1975 Datsun Pickup MPC

[Tcoat]

This is the model of a an actual truck I bought for for $75 back in '79. Mine was really a '73 but nothing really changed much in the couple of years so the '75 is close enough. It had already seen a hard hard life by the time I bought it from a guy that used it in a lime quarry so the paint was toast and much of the body had rust on the rust although there were very few actual holes. Being a single stage enamel paint job there was almost zero gloss left to it and the once vibrant red was more a really dark pinkish brown. I bought it strictly to drive on those frequent occasions when my '70 Coronet R/T was without an engine because I was rebuilding it yet again or to haul tools and tires to the strip (with a buddy driving it). It was a blast to drive though and soldiered on until I pushed it a bit hard one day after about 6 months and blew the head gasket. Then sold it for $100!

The kit shows it's age with a pile of flash and is sort of a mixed bag with a really nice engine, body and drivetrain but an interior that other than the dash is just sort of vaguely interior like. It went together really well though.

The main exercise of this project was to get the battered paint and rust just right. I am very happy with the results and it was a ride down nostalgia road through the whole project.

 

 

The weird interior. Not sure what version had those fancy seats but I wasn't bothered enough to scratch build the vinyl covered park bench that mine had.

 

The engine is a little jewel though!

 

 

Hope you all enjoy!

[Classicgas]

Well done.

[Street Rod]

Neat little truck! Excellent job on the rust and patina! 

[70 Sting]

That's a great looking piece of junk. Awesome weathering technique.?

[Zippi]

Now that looks like it's been rode hard and put away wet.  Great weathering job.  

[afx]

Nice weathering.

[Calb56]

Definitely a daily driver. I love this.

[TarheelRick]

Beautiful work on the weathering.  I love that truck, owned a '74 regular cab and a '78 King Cab. Would like to have the King Cab back.

[stavanzer]

Great Weathering!

Looks like the ones you used to see around here, back in the 90's.

[espo]

Very realistic looking finishes. 

[Tcoat]

9 hours ago, stavanzer said:

Great Weathering!

Looks like the ones you used to see around here, back in the 90's.

Just imagine what people now would say if their 6 year old truck looked like that!

[bobthehobbyguy]

Nicely done. Realistic weathering.

[stavanzer]

11 hours ago, Tcoat said:

Just imagine what people now would say if their 6 year old truck looked like that!

I work for an Oilfield Service Company. Some of our 6 to 8 year old trucks look pretty worn. Casing Tong Operators and Roughnecks can age a truck pretty fast.

[Tcoat]

42 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

I work for an Oilfield Service Company. Some of our 6 to 8 year old trucks look pretty worn. Casing Tong Operators and Roughnecks can age a truck pretty fast.

Yep! That Datsun had something like 40,000 miles on it when I got it but looked more like 240,000! The lime dust at the quarry just ate right through vehicles. 

Edited November 30, 2022 by Tcoat

[stavanzer]

We have a 2006 Ford 1-Ton Van with over 3 Hundred Thousand on it. Outside looks passible from a distance, but the inside is gone.

I should try to get a pic of it. 

[Jonathan]

Beautiful work; very realistic weathering and details. 

[Dragline]

Well executed and convincing.

[Oldcarfan27]

On 11/30/2022 at 6:39 AM, Tcoat said:

The lime dust at the quarry just ate right through vehicles. 

Just imagine what that lime dust did to the worker's lungs.

[Tcoat]

5 minutes ago, Oldcarfan27 said:

Just imagine what that lime dust did to the worker's lungs.

I have been an Environmental Health and Safety manager for over 30 years  so know exactly what it has done!