Shared by @grunty_diecast (Instagram)
This is the '88 Nissan D21, better known in Hot Wheels parlance as the Nissan Hardbody or the Nissan "Truck". Designed by Thomas Semple, the D21 was marketed in two different body styles and was sold under a variety of different names in various countries. Main options included air conditioning, larger tires, sliding windows, stereo and rear bumpers. Various engines were also available, from the 1.6L Z16 inline-4 to the 3.0L VG30E V6, mated to 3-, 4- or 5-speed transmissions. The trucks sold particularly well over time and production ended in 1995.
Now, about the casting. The Nissan Hardbody was first introduced in 1988 as one of the Trailbusters. This is a highly modified version of the D21 with a blown engine in the rear and high-riding suspension. This casting saw a total of twenty-seven releases, the last being in the 2000 Attack Pack sub-series in the mainline.
