The A1 was the first prototype passenger car built by the company that became Toyota. It was redesigned and put into production as Toyota's first production cars, the AA sedan and the AB cabriolet. These were succeeded by the similar AE, AC and BA sedans.
The series as a whole was replaced by the quite different and much more advanced SA.
Toyota A1 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Toyota |
Production | 1935 (3 prototypes) |
Assembly | Koromo, Japan |
Body and chassis | |
Class | full-size car |
Body style | Sedan |
Layout | FR layout |
Related | Toyota G1 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.4L Type A I6 |
Transmission | 3-speed manual |
Chronology | |
Successor | Toyota AA |
Three A1 prototypes were completed in May 1935. None of them survive. They were blessed in a Buddhist ceremony and Kiichiro Toyoda then drove one of them to the grave of Sakichi Toyoda, his father, who gave him the seed money to start a car factory.
After completion of the prototypes, Toyota then switched its attention to the G1 truck because it was more likely to be profitable in the short term. After the G1 was in production the company was able to spend resources on developing the AA and AB passenger cars.
The A1 prototypes were completed in May 1935.
The A1 used the 3,389 cc (206.8 cu in) Type A Overhead valve 6-cylinder engine producing 62 horsepower (46 kW) with a 3-speed column-shift manual gearbox.
The Type A engine was copied from a purchased and reverse engineered 1933 Chevrolet Master, and the chassis and electrics were copied from Ford. [1]
Solid axles were used at both ends. Pressed metal discs were used for all 4 wheel rims (very modern for the time). Braking was by drums.
The mechanicals were the same as used in the production AA, AB and G1 vehicles.
The A1 was a fully enclosed, 4-door sedan, with conventional front-hinged front doors and rear-hinged suicide-style rear doors. It was heavily based on the Chrysler built DeSoto Airflow, which was a reflection of Art Deco and streamlined appearances. [2] Toyoda bought an Airflow and disassembled it the year before producing the A1. The front window was a single piece of flat glass with a top-mounted wiper on the driver's side. There were 3 windows per side, one for the front door (without a quarter light window), one for the rear door and one behind the rear door. A spare tyre was mounted on the nearly vertical boot lid.
The A1 was available only as a right-hand-drive vehicle.
Toyota AA/Toyota AB | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Toyota |
Production | 1936–1943 |
Assembly | Koromo, Japan |
Body and chassis | |
Class | full-size car |
Body style |
|
Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.4 L Type A I6 (original) |
Transmission | 3-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,851 mm (112.2 in) [3] |
Length | 4,737 mm (186.5 in) |
Width | 1,734 mm (68.3 in) |
Height | 1,737 mm (68.4 in) |
Curb weight | 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Toyota A1 |
Successor | Toyota AC |
The AA was similar to the A1 prototypes with only minor changes.
A total of 1,404 AA sedans were produced from 1936 to 1943, when the model was replaced by the more austere AC.
A total of 353 AB convertible, including the military ABR version, was produced from 1936 to 1942. There was no direct replacement.
Like the previous model, the AA was a fully enclosed 4-door sedan that largely copied the design of the Chrysler built DeSoto Airflow. It had a metal body on a metal ladder chassis. The metal body was of modern construction compared to the fabric-over-wooden-frame bodies used on cars designed in the 1920s. The rear doors opened backwards as suicide doors. The front glass spanned the entire width of the body in a single pane.
The AB was identical to the AA except that it was a convertible with a folding cloth roof, the rear doors opened forwards like conventional doors and the front glass could fold down onto the engine compartment.
The mechanicals were the same as used in the A1 prototype.
Toyota wanted to use an AA for its 50th birthday in 1987 but couldn't find any surviving examples. [4] Toyota decided to build a replica but even for that there were no complete and consistent plans. Plans that could be found were from various points during the car's development process and in any case were often incomplete and lacking by today's standards. However, a single replica was built that is believed to be representative of the AA. The replica uses the 2.3-liter Toyota 2M straight-six engine. This replica is now in the Toyota Automobile Museum.
In 2008 an original AA was found in Vladivostok, Russia in derelict and heavily modified condition, with the undercarriage and drivetrain from a GAZ-51 truck. It is now displayed, still in this condition, in the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands. [5] [6] The car was apparently used by a local family for their farm until the 1990s (without them actually knowing its value) before it faced engine problems and was placed on an old barn, where it was later discovered by a 25-year-old student who called the museum. [7] It is unknown how the car ever got to Russia.
Toyota AC | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Toyota |
Production | 1943–1944, 1947–1948 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | full-size car |
Body style | 4-door sedan |
Layout | FR layout |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.4L Type B I6 |
Transmission | 3-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,850 mm (112.2 in) [3] |
Length | 4,884 mm (192.3 in) |
Width | 1,734 mm (68.3 in) |
Height | 1,746 mm (68.7 in) |
Curb weight | 1,550 kg (3,417.2 lb) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Toyota AA and Toyota AB |
Successor | Toyota Classic |
The AC was similar to the AA, with only minor alternations to the body. The front glass was now a split into left and right halves with thick metal body work between them.
Design work began in 1938. A total of 115 AC sedans was produced from 1943 until 1948 with no direct replacement as production efforts focused on the much smaller SA. Forty-three were produced in 1943, 19 in 1944 (until February), and 50 units were made from spares in 1947 for a military order, with a final three being built in 1948. No Toyota passenger car production occurred in the years 1945 and 1946, although what would become the first post-war car, the SA, was in development during these years.
During the retro craze of the 1990s-2000s, Toyota would capitalize on the styling of the original AA/AB/AC series to create the Toyota Classic. Based on the Toyota Hilux chassis, the Classic incorporated classic sedan styling with streamlined features but modern amenities. Nevertheless, no more than 100 vehicles were ever produced and today it is very rare.
The mechanicals were similar to the AA and AB.
Toyota EA | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Toyota |
Production | 1938 (prototypes) |
Assembly | Koromo, Japan |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Subcompact family car |
Body style | 2-door saloon |
Layout | FF layout |
Related | DKW F7 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 585 cc Type E I2 two-stroke |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,610 mm (102.8 in) [3] |
Length | 3,220 mm (126.8 in) |
Width | 1,300 mm (51.2 in) |
Height | 1,250 mm (49.2 in) |
Curb weight | 650 kg (1,433 lb) |
Kiichiro Toyoda designed the EA as a copy of the DKW F7 sedan in 1938 but production was prevented by war time restrictions. [3]
The EA was designed in 1938 but did not go into production.
A small front-mounted, 2-cylinder, 2-stroke Type E engine connected as front-wheel drive.
The EB was a rear-wheel-drive minicar derived from the DKW-inspired EA type, but production was prevented by wartime restrictions. [8]
The EB was designed in 1938 but did not go into production.
A small front-mounted, 2-cylinder, 2-stroke Type E engine installed at the front and driving the rear wheels.
Toyota AE | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Toyota |
Production | 1941–1943 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | medium size family car |
Body style | sedan |
Layout | FR layout |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.3L Type C I4 |
Transmission | 3-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,500 mm (98.4 in) [3] |
Length | 4,500 mm (177.2 in) |
Width | 1,730 mm (68.1 in) |
Height | 1,635 mm (64.4 in) |
Curb weight | 1,220 kg (2,689.6 lb) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Toyota AA and Toyota AB |
Successor | Toyota AC |
The AE sedan was a smaller car than its predecessors.
The AE was developed during 1939, and a prototype was completed in September of that year. The model was introduced at the beginning of 1940. However, production occurred from 1941 to 1943. Only 76 of this model were built. [9] [10]
The mechanicals were similar to the AA except that it had the Type C engine, which was a Type A with 2 cylinders removed.
The BA was an austerity sedan, and used wood in its framing to conserve metal. This model is said to have been based on the Volvo PV 60, [9] [11] but this is open to question, since the PV60 was not introduced until 1944, and did not enter production until 1946. Most of the prototypes of this Volvo were built in the 1942–1944 period. There is anecdotal information regarding a 1939 PV60 prototype, but the data is sketchy and no photos exist. [12]
The BA was introduced and first produced in 1940. No more than 17 were built. [10] Some sources, however, claim the model did not enter production, such as it was, until 1943, with one giving the date of June 1943. [9] [11] But judging from 1943's production figures, the majority of which would have to represent the AC, it would not seem to be the case that all 17 BA production cars were built that year. The production of the 17 cars may have occurred in 1940 and 1943, or perhaps it was stretched over the 1940–1943 period, with the last few being completed in 1943, when the model was said to have started "official" production. Support for the notion that at least a few of these cars were produced in 1943 would come from a photograph (obtained from Toyota Motor Co. Ltd.) of a BA captioned as "1943 Totoya Model BA 4-cylinder saloon" in at least one source. [13]
One example of the Model BB phaeton was built, in 1941. [10] It resembled a contemporary Chevrolet.
Two [10] or three [14] examples of a luxury sedan, known as the Model B (or Model BC, according to one source [15] ), were built. Although one source associates this model with the year 1942, [14] most claim the prototypes were built in 1944. [9] [11] [15] This was the last passenger car development until after the war ended.
The following table is a portion of that put out by Toyota, and represents passenger car production only, apparently not including prototypes:
1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 100 | 577 | 539 | 107 | 268 | 208 | 41 | 53 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 21 | 235 |
Crosley was a small, independent American manufacturer of economy cars or subcompact cars, bordering on microcars. At first called the Crosley Corporation and later Crosley Motors Incorporated, the Cincinnati, Ohio, firm was active from 1939 to 1952, interrupted by World War II production. Their station wagons were the most popular model, but also offered were sedans, pickups, convertibles, a sports car, and even a tiny jeep-like vehicle. For export, the cars were badged Crosmobile.
Anadol was Turkey's first domestic mass-production passenger vehicle company. Its first model, Anadol A1 (1966–1975) was the second Turkish car after the ill-fated Devrim sedan of 1961. Anadol cars and pick-ups were manufactured by Otosan Otomobil Sanayii in Istanbul between 1966 and 1991.
The Chrysler LeBaron, also known as the Imperial LeBaron, is a line of automobiles built by Chrysler from 1931 to 1941 and from 1955 to 1995. The model was introduced in 1931, with a body manufactured by LeBaron, and competed with other luxury cars of the era, such as Lincoln and Packard. After purchasing LeBaron with its parent Briggs Manufacturing Company, Chrysler introduced the luxury make Imperial in 1955, and sold automobiles under the name Imperial LeBaron until 1975. Chrysler discontinued the Imperial brand in 1975 and reintroduced the Chrysler LeBaron in 1977 to what was then Chrysler's lowest-priced model.
The Chrysler Imperial, introduced in 1926, was Chrysler's top-of-the-line vehicle for much of its history. Models were produced under the Chrysler name until 1954, after which Imperial became a standalone make; and again from 1990–93. The company positioned the cars as a prestige marque to rival Cadillac, Continental, Lincoln, Duesenberg, Pierce Arrow, Cord, and Packard. According to Antique Automobile, "The adjective 'imperial' according to Webster's Dictionary means sovereign, supreme, superior or of unusual size or excellence. The word imperial thus justly befits Chrysler's highest priced model."
The Toyoda G1 was the first truck built by the company that became Toyota. It was 6 m (20 ft) long, could carry 1.5 tons, and was loosely based on similar class Ford and GM trucks.
The Toyota Mark II is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In most export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cressida between 1976 and 1992 across four generations. Toyota replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida in North America with the front-wheel-drive Avalon. Every Mark II and Cressida was manufactured at the Motomachi plant at Toyota, Aichi, Japan from September 1968 to October 1993, and later at Toyota Motor Kyushu's Miyata plant from December 1992 to October 2000, with some models also assembled in Jakarta, Indonesia and Parañaque, Philippines as the Cressida.
The Toyota Tercel is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1978 until 1999 across five generations, in five body configurations sized between the Corolla and the Starlet. Manufactured at the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Japan, and sharing its platform with the Cynos and the Starlet, the Tercel was marketed variously as the Toyota Corolla II—sold at Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyota Corolla Stores—and was replaced by the Platz in 1999. It was also known as the Toyota Corsa and sold at Toyopet Store locations. Starting with the second generation, the Tercel dealership network was changed to Vista Store, as its badge engineered sibling, the Corolla II, was exclusive to Corolla Store locations.
The Toyota Crown is an automobile which has been produced by Toyota in Japan since 1955. It is primarily a line of mid-size luxury cars that is marketed as an upmarket offering in the Toyota lineup.
The Type 95 was a Japanese scout car built by Tokyu Kurogane Industries, and was used during the war with China and World War II in the East. Between 1936 and 1944 approximately 4,700 were built. It was the only completely Japanese designed reconnaissance car ever used by the Imperial Japanese Army, which tended to use civilian cars. Its nickname is the "Yonki" (よんき) which in Japanese means "all-wheel drive". In the field, soldiers often called it the "daruma" after the Buddhist symbol for good luck.
The Toyota Comfort and the long-wheelbase Toyota Crown Comfort are a line of mid-size sedans produced by Toyota between 1995 and 2018. A platform derivative of the Toyota Mark II (X80), the Comfort was aimed at fleet buyers with a primary focus on taxicab operators. A third model was released in 2001 as the 11th generation Crown Sedan for the Japanese market only. The Crown Sedan was also aimed at fleet buyers, as a high end taxi or for corporate use.
The Chrysler Airflow is a full-size car produced by Chrysler from 1934 to 1937. The Airflow was the first full-size American production car to use streamlining as a basis for building a sleeker automobile, one less susceptible to air resistance. Chrysler made a significant effort at a fundamental change in automotive design with the Chrysler Airflow, but it was ultimately a commercial failure due to a lack of market acceptance and controversial appearance.
The Chrysler Executive was a car offered by the American automobile producer Chrysler from 1983 through 1986 during the malaise era of American automobile manufacture. The Executive was a stretched version of the Chrysler LeBaron aimed at the then booming market segment of limousines. Chrysler chose to use the stretched wheelbase E-body instead of the M-body platform used by the rear-wheel-drive Chrysler Fifth Avenue.
The Type A engine was a straight-six engine produced from 1935 through 1947 by Toyota and is a copy of the 1933 Chevrolet Stovebolt 207 engine
The SA was Toyota's first new passenger car design after World War II. It was the first in a family of vehicles before the introduction of the Crown. A series of light trucks also shared the chassis and major components of these passenger cars.
Toyota concept vehicles produced between 1935 and 1969 include:
Toyota Concept Vehicles produced between 1990 and 1999 include:
The Toyopet Master, introduced in January 1955, is a passenger car that was an evolution of the earlier Toyota SF/RH sedan with a modernized body. As with its predecessor, the Master has a ladder frame truck chassis with leaf sprung solid axles both at the front and the rear. The more conservative Master was sold in parallel with the first Toyota Crown as a frugally equipped and robust version meant for taxi usage. The Master and Crown shared the same R-series engine, which produces 48 PS (35 kW) in the Master. It was sold at a chain of Toyota Japan dealerships called Toyota Store, next to the more upscale Crown, which was intended as a private purchase alternative to the Master.
The GAZ M1 (“Эмка“/”Emka”) was a passenger car produced by the Soviet automaker GAZ between 1936 and 1943, at their plant in Gorky.
The Chrysler Six was a series of cars that were all installed with the Chrysler Straight Six when the company assumed operations of the Maxwell Automobile Company in 1924, and Chalmers Automobile Company in 1926. The Chrysler Six initially consisted of several Models, then Series designations that originally declared the approximate top speed each vehicle was able to consistently maintain, then each series number was incrementally updated every new model year, and each series was offered in several body style choices. The engines were technically advanced for their time and were entered in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 1925, 1928 and 1929.