The Nissan Pathfinder was never intended to be a track weapon, especially with three rows of seats and a traditional truck chassis. That hasn’t stopped one Nissan enthusiast from building a supercharged, manual-transmission example with enough power to embarrass some sports cars.
Arizona-based builder Nicholas Scherr, better known as Nismo Nick, has created a pair of extraordinary Pathfinders for the 2026 SEMA Show. He’s calling them Trackfinder and Trailfinder, and their names give a pretty good indication of what each was built to do.
Both celebrate the Pathfinder’s 40th anniversary using the third-generation R51 model, the last version built on a traditional ladder-frame chassis. Rather than simply restoring them, Scherr has combined older Nissan engineering with components borrowed from much newer vehicles.
As revealed on Nismo Nick’s Instagram, the Trackfinder packs supercharged V6 power and a six-speed manual, while the Trailfinder takes the V8-powered off-road route. The interesting part is how extensively both SUVs have been reworked to achieve those very different personalities.
Trackfinder Is a 501-HP Family SUV With Three Pedals
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The Trackfinder keeps its 4.0-liter V6 but adds a Z1 Off-Road supercharger, custom intake plumbing, and an UpRev tune, producing a claimed 501 horsepower at the wheels. Power goes through an Xterra-sourced six-speed manual transmission with a Centerforce clutch and flywheel.
A custom coilover setup lowers the SUV, while upgraded brakes, 20-inch wheels, and a Seibon carbon-fiber hood support its street-performance ambitions. Inspired by the GMC Typhoon, the Trackfinder reflects Scherr’s wonderfully unconventional approach to building cars: “I had a vision, the freedom to build it, and absolutely nobody telling me NO.”
Trailfinder Takes the V8 Route
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Scherr describes the Trailfinder as his attempt to build the “ultimate off road Pathfinder,” celebrating the nameplate’s 40-year history. To get there, he swapped the original V6 for Nissan’s 5.6-liter VK56 V8, previously used in the Titan and Armada.
An X-Pro Titan-swap suspension package, 35-inch Hankook tires, and upgraded brakes give it the hardware for tackling difficult terrain.
Hammerhead Armor bumpers, rock sliders, a winch, and a snorkel reinforce its off-road purpose. Inside, red leather upholstery and a matching dashboard provide an unexpected throwback to earlier Pathfinders.
Two Generations of Nissan Under One Roof
Both builds wear Ruby Slate Pearl paint inspired by the anniversary-edition Maxima, alongside extensive bodywork borrowed from the modern D41 Frontier. The conversions incorporate newer front-end panels, lighting, dashboards, center consoles, and door trim into the older SUVs.
Making those components fit an R51 Pathfinder wasn’t as simple as bolting on some aftermarket accessories and required substantial fabrication. It’s arguably the most interesting engineering challenge shared by the two projects.
Two Very Different Ways to Celebrate the Pathfinder
Scherr developed both vehicles with support from Pinnacle Nissan in Scottsdale, following up on last year’s V8-swapped Xterra with two equally ambitious projects. As he explained, adventure means something different to everyone: “For some, it’s finding a trail that leads somewhere incredible. For others, it’s finding the limits of what a vehicle can do.”
Nissan may have moved the Pathfinder away from its truck-based roots, but Scherr clearly isn’t finished exploring what the old platform can handle. After all, it takes a particular kind of enthusiast to look at a three-row family SUV and decide it needs either a V8 and 35-inch tires or a supercharger and a clutch pedal.