Nissan took a chance in 1959 when it introduced a 37-horsepower compact truck to the V8, gas-guzzling US market. It took awhile, but those little trucks grew on us. And even though we called them Datsuns, they were Nissans to the rest of the world. I worked at a Datsun dealership in the 1970's, and every now and then we found a wayward Nissan logo in the trunk or back seat of a car. The name that was unfamiliar to us at the time has become one we all recognize.

_{Photo © Nissan}

Truck sales have all taken a hit in 2008, but a few models have fared better than others. The Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) has compiled a list of truck sales for the first half of 2008 and compared the results with numbers for the same period last year. The Ford Ranger (which has the best EPA ratings for a small truck) and both of the Toyota pickups have single-digit declines. Others aren't as lucky, but there's a wide spread. Before you take a look, which truck do you think has seen the biggest drop in sales? Hint: it's not out of Detroit.

SEMA Profile

_{Photo © Ford Motor Co.}