Last week I introduced a new series for Throwback Thursday featuring automotive advertising from my personal vintage magazine collection.
For today’s edition, I picked out an ad for the 1985 Nissan King Cab 2+2 pickup truck.
I like how Nissan uses a large visual to focus on the interior utility of the vehicle as a way to distinguish themselves from the competition.
Then in the ad copy, they get into the cold hard facts when you compare their truck to the offerings of the time from Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.
So wind back the clock 30 years, and let’s take a look at this Nissan King Cab vintage magazine ad from 1985.
Ride in the Wide Open Spaces

Meet Nissan’s hottest truck, the best selling King Cab Deluxe.
Nissan invented the first extended-cab compact, and this tough new 2+2 shows why Nissan’s still king.
Stretch-out room. Nine cubic feet of lockable, inside storage (with jump seats) behind the buckets…like having a trunk in a truck.
Stretch-out bed. New smooth side, double-wall strongbox is longer than Chevy S-10 and Ford Ranger standard cargo boxes.
More Payload than Toyota, Chevy S-10 or Ford Ranger standard models.
Extra value, standard 5-speed with overdrive; steel-belted radials (with full-size spare); power brakes (ventilated front discs); power steering (with tilt column); and much more.
No wonder truckers ride in Nissan’s wide open spaces than in any other extended-cab compact.
Extra service. The best extended service plan available; up to 5 years/100,000 miles. Ask about Nissan’s Security Plus at participating Datsun dealers.
2016 Nissan Titan XD
Fast forward 30 years, and I had the chance to cover the North American International Auto Show for FamilyDealBlog.com, where Nissan debuted the 2016 Nissan Titan XD.
After learning more about the truck by speaking to one of their chief product specialists, I couldn’t help but walk away impressed with the new pickup from Nissan.
With it’s bold new design, the Titan looks to take up a position that sits between the traditional light duty and heavy duty pickup truck segments.
The XD offers the effortless towing and hauling of larger (and more expensive) heavy-duty trucks while maintaining the fuel-efficiency and affordability of a half-ton pickup.
Seems to me all these years later, Nissan is still doing whatever it takes to make their trucks stand apart from them all.
What do you think about this vintage ad for the 1985 Nissan King Cab? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!