The Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak and the Modular Dream
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- Опубліковано 28 гру 2017
- On this edition of Know This Car: You’ve probably seen a Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak before, maybe on the weird side of town with half of its clear coat peeled away. You might not have realized that it was possibly the first and maybe the only modular car ever put into production.
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Makes me appreciate my 88 pulsar even more 😍😍
My mom had one in the mid 90s it was a great little car. It had the 1.6 twin cam FI, sportbak and was silver. I used to be embarrassed seen getting out of it especially when my mom dropped my brother and I off at school since it looked like nothing else on the road. As I grew up I found it was actually pretty cool since it was unique. Everyone thought it was a DeLorean no joke! The car was handed down to my brother for his first car, he crammed two 15 inch subwoofers in the back hatch, f'n thing knocked hard!!
*My first car was an 88 Pulsar NX*
SDSBBQ my first two cars were Pulsar NX's.
What where they like?
Christopher Hernandez It wasnt bad... the second day I had it I had to replace the head gasket and once it was repaired it ran like a top. It wasn't fast but it was fun, for the 4 months I had it before I totaled it.
Same here. Xe version. Loved it
Mine also . I had the 1.8 twin cam
I've always wanted to take different aftermarket parts and build an entire unbranded car just like one would build a PC but that's a fever dream.
I own an ‘88 Pulsar NX, they are amazing cars, I don’t think the narrator has driven one but they are loads of fun, like a street legal go-kart basically, they handle great & are very sporty but are also very smooth riding & comfy at the same time. They are not blindingly fast for sure but they feel peppy due to their light weight & how connected you feel to the car when you’re behind the wheel, you don’t drive these cars, you wear them! I’ve owned over 60 cars & driven hundreds, a Pulsar NX is the best driving experience I’ve had to date. Driving one on a hot summer’s day with the T-tops removed is an euphoric experience! Also the “Sportbak” name is only for the wagon version, otherwise it is just a hatchback. Many owners have a hatchback & Sportbak rear for their car but I personally love the hatch version myself. These are truly a beautiful car, I could stare at mine for hours... Oh & the only thing more fun then tearing around town during the summer is tearing around in the snow during the winter, these cars will keep gripping long after you think they should slide!
Oh, the 80s , 90s Nissan engineers we're so fun! Long live the NX! Bring back an NX2000 of 1991!
Man It has been a Long time since I've seen a Devil Egg :(
Buddy had one of these growing up and it was fun to drive. Had many great memories in this car.
Grateful that you made this Jakopnik // always had respect for the pulsar nx and recall the sport back that used to commute in my town as a kid
I went to tech school with a guy that had to weigh over 300 lbs and he had one of these things, it was hilarious how tiny it was compared to the driver. It leaned way over to the side too.
27dcx They are actually really roomy up front.
I've spotted this in the wild a few times and I always wanted one.
lord Machado Make it happen, I promise you won’t regret it, they drive even nicer then they look! I own an ‘88 myself.
I saw one near my school, looked awesome , painted was faded and chipped by the desert sun tho.
I want one of these cars with a fiery burning passion
I had one of these and it was so fun! Superb gas mileage and extremely reliable. I beat my car up drifting all over dirt roads in NM and it never let me down.
Had an 88 Nissan pulsar .black.. Loved it..my favorite car to this day. I bought a 240 sx when the pulsar had over 110 thousand miles. sorry they discontinued the pulsar..I definitely would have bought another one
I miss mine I had a Black twin cam. I put on some rims and springs on it in the early 90's ,big sound system . It was pretty fun to cruise around in OC Maryland in my teen years.
I had one of these in the mid 1990s.
The reason the modularity didn't really work is because the hatches were so damn heavy. Even as a young man, it took two friends to help remove whatever hatch was on it - which was basically more people that could ride in the car.
So most people just picked one hatch and left it on and forgot they even had another hatch or that the car was allegedly modular.
Also, since the tops were so heavy, the hatch struts wore in less than 10 years and Nissan wanted more than $100 each for replacements and no aftermarket equivalents were available.
And the "coupe" hatch - which came standard, the sportbak was an expensive option - was not well executed. There was a false floor in the hatch area which made for a flat surface when the rear seat was folded. - like what you'd find in the hatch of a 2 seater Z car at the time. Under that false floor there was a compartment to hold the T-tops. Nice idea. But the distance from the false floor to the bottom of the trunk part of the hatch was like 8 or 10 inches. Which means a standard brown paper grocery bag wouldn't even fit standing up in the hatch. You needed the Sportbak, otherwise the trunk was basically as deep as a Miata's trunk.
It was a fun car. It had a lot of the *gee-wiz that's cool* design elements of the Z32's interior - HVAC vents that popped out of the doors, the secondary controls on pods that stick out from the sides of the instrument binnacle, putting them at your finger tips when you hands were at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. The seats were comfortable and looked cool.. The built quality was leaps and bounds better than a contemporary Sentra.
But the modularity (other than the T-tops) was a poorly executed gimmick. Functionality wise, a used '85 Z31 300ZX would probably have been a better choice than a new 1990 Pulsar NX - and probably about the same price, and definitely more fun to drive.
I was/am easily able to remove both the hatch and sportbak myself.
I loved these things. I had the 85 model. Smaller and more angular like an early MR-2 or Fiero sort of look. Was not fast at all but super cheap on gas and oddly fun to drive. Mostly reliable with only a few serious issues that cropped up (electronic carb was a pain to deal with). I drove it for 15 years. It was at 275,000 miles on that little 1.6 engine when I sold it. 25 years old and still running. Had to get rid of it. Got too hard finding brake pads, air filters and those little tires it used. I've owned two 280Z cars and yet the Pulsar NX, for some strange reason, remains my favorite car I've ever owned.
And then safety regulations fked up everything
Some might argue that was for the better.
AndyB Pulsar NX’s are built like a tank, they will take a hit better then most modern compacts.
Matt's Garage but that isnt nowhere near enough for ncap today
The pop up headlights the boxy body this things where killed from cars for being bad in a collision with a pedestrian
Holy shit me my mom and sister moved from NJ to MA in one of these when I was a kid, tried to pack everything we could in the Pulsar NX without the sportbak option. I would absolutely love to find one, but they're EXTREMELY rare now.
One of my favorite cars I've ever owned, had so much fun in that car!
I had one in the early 90's and loved every minute of it , It was fun and nimble in traffic and was a dream on longer road trips with the top off , I rarely took the Hatch off , but it was a great feature and allowed me to carry things that i wouldn't be able to get in a normal station wagon or hatchback I sold it to my Brother and he had it for more than 24 years ...
I had a 1987 Pulsar NX. It was a fun car. I drove it across country and loved every minute of it. I used to take the back hatch off all the time. It was a blast to have such an open air car. I sold it to a friend of mine and she had it for years. I sold this one to buy the NX2000. Now that was a super fun car!!
Had one in 96 when I graduated high school, was an 88 black on black limited edition with tinted windows and aftermarket sound system with amp and box... I loved it and had it till it hit 230k and I had my first little one...it had to go and I have looked for another one now for a long time., was the most reliable and fun and best handling car I ever owned...
What a great car back in 1988. My brother owned one I used to borrow from him drive in park to show off with chics. What a good memory.
When you want to drive around with no rear module at all, there is a second third break light inside the car that is activated. This thing is just cool as hell.
I had one of these in college and loved it. Only car that came standard with T-tops. It was a beast in the snow. Still, somewhat quick for the time, I thought my SE was faster than that.
I own an 88 pulsar nx. I owned two 1.6L versions prior to my twin cam 1.8L one. I have swapped in a silvia ca18det and it really livens the car up. I have a few video of it on my channel.
Hey dude! How you been?!?!?
I Like how they Incorporated the 300ZX Z32 design onto the 100NX.. thats why I have a mint, 100.000mile 1992 red Nissan 100NX... seeing how the NX evolved over the 80s to the 90s is why Nissan is Goated!!
I used to drive a regular 87 Nissan pulsar and do I ever miss it! Would have also loved to get my hands on one of these too!
I’m buying on of these tomorrow. Yay.
Holy crap, that's so cool! I always thought these things just looked weird and that was it!
Keep this series up!
It's amazing that this thing even went to mass production.
Best car ever made
I saw one of these the other day simply parked on the road as if it were a normal car. It blew my mind!
I still own a 1989 and still love it
Had one of these for a brief stint back in 2001. Had to get rid of it cause the auto transmission wouldnt shift into second. Its definitely a car that has aged very well into modern times and survivors are going for a lot of dough. The front end on those is gorgeous too. Looking to buy another soon myself and swap it with a Honda motor of some type.
I had one of these, an ‘88 in red with the CA18DE from the Silvia
Just finished putting a ca18det into mine it handles way better than expected at high speed haha
I had one of these! Slow as dirt but such a fun car to drive.
Had one, it was awesome!
This idea lives on in the wrangler.
Anton Maes i own a 87 pulsar, and no, it doesn't, at all
I bought my Nissan Pulsar NX SE 12/1987. i still have her, she doesn't run. my uncle is going to fixer her. he's taking "baby girl" next week. i'm already crying. only car i've ever looked at and loved.
Just discovered this on Duncan Imports and I want one!
Great video.
Makes me miss my metallic black pearl '88 NX SE😑i always wanted to get a Sportbak but was extremely hard to find when got my car in 1992..taking off the regular trunk sure was heavy to do by yourself but was fun car!
My Grandmother drove a Pulsar NX. I still get sentimental about it to this day.
Yes! Those were great. Along with suski samari jeep, with its bikini top, hard top, soft etc. And Subaru brat. All FUN 80's cars.
I used to own an 1988 pulsar nx, it was blue with 5speed, I miss that little car☹️
Cool, I rode to high school in a white coupe in the early 190's :)
My first car!!! Had a black manual transmission!
I had the 90 hp version as one of my first cars. I drove around with the T-tops and hatch off all the time.
Do you think the 1980s cartoon "Inspector Gadget" took inspiration for his vehicle from this?
Order Of Magnitude - The Paranormal & Personal No, Inspector Gadget existed first.
Had one with the Sportbak. Swapped to a ca18det. Great car. Wish my girlfriend wasn't crazy and ran it over with her truck.
Benjamin Davidson I wish the video was about this lol
There was an Australian one make Nissan Exa race series when these were released.. I bogged up a rusty one for a friend once .
had one, it was cool. swapped an e15et into it then sold it almost a year later. wish I would have kept it.
So gorgeoussss omg
I have one of these things!! What a fun car. I have the rare 1.8 dual cam too. So much 80s weirdness
I loved this car and it was fun to own plus as it said you could use it as a small truck if needed. .
First car was 87 pulsar, paid $1500 at auction in 1992. Car went for 300,000 miles no problem. Sold it in 2000 still running for $1500.
Amazing it never caught on.
Cos no one wants one. It's not even ahead of its time it's just gimmicky.
Closest thing we have today, the corvette with the Callaway upgrades.
With 600+ HP!
I had tried to find a Pulsar NX for a while, they were mostly wrecked or modified too much. Still love it though.
Omg I want that Soooo bad, the coolest wagon/couple ever
0:39 I walk past this Sportbak everyday on my way to work! Always wondered what it was.
I want this
@ 0:49 is that the Sportbak I see sometimes near Eastern Market in DC!?
Considering too material technology has changed dramatically since the 1980's and there' no reason why we can't have this today. Then of course there is Jeep but that's using old tech to fold windows down, etc.
The Citroen C3 Pluriel was a similar concept. Closed coupe. Open convertible, or little pickup. Auto journalists hated it.
I just saw this car in DC the other day! I wonder if its the car in the vid?
There needs to be a Motorsport for modular cars. That would be really cool making it easy to swap components like engines and add performance accessories.
I still have my 88. (Tho it is currently in pieces) She needs some metal work. Hopefully that starts next week!
Me too!
I have one rn and I live in Hawaii. There’s no videos and a lot of the people that see my car never seen one like that before.
GM had a hydrogen fuel-cell concept car called the Hy-wire where you can swap the entire body, as the fuel cells are located around the chassis. Top Gear did a segment about it years back.
I had an 83 Datsun/Nissan Pulsar.... And it was a fun car.
I love the EXAMPLE Canoby
Very cool the Chevy SSR is also a pick up and a convertable but not a wagon.
Didn't the Geo storm have similar options?
damnit, you gave me another car I want but will probably never have the space for :P
The concept car reminds me of the 90s crash dummies cars that came apart in a hundred pieces
planning to get a nissan pulsar coupe 1986 😁😁😁
Love this car. I own one. Nissan exa n13 .
I wonder if they were trying to compete with and offer more than the *Subaru Baja* ??
It was designed by nissans usa studio, not in japan . It was a nice looking car in black
my mom had one in the 80s and my dad has a 200sx
True Functions I have one & I have a 240SX.
Good old 1988. Telephone & everything.
dxutube Don't forget the T-top coupe.
...and every stoplight turned into a dance party in the street, complete with some dude playing a saxophone.
God why does everything have to be front wheel drive
Mausome are you kidding, fwd sucks in the snow. I'll give you an example. Let's say your in a minivan all loaded up with the kids and groceries, you start to drive up hill and the weight shifts back, your going to go nowhere. Another ex, you need to accelerate through a corner and you lose traction, guess where your heading. I've driven both set ups in the snow and my rwds with studded tires and some weight in the trunk and I'll pass stuck cars any day. One more I might add, how come the cops avoid fwd like the plague. It's just cheep junk.
Useful Entertainment Nope, I live in Alberta Canada, trucks are the very first thing to hit the ditch when the roads get slick. I own a Town Car & a Neon & with good snow tire on both the Neon is way better. In fact I plow snow with my Neon & off road with it... Pulsar NX’s are amazing in the snow, studded tires or not your RWD vehicle would never keep up to one corning on a snowy road.
The Citroën C3 Pluriel is also a modular car
I have a 1989 Nissan Pulsar Nx, a blue one, I have sportbak and regular back for it, best 500$ I ever spent, I autocross it and lose but its fun as shit and great on gas
I also have one and it’s modded the correct way 😁
I miss my 88 NX XE soooooooo much....... This video just mad me sad....lol
Does anyone know that things like this are carrying on, its called aftermarket parts, bodywork etc
Drew Street if you can find aftermarket parts please tell me
Okay, show of hands - who has Gran Turismo to thank for knowing this car exists?
automakers would never want to endanger sales of their big, expensive, high profit margin pickup trucks. They know that there are enough people who want a pickup bed but don't need 1'+ of ground clearance or the ability to tow 5k pounds. Most cars can easily haul a riding mower, atv or similar 400-500 pound loads...they just need a bed to do it. But why sell a $20k multi-purpose car that is decent on gas and will be really reliable when you can sell a $30-$50 truck that will need more repairs over it's life time? If the back of my volvo v40 could come off, the rear seats fold flat and the inner fenders were pushed out to 4' wide and the lower part of the hatch was actually a tailgate...then I wouldn't need to buy a pickup truck.
The Daihatsu copen 2017 could swap body panels to be a different looking one too!
ive never wanted a shitbox more
I used to want that car....
Waitaminit...
Is this what Inspector Gadget drove in the cartoon? It looks pretty damn close. 😂
I have one
In the thumbnail, it looks like the Pulsar is being carried off by a front end loader at a scrap hard with parts falling off - ironically how most of them came to their end.
Citroen had sth like this in C3 series recently.
serdar ince You mean thd C3 Pluriel? Really just a soft top convertible with a slightly unusual roof structure/opperation. For those not in the know, picture the FIAT 500 convertible but with removable roof rails so there is nothing above the door line at all from the windscreen back. Essentially you had a 3-door hatchback convertible with a roof that could fold back as far as you want up to the back window or could be removed altogether including the rear window, and you could turn it into a full convertible by removing the roof rails. They claimed it could be converted into a pickup roadster by folding the back seats flat because the tailgate flips down, but that just seems smart marketing talk as is calling the intermediate positions of the roof an extra variant. Realistically, it's a clever convertible and there's plenty more of those, but a modular car has to have more than gradations of roofedness.