Mitsubishi Model A
Mitsubishi Model A prototype (1917 ) with workers of the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd..
The Mitsubishi Model A is the only car that the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.. , A member of the Mitsubishi keiretsu, which later evolved into Mitsubishi Motors, built and also the first series-produced car in Japan. It was produced from 1917 to 1921. The idea for its production goes back to Iwasaki Koyata, the fourth president of the company and nephew of the founder Yataro Iwasaki, who foresaw the immense potential of motorized vehicles and their role in the economic development of Japan. The Model A was a luxury automobile for high government officials and business leaders, and had therefore reliable, comfortable and be a shining example of Japanese craftsmanship.
The 4-door sedan with seven seats based on the Fiat Type 3 and had a four-cylinder engine with 2765 cm3 displacement and 35 hp (26 kW), drove the rear wheels and accelerate the car up to a speed of 32 km / h could. 22 copies (including prototypes), the firm manufactures in 4 years in the port of Kobe.
Since its production was very expensive - it was built completely by hand and the body was made of lacquered cypress wood - it could not compete with the cheaper brands from the U.S. and Europe and Mitsubishi ceased production after only four years. One concentrated with the Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation in the production of commercial vehicles. A Mitsubishi car was with the Mitsubishi Henry J offered again until 1951.
In the '' car '' Gallery of Mitsubishi ( an existing since 1989 Museum in Okazaki ) a replica of the model A is shown, which was assembled in 1972 with contemporary materials. The replica has a slightly shorter Radststand and a water-cooled, overhead- four-cylinder engine with 977 cm3 instead of the original engine with 2.8 l displacement.
External links and sources
- Mitsubishi Motors Web Museum (English)
- The replica model in the Mitsubishi Auto Gallery
- Data of Mitsubishi A at Carfolio.com ( differs slightly from the plant data )
- Frank, Michael: "The Greatest Japanese Cars Of All Time" at Forbes.com
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