[The story has been updated with live photos from the Tokyo Auto Salon]
Over the years we have seen many wild pickup conversions but the latest project from Nihon Automobile College in Japan is easily among the top five. The NATS Alphard Super Dually Truck is based on the popular Toyota minivan, adding the extra practicality of a pickup bed.
The goal of the students was to discover what would a Japanese family car would look like if it was customized by an American tuner. The official debut of the one-off model took place at the Tokyo Auto Salon where it won an excellence award in the category of wagon/minivan (shouldn’t it compete with the pickups?).
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The crazy build started with a facelifted third-gen Toyota Alphard that got chopped at the back. The bed is sourced from the Toyota Hilux but it has been extended in combination with a stretched wheelbase and ultra-wide boxy rear fenders. Other modifications include a heavier dose of chrome accents at the front, larger mirrors likely sourced from a full-size truck, and a taller tailgate. The dual-cab pickup bodystyle also affected the rear doors of the Alphard which have been converted from sliding to rear-hinged. This means that the NATS Alphard Super Dually Truck has suicide doors, similar to a Rolls-Royce.
The vehicle has been slammed to the ground thanks to the Air Force Super Performance suspension kit. It rides on a new set of 20-inch Work Equip E10 alloy wheels shod in mixed performance tires by Toyo, measuring 245/35ZR20 at the front and 345/25ZR20 at the rear. The “dually” on the name suggests that the Alphard has an extra pair of tires at the back, which is likely the case although we can’t see due to the close to inexistent ground clearance of the build.
Interior upgrades are limited to a louder audio system by Diecock, on par with the low-rider stance of the exterior. We can also see two leather-wrapped captain chairs with footrests and armrests at the back, making it quite comfortable for the rear passengers.
Under the bonnet lies the Alphard’s stock 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS) and 235 Nm (173.6 lb-ft) of torque, although we would prefer if the team based their build on a V6-powered variant. The minivan is exclusively offered with an automatic gearbox although is not clear if power is transmitted to the front or to all four wheels since both options are available in Japan.
As you have already guessed, the latest creation by NATS is strictly a one-off that won’t be offered for sale. Besides the live shots, NATS also shared photos from the development of the unconventional truck that you can check out in the gallery below.
