If you know anything about Nissan and its pickup trucks, then it’s safe to say that this Japanese automaker is no stranger to building tough-and-ready trucks like the Nissan Frontier. A big part of that reputation was established by the Nissan Hardbody – a compact pickup truck sold in the USA during the 1980s and ‘90s. The trucks’ arrival on US soil came from Nissan’s ambitious push into the American market. However, the truck was also a statement. Rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the Datsun era, the Hardbody arrived stateside in 1986 as the D21 generation. It was coined “Hardbody” for its double-walled bed – a clever engineering trick that protected cargo during transit while adding structural rigidity.
