them once as a kid and I never forgot.
Not that the Ute Coupes were necessarily common back then. The pickups were, and by all means, remain so. It’s a model that is still ever-present, and I have a hard time thinking of them as vintage. Here’s one, doing its usual rounds around the city. They’re just the most common of sights.
Talking about survivors, my Ute Coupe find from a couple of years ago is still around, barely hanging in there. I captured it a few weeks ago, looking rather lovely under the late afternoon sun.
Not surprisingly, more bits appear to be missing from the last time I saw it. I don’t remember that lock on the door and I’m pretty sure it has gained a few more dents. I think… Honestly, it’s hard to tell.
What I do know is that its owner is not ready to part with it just yet. If not, why fork out cash for a new lock and go through the trouble of installation?
The last time I shared these Ute Coupes, some thought it was a custom job. Let’s dispel that notion with one more look at that loading area in the back. That’s right, this was a factory-approved hatchet job. And while you may question the aesthetics, the model has remained popular enough. At least around these lands, where these appear fairly often for sale.
By the way, if you wonder, Nissan did offer a cover for the tiny bed as an accessory. Good luck finding one still in existence.
Let’s finish with this image, showing what’s probably the Ute Coupe’s best angle. This vehicle may not be our cup of tea -or sake- but whoever owns it seems to be very pleased with it. A bit ugly, yes, but even the ugly deserve some love. Especially when looking this nice.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1972-79 Datsun Ute Coupe 620 – Meeting The Ugly
The Long, the Short and the Ugly – by Don Andreina
Datsun King Cab Pickup – Yes, We’ve Long Legs in America – by PN
COAL#16 Datsun King Cab – King of Space Mountain – by Ed Hardey
I really rather like this – it is so weirdly proportioned that it is kinda cute!
Or maybe there was something weird in my coffee today….
Well, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, and Datsun’s look more appealing on the other side of the border, so this never-sold-in-the-US Ute looks pretty cool to me. But in general despite some real lows in Datsun styling like the 210, 200SX, even the 610 and 710 as sedans, I found the 620 to be pretty cool in standard cab proportions. And the first KingCabs looked a little off. But by 1983 I had my own KingCab, a 720, and then two more extended cab pickups (Ranger and T100) before going to 4 real doors on my current Tacoma. With their 4 to 4.5’ beds, the Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are really 4 door Utes. But Nissan seems very conservative these days, so even if more manufacturers come up with vehicles like those, I doubt we’ll see a Rogue-based pickup. Though I bet they could grab some sales with a Leaf EV pickup.
Leaf type vans exist they have landed in NZ I see that zero emission badge on lots of Nissan light commercials,
Ugly no, compared to some later GM styling its beautiful for a sedan pickup, the blue one looks like it has worked hard, assembly quality was lacking on those Datsun pikups here they rusted rapidly, mechanically they had the Datsun OHV Austin clone up front which were a good solid engine torsion bars up front they were the Austin A55/60 ute/van replacement from Japan and slotted into that role well they just didnt have the durability.
I think it’s an ugly execution of a brilliant idea. The creation legend of the coupe utility from 1930’s Australia is fully embodied in this Datsun, albeit on a smaller scale, for less wealthy nations. Haul during the week, take the family to church on Sunday.
Speaking of which, there was also the Subaru Baja!
It’s kind of like a better styled version of the Cybertruck
Nice to find one is such good condition .
-Nate
Like a Kei Ur-Ridgeline
It just needs a trunk lid to be like those Brazilian truck sedans:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/cc-global/cc-global-the-brazilian-ford-truck-sedans-how-about-an-escalade-sedan/
Probably 20% of pickup drivers’ non-ego-driven needs would be filled with something exactly like this.
Not everyone, not even most of everyone. But when you consider the number of pickups sold, 20% of that’s still a pantsload.