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So the CRX was gone and I had to find something quick. The mini truck craze was blowing up and I wanted in! The insurance company gave me $4500 for my CRX (remember I bought it for $3700!) and I started searching for a mini truck. I was impatient and basically purchased the first thing I could find.
I found a 1989 Nissan Hardbody for you guessed it…$3700!! The rest of the money went to my new ridiculous insurance bill (I was now paying $3k a year). My truck was a 4-speed, no AC, no PS, no carpet, no tach! Freakin’ no frills!! The paint was nice except for a weird large chip by the roof. Even though the truck was lacking a lot of creature comforts, I knew it could be cool. There was a local accessory shop called Car Toys that was specializing in custom audio and mini truck accessories. My first mod was a new CD player. I bought an Alpine headunit that had a detachable face. It was $400 installed. Next step was to adjust the trucks altitude. I went with 3 inch lowering blocks in the rear, tightened torsion bars to drop the front and all new Nitro Drop shocks on all four corners. All installed by Car Toys. I think it was around $400 for everything installed. Car Toys was pretty fair. If you bought the products from them, they would charge a very low installation fee.
Now that I had the stance I wanted, I needed some wheels to match. I ordered 15×8 Progressive wheels with 225/50/15 Sumitomo tires. This set up was killer and very rare. There weren’t many mini trucks in NJ rocking such a badass set up.
I loved my truck. I had strangers approaching me asking, “How much?” It was so unique. I kept it clean too. It was the first car that I would polish and wax. I remember my cousin telling me about this amazing stuff called Liquid Glass. It was $18, but I bought it anyway, along with an electric buffer that I got from Sears. Mechanically, the truck took care of itself. I took it to Jiffy Lube on the reg. I remember the clutch went out at one point. I paid $300 to have it replaced. I basically kept Car Toys in business. Chrome fender trim, new side mirrors, Pioneer 6.5’s in the doors along with a set of tweeters, JVC 150 watt amp, carpet, Grant 12″ steering wheel (that was fun with no PS), custom door panels, a car phone….Yes, I said a car phone!!! It was $40 a month for service that included 30 minutes of local calling only! I eventually lowered it more. I got some Beltech Mono Leaf springs in the rear and I kept tightening those torsion bars. My good friend started working as a mechanic and he and I would do some basic mods together.
NJ roads and some tough winters took it’s toll on the old Nissan. Towards the end it was a shell of itself. I didn’t do a good job of maintaining it and it was time for something different. Something that was comfortable, had AC and something that I would’t modify.
