1958 Datsun 220, “The Little Red Truck”

In November of 1957, Datsun launched the 220 pickup truck, the first compact truck in the U.S. This was the first vehicle that Datsun sold in the U.S., and it has been on the market since Nissan was established in America.

This special truck shared its engine and chassis with Datsun 1000 sedan 210 that was released simultaneously in 1957. This new, award-winning engine "C" (inline 4-cylinder) was Nissan's first OHV engine, nicknamed the "Stone Engine" for its durability.

Datsun Sedan 210 and Pickup 220 were exhibited at the L.A. Auto Show in 1958, and exports of both models started soon after. The 220 quickly gained popularity, making it both a memorable and successful model that opened the door for exports to the U.S. and made Nissan what it is today.