Tag: Daihatsu

  • Daihatsu Trimobile: The Three-Wheeled Mircocar from Japan

    Daihatsu Trimobile: The Three-Wheeled Mircocar from Japan

    Here’s a rare beast in the US.  The Daihatsu Midget was a utilitarian microcar sold in Japan for several years and sold and marketed in the US as the Trimobile for a few years starting in about 1959.  Apparently, these were primarily used inside large manufacturing plants in the US, but can be registered and…

  • Daihatsu Kei Truck in the US

    Daihatsu Kei Truck in the US

    If what’s missing from your life is a single-seat pickup with a three cylinder engine and four-speed trans, this is just the ticket! Kei Cars are common in Japan and underachieve certain weight and size figures in order to be taxed at lower rates versus typical passenger cars.  This example would typically see use as…

  • Pronounce it Share-Odd

    Pronounce it Share-Odd

    With a name like Share-Odd, one pictures sophisticated, old-world charm.  That doesn’t match the shitbox called the Charade, though this is a perfectly durable entry car if you can live with 47 horsepower. Daihatsu had a short, roughly five-year life in the US in the late 80s and early 90s.  The Charade was joined in…

  • A Rocky Start to your Car Collection

    A Rocky Start to your Car Collection

    Remember Daihatsu?  They’re the oldest car company in Japan, but only sold vehicles here in the US from about 1987 to 1992.  Since 1988, Toyota has owned a majority stake in Daihatsu and they are very much alive today.  In the US, only two models were offered – the Charade shitbox and this, the Rocky…

  • Dayuum Van! Daihatsu Hi-Jet is Pure Awesome

    Dayuum Van! Daihatsu Hi-Jet is Pure Awesome

    Apparently, there has been a Daihatsu Hijet of some sort since 1960.  Who knew?  Regardless, this cool little kei-van is suitably odd today and would be welcomed with open arms at any microcar show. The seller claims this is a 1970model, but the integrated bumper lamps, etc. sure look newer, as does the interior.  …

  • Quickie: Surf Rocky

    Quickie: Surf Rocky

    Daihatsu had a short run in the US, although parent company Toyota could theoretically bring them back at any moment in order to allow hundreds of Americans to relive their Charade and Rocky pasts.  Here we have a Rocky that might have been well loved.  The surfboard is a cool touch on such an unusual…

  • Daihatsu Naked wearing Hummer Attire

    Daihatsu Naked wearing Hummer Attire

    Diminutive Japanese “kei cars” seem ridiculously small by US standards, but they make (somewhat) perfect sense when seen on crowded streets and in narrow parking lots of Tokyo.  We spotted this Daihatsu Naked (yes, that is the actual model name…) near Atsugi Japan. It is difficult to appreciate the size of this car in the photos.…