Nissan · 1972-1979
Datsun 620
The Datsun 620 (1972-1979) was the pickup that made Datsun a household name in America. It offered L-series four-cylinders of 1.6-2.0 liters, the first King Cab (1977) and a long-bed option, and gained a strong reputation for durability.
- Years
- 1972-1979
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Engines
- L16 · L18 · L20B
- Sold in
- US · Canada · Japan
Spec sheet
- Generation
- 3rd Gen
- Production
- 1972–1979
- Assembly
- Nissan Shatai, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, JapanSamut Prakan, ThailandMakati, PhilippinesAuckland, New Zealand
- Sold in
- USCanadaJapanExport
- Codes
- 620G620/GN620 (long wheelbase)U620 (JDM crew cab "Utility")R620 (diesel, export)
- Body styles
- Regular cabLong-wheelbaseKing Cab (from 1977)
- Bed lengths
- Standard (6 ft x 4.5 ft)Long (from 1975)
- Drivetrains
- RWD
- Transmissions
- F4W63 4-speed manual (1972-73)F4W71 4-speed manual (1974-79)FS5W71B 5-speed manual (option from 1977)3N71 3-speed automatic (option from mid-1972)
- Trims
- Li'l Hustler (US) / Sportruck (Canada)
- Wheelbase
- 100.2 / 109.6 in
- Length
- 169.3 in
- Width
- 62.6 in
- Height
- 60.8 in
- Curb weight
- 2,360 lb (4-speed) / 2,375 lb (automatic), 1974 Li'l Hustler
Engines
- Displacement
- 1.6 L
- Config
- I4
- HP
- 96 hp
- Years
- 1972-1973
- Displacement
- 1.8 L
- Config
- I4
- HP
- 100 hp
- Years
- 1974
- Displacement
- 2.0 L
- Config
- I4
- HP
- 110 hp
- Years
- 1975-1979
- Notes
- 110 hp SAE gross; 97 hp SAE net
Highlights
- 01
- First Datsun truck offered with an automatic transmission (3N71, from mid-1972)
- 02
- First Datsun King Cab (1977) - cab stretched 24 cm; Nissan trademarked the name
- 03
- First long bed in the US in 1975
- 04
- Front disc brakes and electronic ignition in 1978
- 05
- "50-state" emissions compliance with EGR and no catalytic converter
Photos
Nissan Datsun 620 1972-1979, image 1 of 3
Nissan Datsun 620 1972-1979, image 2 of 3
Nissan Datsun 620 1972-1979, image 3 of 3
Related
Overview
Released in February 1972, the 620 was a clean, slab-sided pickup with a "bullet side" character line and a roomier cab than the 521 it replaced. Datsun offered two wheelbases, and in North America powered the truck with the L-series four: a 96-hp 1.6-liter L16 for 1972-73, a 100-hp 1.8-liter L18 for 1974, and from 1975 the 2.0-liter L20B (110 hp gross, 97 net).
The 620 broke several Datsun firsts. A three-speed automatic became available mid-1972, a long bed arrived in 1975, and in 1977 came the King Cab, with the cab stretched 10 inches behind the seat. A five-speed manual became optional in 1977, and front disc brakes and electronic ignition followed in 1978. In the US the base model was the "Li'l Hustler".
It was a "50-state" truck whose EGR-only emissions system met California limits without a catalytic converter. Wikipedia notes that roughly 40% of North American owners said they never used the truck for work, an early sign of the lifestyle small-truck market that would explode in the 1980s.