There are going to be plenty of large vans at this 12 months’s SEMA present. However the most effective truck in all the present is likely to be the other: this 1987 Nissan Sunny. Why? I imply, to start with, simply have a look at it. What number of different vans at SEMA can have fender-mounted mirrors? Most likely none. But in addition, it’s electrical.
Utilizing the powertrain from a Nissan Leaf to electric-swap a pickup truck won’t sound very thrilling, however bear in mind, small vans from that period weren’t precisely posting huge numbers. Based on the press launch, “the LEAF motor has round twice the ability and greater than thrice the torque of the gasoline four-cylinder engine initially outfitted within the Sunny.”
You must assume the battery provides some weight, however the Leaf motor’s 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque in all probability actually wakes this factor up. Plus, builder Tommy Pike left the Sunny’s handbook transmission in place. It might have been pointless since Leafs cruise alongside at freeway speeds simply advantageous, but it surely does add to the cool issue. Particularly contemplating the quantity of labor it in all probability took to make it potential.
Different modifications embody a “Hakosuka” Skyline widebody equipment, LED lights, an upgraded rear suspension, the entrance suspension setup out out of an S13 240SX, disc brakes, a customized inside, and 17-inch Rotiform wheels. Even when the Brock Racing paint scheme isn’t your factor, you must admit this truck appears to be like very well performed.
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“I purchased the Sunny Truck as a result of I assumed it was such a cool piece of Nissan historical past and heritage — particularly after I noticed it was a right-hand-drive mannequin,” mentioned Pike. “Taking the sudden step of changing the Sunny to electrical energy whereas wrapping it with the Brock Racing Enterprises livery felt like the right option to pay homage to Nissan’s heritage and trendy innovation.”
Nissan may also have a V8-swapped Frontier on the present, however the electrical Sunny is infinitely weirder and due to this fact cooler.
