10/13/2026
The 1965 Toyota Stout, 1968 Datsun 520 Pickup, 1965 Mazda B1500, and 1965 Isuzu Wasp represent four early Japanese approaches to the compact work truck. All four favor relatively small engines, rear-wheel drive, manual transmissions, and practical cargo beds, but each has a different engineering identity. Toyota built the Stout around a robust, load-focused chassis; Datsun emphasized compact dimensions and economical operation; Mazda combined a small pickup body with a relatively advanced suspension layout; and Isuzu developed the Wasp as a one-tonne light commercial vehicle based on its Bellett passenger-car platform. The Toyota is the most heavy-duty-oriented concept here, the Datsun is the compact urban workhorse, the Mazda offers an interesting balance of ride and utility, and the Isuzu is the most specialized light-commercial design.
The 1965 Toyota Stout is the most work-focused truck in this comparison. The export-market Stout 1900 used a 1,897 cc (1.9-liter) 3R inline-four rated at approximately 85 hp and 110 lb-ft of torque, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Its sturdy ladder-frame chassis, leaf-spring suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes reflect its emphasis on durability and carrying loads rather than passenger-car comfort. Toyota's second-generation Stout was designed with a flat-top hood and a more spacious cab, while the wider Stout family offered payload ratings of up to 1.75 tonnes in certain configurations. Those heavier-duty ratings should not automatically be assigned to every export-market half-ton version. The Stout is the natural choice for someone who values a tough, straightforward chassis and a reputation built around utility.
The 1968 Datsun 520 Pickup is the compact, economical alternative. Its 1,299 cc (1.3-liter) J13 overhead-valve inline-four produced approximately 67 hp and 98 Nm (72 lb-ft) of torque, driving the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, commonly with column-mounted shifting. At roughly 4.25 metres long and with a curb weight around one tonne depending on specification, the Datsun was easier to maneuver in crowded streets and narrow delivery areas than the larger Stout. Its torsion-bar front suspension and semi-elliptic rear leaf springs balanced basic ride comfort with load-carrying practicality. The 520's restrained styling, compact cabin, and low-displacement engine made it a sensible small-business truck. Its main limitation today is modest power, especially when loaded or climbing steep grades, but its light weight and mechanical simplicity are central to its charm.
The 1965 Mazda B1500 uses a 1,484 cc (1.5-liter) water-cooled OHV inline-four, commonly known as the UA engine, producing approximately 72 PS (71 hp) in the revised specification introduced around October 1965. Earlier 1965 examples may have the preceding body and engine tune, so the exact build date matters. Its one-tonne-class utility design paired a conventional rear-wheel-drive layout with torsion-bar front suspension and rear leaf springs. That front suspension was relatively sophisticated for a small commercial vehicle of the period, helping the Mazda balance payload duties with a less harsh ride when unloaded. Its clean, compact proportions and slightly more car-like driving character distinguish it from the heavier Toyota. The B1500 is an appealing middle ground for someone who wants a classic Japanese pickup that remains practical in size without being as modestly powered as the Datsun.
The 1965 Isuzu Wasp is the most unusual engineering proposition of the four. Its 1,325 cc (1.3-liter) water-cooled inline-four produced around 58 hp and 96 Nm (71 lb-ft) of torque, paired with a four-speed manual gearbox. Based on the Isuzu Bellett, it used independent front suspension with torsion bars and a semi-floating rear axle with a Hotchkiss drive. Isuzu developed the Wasp as a one-tonne light commercial vehicle, and in Australia the 1965 model arrived in a very small shipment of 122 units, making surviving examples particularly uncommon there. Its modest engine output means it is better suited to light-duty hauling and local work than fast driving, but its compact layout and independent front suspension give it a distinctive place among early Japanese pickups. The Wasp's rarity and relationship to the Bellett make it especially interesting to collectors who want something beyond the better-known Toyota and Datsun nameplates.
On the road, the Mazda and Isuzu have the most car-like front suspension layouts, which can help their ride and steering feel more compliant than a truck with a conventional solid front axle. The Datsun's compact size and low weight make it well suited to narrow streets, small farms, and local deliveries, while the Toyota's more substantial chassis gives it the strongest heavy-duty orientation in this group. All four use relatively modest engines by modern standards, so loaded acceleration is limited and maintaining momentum is important. Their period drum brakes, basic steering systems, and narrow tires also mean that stopping distances and high-speed stability are very different from those of modern pickups. For a truck that will actually be driven, brake condition, suspension wear, tire age, and the engine's cooling and lubrication systems deserve more attention than small differences in original horsepower.
Their ownership and restoration prospects vary by market. The Datsun 520 benefits from Nissan's broader historical parts ecosystem, though some model-specific trim and body panels can still be difficult to find. Toyota's Stout has a straightforward mechanical layout, but unique cab and bed components may require specialist sourcing. Mazda B1500 parts availability depends heavily on the country where the truck was sold and the support of local classic Japanese vehicle clubs. The Isuzu Wasp can be the hardest to restore correctly because of its limited production and less common model-specific components. For all four, inspect the frame, cab mounts, floor pans, bed structure, wheel arches, and lower body seams for corrosion. Confirm the engine and chassis codes as well, because replacement engines, export-market variations, and later restorations can blur the original specifications.
The 1965 Toyota Stout is my pick for the strongest work-truck character, especially in its 1.9-liter export configuration. The 1968 Datsun 520 is the best compact urban pickup, with light weight and simple, economical engineering. The 1965 Mazda B1500 offers the best balance of modest power and ride sophistication, while the 1965 Isuzu Wasp is the rarest and most distinctive enthusiast choice. Choose the Toyota for rugged utility, the Datsun for compact practicality, the Mazda for a balanced classic pickup experience, or the Isuzu for rarity and unusual engineering. The best purchase, however, will be the example with the soundest chassis, the most complete original parts, and the clearest maintenance history.
