Daihatsu Midget

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Daihatsu Midget
Manufacturer:	Daihatsu
Production period:	1957-1972 1996-2001
Previous model:
Successor:

The Daihatsu Midget is a three-wheel pickup truck manufactured by Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. manufactured from 1957. Midget means "dwarf" when translated from English.

Increased safety requirements and comfort desires put an end to the long production period of the Midget in Japan in 1972. In the program he was replaced by the Daihatsu Hijet . It was not until years later that Daihatsu took up a similar concept with the Daihatsu Midget II .

Midget DK (1957-1959)

Midget DK
Daihatsu Midget DK
Production period:	1957-1959
Designs:	Box trucks , flatbed trucks
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.25 liters (7.4 kW)
Length:	2540 mm
Width:	1200 mm
Height:	1455 mm
Payload:	0.35 t

Production of the pickup started in August 1957 . Driven by an air-cooled 250 cm³ single-cylinder two-stroke petrol engine (ZA) with 10 hp (7.4 kW), a top speed of 65 km / h with a payload of 300 kg could be achieved. While only one seat was possible in the driver's compartment, two people could sit on the loading area. The cabin interior was to be removed by means of strips up to the windshield.

Midget MP (1959-1972)

Midget MP4 / MP5
Daihatsu Midget MP4
Production period:	1959-1972
Designs:	Box trucks , flatbed trucks
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.31 liters (8.8 kW)
Length:	2970 mm
Width:	1295 mm
Height:	1500 mm
Payload:	0.35 t

In October 1959 the MP4 came on the market. The Midget now had a closed cabin with a larger front structure and two headlights. There were now two seats in the front, while at the same time the loading length had increased by 20 cm. In addition to the ZA, the ZD engine was now also offered with a maximum output of 12 hp (8.8 kW) at 305 cm³. The payload was 350 kg.

In 1962 the MP5 appeared, a closed box van, with another 10 cm longer loading length. In 1972, production in Japan was discontinued due to the increased need for safety and comfort.

At least some vehicles appear to have been exported to the US as well. From 2002 a vehicle similar to the Midget MP4 was produced by Chinnaraje as the Chinnaraje Midjet in Thailand .

Midget II (1996-2001)

Midget II
Daihatsu Midget II
Production period:	1996-2001
Designs:	Box trucks , flatbed trucks
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.66 liters (23 kW)
Length:	2895 mm
Width:	1335 mm
Height:	1650 mm
Wheelbase:	1840 mm
Payload:	0.58 t

In the 1990s, Daihatsu wanted to produce a commercial vehicle that was manoeuvrable and had a high payload due to the increasingly restricted traffic space and the increased vehicle weight and mass. For the first time, Daihatsu presented a study in 1993 at the 30th Tokyo Motor Show . The response was very great and the study was further developed into the Midget and presented in 1995 at the 31st Tokyo Motor Show. Even then, there were numerous pre-orders for the new model. It was about half the weight of a Daihatsu Hijet, had a turning circle of only 7.2 m and the spare wheel was mounted on the bow to save space. Numerous parts were adopted from the Hijet, as well as the engine, which made production easier and reduced production costs. All measures taken together resulted in about half the consumption of a comparable hijet.

In January 1996 the type K100P appeared in a so-called truck version (pick-up) with two seats at the front, four-speed manual transmission , three-cylinder 659 cm³ SOHC gasoline engine with 23 kW (31 hp), 10-inch wheels, four drum brakes and all-wheel drive .

The Midget Cargo appeared in January 1997. It was a panel van . A three-speed automatic transmission was now available as an option . In October 1997, a passenger car version of the Midget Cargo appeared with glazed rear side windows and a three-seater bench, also available in a special version with two-tone paintwork and leather-covered seat cushions and steering wheel handle.

From October 1998 air conditioning was available as an extra. In September 1999, there were minor improvements to increase safety, including belt force limiters and, if required, a driver's airbag . In addition, the engine and transmission ratio have been revised to further reduce pollutants and fuel consumption. The dimensions of the vehicle changed slightly as a result.

Production ended in June 2001.

Midget II Cargo

Web links

Commons : Daihatsu Midget  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Running Three-Wheeler: 1969 Daihatsu Midget MP5 in LA. In: bringatrailer.com. February 7, 2018, accessed February 3, 2019 . 
2. ↑ Chinnaraje: Manufacturer ( Memento of February 4, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
3. ↑ Tuk Tuks made in Chiang Mai. In: northernthailand.com. April 2, 2010, accessed January 10, 2019 .