Unique Nissan Pulsar NX Sportbak: A Car That Can Change Shape
The 1980s were a strange and generous era for the automotive industry. Safety regulations were less strict, marketing departments had less influence, and engineers were sometimes allowed to bring the most unexpected ideas to life. Nissan was one of the most active experimenters, and the Pulsar NX was at the time one of the strangest cars in its lineup.
Transformation Concept: From Coupe to Wagon
The Pulsar NX came with removable T-top roof panels, like many other cars of the time, but its main feature was a removable rear hatch that could be replaced with a large dome, named the Nissan Sportbak.
Photo: Nissan (1987 Pulsar NX)
While most Pulsars of that era have long since disappeared due to rust or ended up in scrapyards, one example has survived and recently appeared in Zebulon, North Carolina, through the Raleigh Classic Car Auctions.
The Sportbak dome was available as an option for the Pulsar and was designed to improve practicality by significantly increasing cargo space, transforming the coupe into a sleek wagon.
Low Mileage and Only Three Owners
Raleigh Classic Car Auctions
This particular Pulsar NX was purchased new in July 1988 and sold to a second owner in 1994. The second owner kept the car for 31 years before handing the keys to a third owner in December 2024. Last year, the car received a new timing belt, water pump, valve cover gasket, thermostat, new struts, and fluids were replaced. With only 67,000 miles (107,800 km) on the odometer, this figure is surprisingly low for a car of this age.
Power is provided by a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine producing approximately 106 hp and 111 lb-ft (151 Nm) of torque. This engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission that drives the front wheels.
Raleigh Classic Car Auctions
Not only is this car’s mileage surprisingly low, but the sale also includes the original hatchback and a clean Carfax report. Comprehensive service records, an owner’s manual, and even the original promotional brochure are also included.
Cars like the Pulsar NX remind us that automakers once approved ideas that looked quite dubious even at the discussion stage. A coupe that transforms into a wagon using a huge plastic dome seems wonderfully unnecessary today. You can check out this listing before someone else appreciates this oddity.
Raleigh Classic Car Auctions
This car is a vivid testament to an era when automakers were not afraid to take risks and offer unconventional solutions. Despite the fact that the removable body concept did not become widespread, it left a notable mark on automotive history. Today, models like the Pulsar NX Sportbak are becoming collector’s items, reminding us of a time when practicality and originality could be combined in one car, despite the seemingly questionable engineering decisions.