The North Star: 1988 Nissan Pulsar NX
I know they say “never meet your heroes”…but man I want to own a Nissan Pulsar NX. I have fond memories of those wacky tail lights in the view through the window of whatever American sedan my parents owned when I was a kid (okay, it was a sky blue Ford LTD…complete with burn-your-hide vinyl and an 8-track player)..but I really think it would be a mistake to own one of these. The overall build quality and driving experience of an 80s Nissan isn’t going to look good compared to modern cars, so I think I will preserve my memories, but if I were to get one, it would be a nice one. Find this 1988 Nissan Pulsar NX offered for $9500 in a town I’ve never heard about before in Northern California. Tip from Rock On!
From the seller:
1988 nissan pulsar
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 103000
paint color: red
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: hatchback
• Unique little car resulting in Pulsar car clubs around the world (US, Europe, Australia, etc)
• Good, reliable every-day driver
• NOT a smoking oil burner
• Great restoration project
• 1989 Professional Reconditioned Motor and Fuel Injection Upgrade at 99,000 miles (current total 103,000)
• Excellent compression test results
• New life-time warranty alternator
• 33 MPG
• Performance suspension upgrade
• Custom wheels and tires with required machined spacers
• Both tops – sport back and notch back
• Tinted windows
• New Control Arms including Ball Joints
• Rebuilt head in 2020 (including new timing chain and gears) under 3000 miles since
• Parts car included
• New paint job in Sept. 2015
• last smog in August 2020
• replaced as of 2021:
– front right engine mount
– lower center strut
– axle seals
– selector seal
– front right C V axle
See a better way to drive a pulsar like a star? tips@dailyturismo.com
Probably the first time I have seen a color matched sport back. Like the look almost like a mini-wagon. Yeah, in a town of 86 people probably one of only a couple Nissan Pulsar NXs. 🙂
Boy, if a Fiero is the reasonably-priced New Corvette, this Pulsar Sportbak can be the reasonably-priced Ferrari FF. What a groovy little car this is.
My senior drill sergeant at boot camp had one of these back in the day (20+ yrs ago). He was a colossal, mountain of a man. Stuffed into this tiny thing. It was a funny sight to behold.
I’ll never forget – He was driving past our formation one day as we marched to alongside a road & saw something he didn’t like. He slowed down to our marching speed & managed to squeeze his entire torso out of the driver’s window of his NX Pulsar, Smokey Bear hat & all, to make sure we were aware of his displeasure.
I bit my lip so hard it bled to prevent myself from laughing as this massive (I mean I’m 6’1″ 220lbs and he dwarfed me in height & width) dude screamed at the top of his lungs from the window of his tiny-ass car as it rolled down the main road on post, backing up a long line of traffic.
This is the automotive personification of Depeche Mode and Flashdance smashed together. This is as 80’s as the Eighties gets in a car. Cool, in a bashfully pretentious kind of way.
It probably drives like your typical 1980s FWD econobox, but that wouldn’t ruin a “don’t meet your heroes” moment for me. The main appeal is the over the top 1980s Japanese styling. It just needs some more period correct wheels – maybe BBS style meshies.