03.02.11 - GearZ Team Update

What’s Workin in Stacey David’s Shop?

We don’t like to think of things as “Junk”…..because one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.....and gearheads LOVE to treasure hunt!

Stacey was digging in the Junk Yard not to long ago and stumbled across an old Nissan Patrol that was about to go in the crusher! Of course he had to rescue it and bring it home to the GearZ shop. It is just way too cool of a rig to be smashed into nameless pile of metal, and then be recycled into a filing cabinet for someone’s office. That’s what Yugo’s were for!

The Nissan Patrol is a four-wheel drive vehicle that was manufactured by Nissan in Japan, beginning in 1951. This Yellow Nissan Patrol came with no title, but it looks to be a late 60’s, early 70’s model. The Patrol was available as either a short-wheelbase (SWB) three-door or a long-wheelbase (LWB) five-door chassis. You don’t have to look very hard at a Patrol to see the Influences of the Jeep, the Early Bronco, the International Scout, the Toyota land Cruiser and even the English Rover. With it’s tough, straight 6 engine, the Patrol was always regarded as a tough 4X4 in Australia, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean and since very few were imported to the U.S., seeing one is rare. Finding a rust-free example in a junkyard is unheard of, and definitely a vehicle worth saving.

Don’t be surprised if you see this rig appear on the show from time to time, and who knows what Stacey may do with it!

Hopefully this will encourage you to go dig up a project of your own. They are out there……you just need to find ‘em……and then show ‘em off to us and everyone else!

Happy Hunting!

Comments

[mark]

if jeep was drag racing in the 60-70's this would be the AFX jeep.

[Robb Hindle]

Interesting. Funny how many 4x4's of that period are nearly direct ripoffs of the Jeep.

[Mike Santo]

looks like a 69' Bronco

[kyle]

I think it Needs to be painted Cherry bomb red and have a 6cylinder Nissan Diesel for and engine.

[Greg]

These are different looking vehicles. I have a friend who had one or two of these and i somewhat an wxpert on them They are cool truck's

[Greg]

sorry i cant type. these are a cool piece of history. I have a friend who has owned a few of these and is somewhat of an expert on them. He has gone as far as dropping a small block chevy into it (just for the little extra power) It really hauled

[mlphpps38@gmail.com]

awesome. reminds me of an old freightliner?

[Lee Efta]

that patrol would look sweet in an old mopar green black rims with 37 inch tires

[Dan P]

Interesting. So where is the International COE you were putting the new diesel engine in???????

[r sauer]

i had a patrol many years ago
you will fine the motor is a chevy with metric bolts

[R.G. Young,Jr.]

As a professional gearhead for over forty two years, I enjoy and look forward to watching your projects take life.the portential for the patrol is limitless, and shold be interesting to observed what you do with this piece of mechanical history.

Keep building and I will keep watching. thank you for a graat show.

[L. Egly]

It reminds me of the early IH Scouts. I wonder how much leg room it has in it. Doesn't look like a six footer would be comfortable. Perhaps the photos are deceiving.

[Glenn Slippy]

That Patrol is really cool. I think you should find some experts before touching that thing. Reseach what the resale value is, and exactly what people do, if anything, to modify them. It might be best just to restore it to stock. A foreign vehicle that old would be an interesting restoration project for GearZ. Then you could announce the Ebay sale of it on Gearz over a period of several weeks. Maybe Nissan USA would like to buy it for a museum.

[butch horis]

i was really excited to see a Patrol on the show. i purchased one last month, on Craigs List, and will drive out to Colorado to pick it up next May. will be watching this closely to get some tips on restoring mine.

[2002moto]

The Patrol came out in 1951 so I am sure it didn't steal any designs from the Early Bronco the FJ or the Cj and the FJ was a chevy 6 with metric bolts the Patrol is standard threads not metric.

[J. Marks]

Based on the door lock style and the two windshield vents rather than the earlier windows having 3, I would say this is a 1968 or early 1969 soft top. Only 2616 were imported from Japan to the U.S. from 1961 to 1969. Of these less than 700 were soft tops. It is a rare vehicle that I hope the Gearz team restores back to orginal. The best web site for Nissan Patrol information and resources is Rocky Mountain Patrol & Offroad(RMP&O.com)

[Keith Youngblood]

This Patrol is a true soft top which makes it even rarer than most. You really should check out the site RMP&O before you do anything to this vehicle. If it has the original engine, it is a Nissan straight six and not Chevy anything. From the looks of the photos this is a great example for restoration not hacking up. If you are looking for a rig to mod please please find a different one. I know a dozen or more people who would take this off your hands or even trade you a Patrol in worse shape to hack up. Please please restore this vehicle to original.

[Dave McGee]

I have never seen one before!

[Bob DeMuth]

To the guy who is all caught up in it being a ripoff of Jeep. Sometimes function dictates form....Who cares if it copies Jeep ? What works works... Get in your garage and build.Stop being a stuck in the mud. Enjoy your passion and dont get an ulser..

[Performance Tires]

Amazing to thing that someone would let a ride like this go to the crusher! Way to go, Stacey, on the rescue!

[Steve Thorsell]

that will be a cool off road vehicle with a super lift, big tires, and great for rescue operations for emergency personal.

[red bottom heel]

Love those! I enjoy following your posts on facebook and rss!

[supra vaider]

I also follow through Google Reader!

[Drop Suspension]

It's nice to dig up stuff and turn it unto your own masterpiece.