This weird-looking Nissan compact truck was inspired by a helicopter

The Nissan Gobi was an unusual-looking compact pickup truck that had a design inspired by helicopters. 

The Gobi was designed at Nissan Design International by Bruce Campbell and was introduced to the world at the 1990 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, US.

The two-door pickup featured soft design lines – a look very at odds with the more angular-shaped vehicles the carmaker was putting out at the time. 

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

The truck’s design certainly stands out in a crowd

Design is something folks will never agree on – with vehicles, including the Cybertruck, regularly dividing opinions on whether it looks cool or a bit weird. 

Similarly, it’s been debated whether the Toyota Pod – that could wag its tail – was a stroke of design genius or a bizarre misstep.

And the Gobi’s design was sure to get people talking, with its rounded passenger compartment and smooth bodyline. 

The bubble-shaped ‘greenhouse’ took its inspiration from the cockpits of light helicopters of the time. 

It was also a lot smaller than other trucks, with low box walls on the side of the vehicle and a low ride height, which, Nissan said, made it the perfect choice for those living in cities. 

The concept vehicle may have been small but it made good use of its available storage space. 

Inside the truck, were a couple of storage compartments, which were helpfully labeled ‘stuff’ and ‘things’. 

And there’s also a glovebox that can be removed and used as a backpack – a neat little idea. 

Nissan ever only made of the Gobi truck

The truck was painted royal blue with teal accents, which ‘perfectly characterize the Gobi as a vehicle of the 90s and late 80s’, according to Nissan. 

Plans to mass produce the Gobi were shelved in August 1990 as ‘production costs would exceed what the consumers would pay’.

The one and only Gobi was put on display several times – but was last shown off to the public back in April 1990 at the New York Auto Show. 

Since then, the car has been kept at the Nissan Heritage Collection inside the Lane Motor Museum located in Nashville, Tennessee, near Nissan’s North American cooperative headquarters. 

The Nissan Heritage Collection houses dozens of early production and concept vehicles but you can only go and see them on a private tour.

Elsewhere in Nashville, there’s a private collection of some of the most weird and wonderful motors to have ever been created.