Nissan Sunny Truck with LEAF electric powertrain

Nissan will showcase perhaps one of its coolest cars at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

The automaker will unveil a 1987 Datsun Sunny Truck that swaps the original powertrain for a modern Nissan Leaf electric setup. Ford is showing a similar concept based on its 1978 F-100 pickup at the 2021 SEMA Show, and Chevrolet is showing one based on its C-10 pickup at the 2019 show.

The Leaf's electric powertrain consists of a single motor rated at 147 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. This is about twice the power and three times the torque of the original four-cylinder in the Sunny truck.

It is also powered by the Leaf's standard 40 kwh battery, which could give the lightweight Sunny Truck a range that exceeds the Leaf's 149 miles. Nissan did not provide an estimate.

Nissan never sold the Sunny Truck in the US.

The truck belonged to Tommy Pike, owner of South Carolina-based Tommy Pike Customs, and he and his workshop staff were responsible for the modifications. He combined an electric motor and manual transmission, which required custom bellhousing adapters. He also installed a custom driveshaft and a custom aluminum box for the battery.

Nissan fans of a certain age will immediately recognize the color combination Pike applied to his pickup. It was inspired by the livery of the Baja Racers used by Brock Racing Enterprises in the late 60s and early 70s.

This year's SEMA Show is scheduled for November 1-4. At the show, Nissan will also unveil the new Z GT4 racing car and a Z equipped with Nismo accessories.