Last week the annual Matchbox Collectors Gathering took place, and the upcoming 1962 Nissan Junior pickup was shown in production guise. As these photos from the event’s Facebook page show, it’s a perfect fit with the classic Matchbox “workhorse” look and feel.
Details like the cargo bar and industrial grayish-blue that evokes the commercial vehicles of the Showa Era are great, but the best thing about it is that it exists at all. The Junior was offered as a larger pickup during the days of the Bluebird-based Datsun N320 and was nearly as massive as some American trucks of the era, kind of a first-gen Nissan Titan of its day, except that it was built and sold primarily in Japan and Asia. It’s such an obscure vehicle, you rarely even see them in Japan. Now, though, thanks to Matchbox, everyone can have one.
So given the rarity of the vehicle, maybe there’s hope for a 410 or 411?
My all time favorite color; that greyish blue so prominent in 60’s trucks in Japan. My neighbor had one of those Mazda 3 wheelers in that color.
Nice. Love to more Japanes trucks and vans.
Very nice !
Yay!!! Love for vintage Japanese trucks, and love for Matchbox! I enjoy Hot Wheels cars immensely, but I will always have a soft spot for Matchbox. I will be looking for this model.