1963 Datsun NL320 owner Chris "Billy Bob" Mull

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Issue

May 2023

Owner

Chris and Michelle Mull

Ride

I don't really have one although I often refer to it as 'Pepe my lil' pile'
(1963 Datsun NL320)

Meaning Behind the Name

It's a play off of the Movie scene in Romancing the Stone. Instead of pepe my lil mule. I say pile because we all know that no matter how nice they look they're all just piles...haha

Photographer

Cheri Dillgadillo

Ride Details

Original Cost

I bought it sight unseen for 2500.oo. the car trailer it was on came with it. I sold the trailerthe next day for 600.oo.

What was the inspiration?

I've always loved unique and different vehicles. I remember seeing one of these unibody 320 pickups in a grocery store parking lot about 20 years ago and wanted one since. I've built many custom vehicles over the years usually following whatever is trendy at the time. This one I tried real hard to build something a little more timeless.

How long did it take you to build?

Off and on about 7 years. Mostly due to the fact that only around 1,000 were ever produced and finding parts is near impossible.

How long have you been building?

I started building vehicles when I was 15. My grandfather gave me a 54 chevy 5 window pickup. Since then I've built sports cars, muscle cars, street rods, kustoms, vw's, mini trucks, etc. I've worked for numerous high end car builders, been on TV shows, had my work on countless cover and feature vehicles. I'm 54 now so I'll let you do the math. Haha

Club Affiliations

Relaxed Atmosphere

Your future plans?

I'd really love to take it on a cross country drive. Maybe this summer.

Vehicle history

I bought it sight unseen about 10 years ago. It was a project that was already started but needed a ton of work to get to the point it is now. I later purchased a parts truck and used many parts of the 2 to build this one. I had to fabricate new rockers, inner door jambs, front floor and tubs, lower tailgate section.

Thanks to

All my friends that have lent a hand over the years on the build. And of course my family and wife Michelle for putting up with my automotive addiction.

Previous Rides

Way too many to list. One of the most recognized would be a 86 mazda that was peach and on the cover of Minitruckin magazine April 2001 I believe. I've also had my hand on numerous other cover vehicles, features and TV shows.

Engine Details

Make

Datsun 240sx (ka24e) 1989

Cylinders

Displacement

2400

Engine Mods

Other than no emissions it's pretty much stock. Painted gloss black. Detailed with stainless hardware, ceramic coated exhaust manifold, cloth covered style wires, Gates heat shrink hose clamps, red valve cover and plenum, and of course the hello kitty oil cap...

Chrome or polish

Most of the chrome was done at American Plating in New Plymouth Idaho. I did however straighten and polish the factory side trim.

Driveline Details

Clutch flywheel

All stock

Torque Converter

Its a 5 speed out of a nissan 240sx so that would be a no...

Transfer Case

Hahaha, nope

Axle

Stock although it does have a custom made Driveline by Jim's Driveline in Boise, ID

Gears

Swapped factory 4.88 gears to Datsun roadster 3.89

Chassis Details

Chassis

Mostly custom other than the front main rails.

Mods to Frame

Custom front crossmember, owner built a-arms, shock mounts, rear frame half with triangulated 4 link bar on bags with stock rear end.

Drop or lift inches

Has air ride

Front Shocks

Some short shocks I had laying around on custom built mounts

Rear Shocks

Some long shocks I had laying around.

Spindles

Nissan hardbody spindles and front brakes.

Four Link

Triangulated

Compressor Info

Viair dual 480

Valve Info

Airlift 3P

Airbag Info

2500 front and rear

Other Mods

Compressors, 2 3 gallon tanks, and airlift 3P mounted in front of bed.

Chrome, Paint, or Polish

All painted semi gloss black with detailed hardware. Gray color matched a-arms and 4 link bars.

Wheels Details

Front Wheel Type

18x8 centerline smoothie. Painted centers and polished lips by Paul St Cyr at Paul's Custom Detailing (please include his name)

Rear Wheel Type

20x9 centerline smoothie painted center polished lips and ultra rare aftermarket Datsun hubcaps from Brazil. Installed with custom Cap Clips

Front Wheel Size

See above

Rear Wheel Size

See above

Front Tire Size

235 35 18

Rear Tire Size

255 35 20

Paint Details

Color

Black and custom mix gray

Paint Type

PPG

Graphics Description

Nothing except red insert in side molding.

Painted By

Owner

Graphics By

Body Details

Channeled

Nope

Body Drop

That the same as channeled. So once again, nope

Hood

Stock

Grille

65 grill on 63 because I like the looks of 65 grill better

Bumpers

Stock with bumper guards front and rear

Wing

Absolutely not

Addon Accessories

None

Body Mods

Only body mods are welded front seams on top of fenders, ( originally 2 piece) and shaved gas filler door due to rci fuel cell under rear of truck.

Body Mods by

Owner, (please include their names) Jeff Reed, Jose Ortiz, Jason Lekvold, Danny Strain

Interior Details

Dashboard

Stock, smoothed ribs on gauge cluster

Gauges

Speedhut with custom asian font

Steering Wheel

Stock with datsun 312 deluxe horn ring. (Trucks only had the center button)

Console

None

Head Unit

Retro sound with Bluetooth

Amps

JL audio 8" sub box and amp mounted under driver side seat

Speakers

Retro sound under dash

Video System

Nope

Stereo Installed by

Owner

Shifter

Some chrome ebay lever that I thought matched the look.

Seats

Stock bench that I notched for the shifter

Tint Percent

None

Trunk or Bed

Custom built with removable panels to access suspension and fuel cell. Raptor liner texture coat.

Upholstery Description

Red vinyl with cloth inserts and silver piping. 60's Corvette tuxedo style carpet

Upholstery By

Holcomb's Upholstery in Aberdeen, WA

Chris and Michelle Mull are proud owners of a one-of-a-kind 1963 Datsun NL320. They have lovingly named their prized possession ‘Pepe my lil’ pile,’ which has an interesting story behind it. In this article, we will delve into the journey of Chris and Michelle Mull’s ‘Pepe’ and learn more about their passion for restoring classic cars.

Vehicle History and Inspiration:

Chris has been passionate about restoring classic cars since he was 15 years old. His love for unique and different vehicles led him to purchase a 1963 Datsun NL320 sight unseen 10 years ago. He was inspired by the unibody 320 pickups he saw 20 years ago in a grocery store parking lot. Over the years, Chris has built several custom vehicles and wanted to build something more timeless with the NL320.

Ride Details on 1963 Datsun NL320:

Chris bought the NL320 for $2500 sight unseen and spent around seven years off and on to restore it to its current glory. Finding parts for this unique vehicle was difficult, but Chris managed to fabricate new rockers, inner door jambs, front floor and tubs, and lower tailgate section using parts from a parts truck he purchased. The NL320 has a Datsun 240sx engine with 2400cc displacement, and most of the chrome was done at American Plating in New Plymouth, Idaho.

Chassis Details:

The NL320 has a mostly custom chassis, other than the front main rails. The front crossmember, owner-built A-arms, shock mounts, and rear frame half with a triangulated 4-link bar on bags with the stock rear end are custom. It has air ride, 2500 front and rear airbags, and a Viair dual 480 compressor with Airlift 3P valve info.

Wheel Details on Chris’s 1963 Datsun NL320:

The NL320 has 18×8 centerline smoothie front wheels and 20×9 centerline smoothie rear wheels. The front and rear wheels have painted centers and polished lips by Paul St Cyr at Paul’s Custom Detailing. The NL320’s tires are 235 35 18 in the front and 255 35 20 in the rear.

Interior and Paint Details:

The NL320’s interior has a stock dashboard with smoothed ribs on the gauge cluster, Speedhut gauges with custom Asian font, and a retro sound head unit with Bluetooth. It also has JL audio 8″ sub box and amp mounted under the driver’s side seat, retro sound under dash speakers, and a custom-built trunk bed with removable panels to access suspension and fuel cell with a raptor liner texture coat. The NL320’s upholstery is red vinyl with cloth inserts and silver piping, and the 60’s Corvette tuxedo-style carpet is upholstered by Holcomb’s Upholstery in Aberdeen, WA. The NL320 is painted with black and custom mix gray PPG paint with no graphics except for a red insert in the side molding.

Conclusion: Chris and Michelle Mull’s ‘Pepe my lil’ pile’ is a unique and one-of-a-kind 1963 Datsun NL320 restored with love and passion. Chris’s dedication and hard work to restore the NL320 to its former glory are commendable. We wish Chris and Michelle all the best on their future plans to take the NL320 on a cross-country drive.