Seeing Daniel Stern’s recent “Junk Yard Tales” posting reminded me to share these photos I captured in a Junk Yard parking lot. Not so much because Daniel’s article made reference to such a vehicle, but because I found the truck in the parking lot of the very yard described in Daniel’s autobiographical post (Colorado Auto and Parts).
This truck has a number of interesting modifications, including paint effects and body overlays. The tailfins and wheel skirts hark back to the fifties, while the portholes with diamond paint surrounds seem more architectural than vehicular. It’s clear the owner devoted quite a bit of time creating a truck uniquely their own, but unfortunately they were not present to explain their overarching vision.
Based on a few cues (the wheels and the oval badge on the fender), I decided this “Vehicle” started life as an ’01-’04 Nissan Frontier. The owner removed all manufacture badges, and embellished the factory lines to create a new stylistic interpretation. I’m not sure where they sourced the headlights- They are similar to an Xterra of similar vintage, but the headlight buckets appear to be a custom fabrication job, so probably not.
I wish I had taken some close ups of the various filigree added to the hood and grille area, but I was headed in to search for parts, taking precedence over pictures.
Sorry about the lens flare, another symptom of my rushed photo session. The marker/turn signals appear to be universal truck/trailer parts, but they fit nicely into the Frontier’s Fog Light cavities. Not really to my taste, but I’m giving big points for the overall package. J. C. Whitney inspired, but top-shelf Whitney, not cheesy Whitney.
I’ve been shopping at Colorado Auto and Parts for over thirty years at this point, and I believe they’re the best in the business. Finding this unique mash-up in their parking lot only adds to their reputation.
Vehicle indeed.
I too am a huge fan of CAP, but I think that you missed the significance of this “Mileage Master” Nissan. This was a rare model used by Nissan to showcase all of their latest technology in vehicle efficiency. All of the disparate clues are there, from the aerodynamic fender skirts to the stability enhancing fins to the splitters on the hood to insure smooth airflow. Much of this proprietary technology was created in Nissan’s secret lab in California and demonstrated an actually EPA mileage increase of .0025 miles per gallon.
It just goes to show that form and function can coexist in a highly stylish, highly efficient package!
So what are you driving?.
A vehicle.
What kind of vehicle?
a pickup.
What kind of pickup?
A Vehicle.
Yes, … what kind of vehicle?
A PICKUP TRUCK
WHAT KIND OF PICKUP TRUCK?!
……….. A Vehicle.
A lot of hard work and planning here .
I like the tail fins at least .
Proof once again that in matters of taste, everyone else is wrong .
-Nate
It has a little bit of a postmodern El Dia de la Muerte vibe about it without perhaps the more lyrical scrollwork etc, especially in front. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it, it looks very well kept.
Now if only the fins were from a ’58 Dodge…
Why, from Colorado Auto and Parts, no doubt! They appear to be ’05-’07 Jeep Liberty items.
Not as well as all that. They’re not facing front, which means their light distribution isn’t what’s meant. There are other lighting problems, too (deleted/didn’t replace side retroreflectors, etc) though this certainly isn’t nearly as bad as I’ve seen.
I dig the “V E H I C L E” callouts, front and back. I don’t recognise the parking lot or building; looks like a lot (and the lot) has changed!
This truck has certain elements of a customizing style – most notably the “redesigned” quarter windows and fender skirts – that was popular in some parts of the Latino community during the 90s.
I think it was a lamentation of the end of BOF passenger cars that were popular in the lowrider scene and/or an attempt to bring some of those (re) styling themes into the modern era.
The builder of this seems to have taken their customization a bit further than that, but good on him for following his vision. It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but I admire his efforts.
It’s a vehicle alright
“I’m your vehicle, baby! I’ll take you anywhere you wanna go; I’m your vehicle, woman, by now I’m sure you know , that I love ya, I need , I want ya, got to have ya, great God in heaven you I love you!” 🙂
Could this be the lost Powell Motors prototype for a pickup truck?
May I share this sighting, Dave? 🙂
Of course.
Batman’s Plumber ??
Has a mouth like Hannibal
Reminds me in a way of a car I saw in a Pick and Pull long ago. Before the age of cameras on phones, so no pics. I don’t recall exactly what the car was, perhaps 90s Nissan something, sedan, not a Z car. But it had a body kit. Spoilers front and rear, side skirts, I forget what else. Done in a craftsman like manner, impeccably done. In plywood. Unpainted even. I was dumbfounded. An enormous amount of time and energy went into that thing, and a very good job was done, someone had some very real skills. But plywood? Arggg.
Well you’re built like a car
You’ve got a hub cap diamond star halo
You’re built like a car, oh yeah