Because so many manufacturers now offer up-specced, high-performance turnkey trucks, it can be easy to forget just how off-road-capable many of today’s stock pickups truly are. To help drive home this point, Nissan has opted to unveil a trio of Frontier-based customs in a bid to demonstrate the off-road prowess, overall modularity, and conduciveness to customization of the Japanese marque’s mid-sized pickup model.
The most transformative truck of the trio is undoubtedly the third and final build, simply known as “Project Adventure.” Built out as a hardcore overlanding rig, the Frontier Crew Cab PRO-4X-based custom has received a slew of off-road-focused modifications and upgrades. This includes a rooftop tent, a bespoke carbon fiber snorkel designed and executed in-house by NDA, a bed rack system and LoadWarrior roof basket from Yakima, Nissan rock-sliders, rack-mounted recovery boards and RotopaX water and fuel containers, 34” BFG mud tires, a 5” lift kit, a front skid-plate, a KICKER Bluetooth bed audio system, and a custom U.S. atlas-themed body wrap.
Dubbed “Project 72X,” the second of the three trucks is built around a 2022 Frontier Crew Cab S 4×4 grade and was designed to be a modern homage to the Datsun 720. Cloaked in a gray exterior contrasted via white steel wheels, the build has been bestowed with a 2.5” lift kit, all-terrain PRO-4X tires, and a sport bar set just behind the cab. The final build — known as “Project Hardbody” — began life as a new Frontier Crew Cab SV 4×4 and was built to pay tribute to the Nissan D21, which was unofficially known as the “Hardbody” on U.S. shores. Wearing a custom ‘80s-inspired graphics package, the truck features a 3” lift kit with adjustable upper control arms, a bed-mounted spare tire carrier, overfenders plucked from Nissan’s current PRO-4X model, a bespoke sport bar with a 10” LED light bar, and a custom-designed set of classic Hardbody block-style wheels that were milled at Nissan Design America in San Diego before being wrapped in 33” all-terrain rubber.
Nissan Design America’s Frontier Project builds will be on display at the 2022 Chicago Auto Show at McCormick Place from February 12th through the 21st. For those interested in building out their own Frontier-based adventure rig, the Nissan pickup is available now starting from $28,140.
