These Are The Ultimate Nissan Pathfinders For The Track And The Trail
The Trailfinder and the Trackfinder by Nismo Nick are two wildly different takes on the ladder-frame SUV for SEMA
Following up on last year's V8-powered Xterra restomod, automotive enthusiast and builder Nicholas Scherr – also known as "Nismo Nick" – is returning to SEMA with a pair of custom Nissan SUVs. The Trailfinder and Trackfinder celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Pathfinder, pushing the platform in two wildly opposing directions.
Instead of modifying the current iteration of the model, Nismo Nick chose the older R51 Pathfinder as the starting point for his unique creations. This makes sense at it was the last generation of the Pathfinder to ride on a rugged ladder frame chassis, before the nameplate switched to car-like unibody underpinnings.
As with the Projext X from last year, the new builds wear components from the current D41-generation Nissan Frontier, in a quest to modernize their appearance inside-out. Frontier-sourced parts include the grille, LED headlights, front fenders, front doors, LED taillights, dashboard, center console, and door panels.
Another common feature between the two is the Ruby Slate Pearl paint which is borrowed from the 2021 Nissan Maxima 40th Anniversary sedan.
The Trackfinder has a supercharged V6 and a manual gearbox.
Starting with the Trackfinder, it adds Nismo flavor to the Pathfinder, taking inspiration from the GMC Typhoon. The model sits closer to the ground, and rides on a new set of forged 20-inch wheels finished in black. Behind the then-spoke design we can see the cross-drilled and slotted brake discs clamped by red calipers.
Besides the Frontier face swap with glossy black trim and red accents, the Trackfinder gets special logos on the front doors, red and white stripes on the profile, a Seibon carbon fiber hood with a prominent scoop, a rear spoiler, and quadruple tailpipes sticking out of the rear bumper.
Power comes from a 4.0-liter V6 engine upgraded with a Z1 Off-Road supercharger, custom carbon fiber intake piping, a heat-shielded airbox, and an UpRev tune. As a result, the output has nearly double to a respectable 501 hp (374 kW / 508 PS). Another cool touch is the Xterra-sourced six-speed manual gearbox featuring a Centerforce clutch and flywheel.
The Trailfinder has a V8 and off-road upgrades
Moving on to the Trailfinder, it was designed as a "love letter" to body-on-frame SUVs with V8 power. The highlight is the increased ground clearance, made possible by the lifted suspension and the 35-inch Hankook Dynapro AT2 Xtreme tires wrapped around white alloy wheels.
Here, the Frontier face is combined with Hammerhead Armor steel bumpers and rock sliders, complete with a front winch, dual recovery shackles, a rear swing-out spare tire carrier, and a roof rack carrying a tent. The SUV also benefits from extra LEDs by Rigid Industries. Trailfinder lettering can be found on the roof rack, the spare wheel cover, and the white grille surround.
Under the hood lies a 5.6-liter V8 engine, fitted with a Z1 Off-Road intake and snorkel. The suspension features the X-Pro Titan Swap Package and a big brake kit by Z1 Off-road. Finally, the Frontier-sourced dashboard is finished in red, matching the leather seats with tartan cloth inserts.
The Trackfinder and Trailfinder were built with the support of Pinnacle Nissan in Scottsdale, Arizona. Both models are making their public debut at SEMA 2026 in Las Vegas.
Nick Scherr