Part I: Project 850 The Next Generation
1971
Buick launches the Boat Tail Riviera designed by Jerry Hirschberg and team. The reason I mention this is to establish that the Hardbody is a truly USA design with some strong DNA.
Buick Riviera as designed by Jerry Hirschberg (http://www.buick-riviera.com)
1980
Nissan hires Jerry Hirschberg and Tom Semple from General Motors to head the newly formed Nissan Design America (NDA), later to become Nissan Design international (NDI).
1982
NDI begins its first major production design, internally known as the '850', which is to become the Nissan Hardbody. Tom Semple and Allan Flowers are assigned the task of designing the successor to the Nissan 720 pick up truck. The idea behind the design was an industrial look. According to interviews by Semple and Hirschberg the main truck concept was drawn by Semple and augmented by Flower's rational approach especially in the bed design (I am not sure which aspect he is responsible for...need to fill in this gap in info). LA Times Article dated Mar 23, 1986 quotes Semple as saying, "The Japanese emphasized how very important this project was," Semple remembers. "Nissan started the small-truck market, and they wanted this to be the next generation, a vehicle that was all new from the ground up."
Source: http://articles.latimes.com/1986-03-23/ ... can-cars/4
Also worth noting is the designers claim that the Hardbody went into production exactly how they had drawn it on paper, no last minute adjustments, it's exactly as the designers intended it. The same article by the LA Times quotes Hirschberg saying, "And, boy, when the ball gets rolling and we begin negotiating, and then by the time we're finished, they honor that design totally. When it started rolling off the production line, our jaws dropped open at the degree of adherence to the initial concept."
1986
Nissan introduces the NAPS-Z24 2.4L with electro throttle body injection. First offered during the phasing out of the 720 pickup(I would like to find out the exact month the 720 started shipping with TBI) the Z24i will find itself powering thousands of D21 series until sometime in late 1989 when it is replaced with the KA24E for the 1990 model year.
1986.5
Nissan launches the all new Nissan Hardbody truck with initial production in both Japan and the USA. Nissan retires the 720 name plate which had been in production as both Datsun and Nissan since late 1979. Many configurations as well as commercial options are available. The VG30i also becomes available as a V6 option. The D21 is the first state-side Nissan light duty truck to offer a V6. Aside from some housekeeping the frame and suspension used on the D21 is a carryover from the outgoing 720 model though not exactly. Upper control arms now use camber/caster adjustment shims located on the outside of the frame rail instead of the 720's inside the frame rail adjustments. This restricted the amount of negative camber that can be achieved by the removal of shims. 720's had limited positive camber adjustment by design.
Also worth noting about the 1986.5 model year courtesy of member pilikua.
"Here's another useless tid bit.....The 1986.5 V6 King cab trucks had the same smaller 16 gallon gas tank as the regular cabs. In the V6 4x4 king cab the range was horrible. In 1987 the tank size was increased to 21.1 gallons. Not really sure why we decided to launch with the smaller tank, but it could have been that it was an oversight in planning and added late, or wasn't ready in time and they didn't want to hold up the launch of the new truck. Not sure if all 86.5s got the small tanks or just some of them, but by 1987 all V6 king cabs had a 21.1 gallon tank."
1987
Nissan Hardbody wins Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA).
Nissan releases SUV version of Hardbody as the WD21 Pathfinder. It is initially offered as a 2 door only configuration until problems arise surrounding duty taxes imposed by the chicken tax law which forces Pathfinder to become a 4 door SUV.
For more in-depth information about the 1987-1995 WD21 Pathfinder visit here: pathfinder-forum-qx4-forum.html
1990
Nissan phases out the NAPS-Z24 in favor of the KA24E. Minor update to front fascia with a new grille. Pathfinder headlight and grille components no longer offered on 2wd trucks. VG30i receives multi-port fuel injection replacing the TBI system thus becoming the VG30E. Minor update in the way of white numbered gauges replacing the orange numbering system.
1991
1991 USDM Paint Codes
531 Vail White
549 Silver Frost
AG2 Aztec Red
AH3 Cherry Red Pearl
BG6 Winter Blue
KH2 Charcoal Pearl
KH3 Super Black
TH1 Midnight Blue Pearl
1993
1993 models have a unique gauge cluster that is only found on well...1993's. It is a transmission gauge cluster as Nissan updated electronics throughout the truck. 1993 is also the first year to feature the famous chrome 'V' grille that everyone switches to. From the outside they can be mistaken for 1994s and 1995s but the square dash gives them away.
Additional Notes: The D21 switched over to electronic VSS by July 1993.
1993 USDM Paint Codes
531 Vail White
AG2 Aztec Red
AH3 Cherry Red Pearl
BJ8 Sea Mist Silver
DJ2 Black Emerald (New for 1993)
KH3 Super Black
KJ5 Slate Gray Pearl
KL0 PLatinum
TH1 Midnight Blue Pearl
1994
Nissan updates the interior with a new dash design, the curvy dash which is a popular swap amongst hot-rodders. The speedometer is no longer cable driven, VSS now controls what the needles reads via the ECM.
1994 USDM Paint Codes
531 Vail White
AG2 Aztec Red
AH3 Cherry Red Pearl
BN3 Calypso Blue (New for 1994MY)
DJ2 Black Emerald
KH3 Super Black
KJ5 Slate Gray Pearl
KL0 Platinum
TK3 Sapphire Blue (New color for D21)
1995
California-spec KA24e fuel injectors change to side feed by at least 2/1995 production dates.
1996
Hardbody receives a driver side air bag and OBDII. Nissan adds a secondary O2 sensor post catalytic converter. The charcoal canister is relocated to the rear of the truck attached to a frame cross member underneath the bed. Also worth noting: this is the first year of the D21 to feature a Consult port located behind the internal fuse box. To try to keep costs down while still offering decent pricing Nissan limits options on all models except the SE. For the first time since introduction there is no V6 option available due to troubles meeting emission requirements.
1996 USDM Paint Codes
AG2 Aztec Red
AH3 Cherry Red Pearl
BR1 Royal Blue
BR2 Pacific Blue
FN4 Vivid Teal
KH3 Super Black
KJ5 Slate Grey
KN4 Platinum Gold
LR0 Megenta
QM1 Cloud White
1997
Final year of US production as the Hardbody is succeeded by the D22 Frontier. Production of the D21 Hardbody does continue in Central America for a few years after the US ceased production(and I need more info on that as well.)
1997 USDM Paint Codes
AG2 Aztec Red
AH3 Cherry Red Pearl
AR0 Autumn Sunburst
BN6 Starfire Blue Pearl
BR2 Pacific Blue
FN4 Vivid Teal
KH3 Super Black
KK0 Anthracite Gray
KN4 Platinum Gold
QM1 Cloud White
FUN FACTS: The name given by Tom Semple to the bulging fenders is "Triceps". The slots on the early hoods are internally known as 'Mail Slots'.
Recommended reading:
http://autospies.com/news/nissan-design ... time-2105/
http://www.fastcompany.com/33191/opposites-attract
where-is-the-very-first-hardbody-t545517.html
Dealer Brochures:
Looking for Hardbody dealer sales brochures? NICOclub.com has the most extensive sale brochure collection anywhere on the net. >>> nissan-hardbody-pathfinder-brochures-t575880.html
Buick Riviera Boat Tail info:
http://www.buick-riviera.com/history.html
How you can help:
Add Your Hardbody to the Registry here>>> nissan-hardbody-registry-t502696.html
Post Pics of your D21 Hardbody here>>> nissan-truck-pics-t273961.html
See a Nissan truck in the scrap yard? Preserve its legacy here>>>> ran-when-parked-nico-edition-t542777.html
How to build a Nissan ITT road race truck>>> how-to-build-a-hardbody-pro-it-race-truck-t472000.html
Looking for help?:
D21 Factory Service Manuals in .pdf format. >>> http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... nuals.html
Replacing front torsion bars and bushings>>> http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/nissan ... hings.html
Nissan Axles Identification>>> all-you-needed-to-know-about-nissan-axl ... 33955.html
Driveshaft Identification: >>> understanding-driveshafts-t583304.html
Steering Gear Identification: >>> d21-steering-gear-models-and-ratios-inf ... 83075.html
