Toyota MiniAce

Toyota MiniAce Flatbed (1968 )

The Toyota MiniAce ( UP100 ) was a pickup truck, which was offered from 1967 to 1975 in the Asian market. It was based on the mass model of Toyota, the Toyota Publica, specifically the P20 Publica Pick Up. It was sold in Japan on the Toyota Corolla dealer networks Store and Toyota Auto Store.

Model History

The concept of MiniAce was developed in 1964. The technique with the air-cooled, 2- cylinder boxer engine type 2U -B with 0.8 liter displacement was at the time of the introduction of the MiniAce still widely used, the dimensions were the same with the Publica pickup from which he was descended. Outstanding was his turning circle of just 7.8 meters, which was a mini- gun in the rapidly growing auto market in Japan. During that time referred to in Japan light trucks pickups had a maximum payload of 500 kg, there were at MiniAce 150 kg more. It was easier and therefore cheaper than former rivals such as the Mitsubishi Delica or the Mazda Bongo, but offered more load volume and payload. Its main competitors were at the beginning but the pickup trucks. These were about 400,000 yen expensive to its market presence, but the MiniAce only cost 328,000 yen, which was a major selling point.

So the MiniAce was initially surprising a great sales success - even more so when you took the MiniAce coach to offer a minibus, which offered seven people. However, gradually came more and more competitors in the segment with more modern technology and better use of opportunities for equal masses, albeit more expensive. As of 1969 appeared on the market Datsun Sunny Cab 1972 appeared with a water-cooled 1.2 - liter engine on the market, Toyota responded with the construction of the Publica - commercial vehicle engine 2U same type with 36 hp in the MiniAce. The gear ratio of the differential gear with increased torque allowed by the manufacturer now a top speed of 110 km / h This should ensure that the MiniAce also remained more successful, which did not succeed; Toyota still did not make any major investments in the now technically backward model. 1967 Toyota had a cooperation with Daihatsu closed and therefore wanted to leave this segment of the allied companies.

In addition, it was clear that in 1976 more stringent emission rules would apply, which would have let comply only with great effort at the air-cooled engine. A successor should therefore be larger and more modern, also to be offered in the further export to. In its home market, customers intervened in commercial versions anyway to slightly larger model Toyota LiteAce and so preferred to its further development. Since the MiniAce but could still sell well in other Asian markets, he was still produced until December 1975 to Off by the new emission regulations. From 1976, the Townace was - a model based on the LiteAce - as the successor.