Mitsubishi 500

Mitsubishi
500/500 Super DeLuxe
Production period:	1959-1962
Class :	Microcar
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 0.5-0.6 liters (15.4-18.4 kW)
Length:	3140 mm
Width:	1390 mm
Height:	1372 mm
Wheelbase :	2060 mm
Empty weight :	460 kg
successor	Colt 600

The Mitsubishi 500 was the first passenger car built by Shin Mitsubishi Heavy-Industries Ltd , one of the companies that later became Mitsubishi Motors . It cost 1960 ¥ 390,000, - and was of an air-cooled, mounted in the rear two-cylinder inline engine with 493 cm ³ capacity and a power of 20 HP (15 kW) at 5000 min ^-1 driven. The engine was equipped with a single downdraft carburetor and the engine power was transmitted to the rear wheels via a manual three-speed gearbox.

In 1961 the car got a bigger engine with 594 cm ³ displacement with better acceleration. This model was offered as the Mitsubishi 500 Super DeLuxe .

In 1962 the car was redesigned and was now called the Colt 600 .

Motorsport

Today Mitsubishi is better known for its success in off-road competitions with a rally car based on the Mitsubishi Pajero or the WRC based on the Mitsubishi Lancer , but the first homologated racing car was a touring car based on the 500 Super DeLuxe, which was used at the Macau Grand Prix in 1962 . Kazuo Togawa was able to make a name for himself in a furious racing debut because the little racer took the first four places in the class up to 750 cm ³ .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ History of Mitsubishi 1960-1969 (English) ( Memento of the original from May 15, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ↑ Mitsubishi 500 (English) ( Memento of the original from March 9, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.