Toyota MiniAce

Toyota
Toyota MiniAce flatbed truck (1968)
MiniAce
Manufacturer:	Toyota
Production period:	1967-1975
Previous model:	none
Successor:	Toyota TownAce
Technical specifications
Designs:	Minibus , pickup truck , panel van
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.79 liters (26 kW)
Length:	3505-3610 mm
Width:	1380 mm
Height:	1625-1675 mm
Wheelbase:	1950 mm

The Toyota MiniAce (UP100) was a pickup truck that was offered in the Asian market from 1967 to 1975. It was based on Toyota's mass model , the Toyota Publica , more precisely on the Publica P20 Pick Up. The empty weight is given as 600–740 kg. It was sold in Japan through the Toyota dealer networks Corolla Shop and Toyota Auto Store.

Model history

The MiniAce concept was developed back in 1964. The technology with the air-cooled, 2-cylinder boxer engine type 2U-B with 0.8 liter displacement was still widespread at the time of the introduction of the MiniAce. The dimensions were the same as the Publica pickup from which it was derived. Its turning circle of only 7.8 m was outstanding , which was a mini weapon in the rapidly growing Japanese car market. While the pickups called light trucks in Japan at that time had a maximum payload of 500 kg, the MiniAce had 150 kg more. It was lighter and therefore cheaper than competitors at the time, such as the Mitsubishi Delica or the Mazda Bongo , which, however, offered more loading volume and payload. In the beginning, however, his main competition was the pickup trucks. These were around 400,000 yen when it entered the market , but the MiniAce only cost 328,000 yen, which was an important selling point.

In the beginning, the MiniAce quickly became a great sales success - especially when the MiniAce Coach was offered , a minibus that could seat seven people. However, gradually more and more competitors entered the segment with more modern technology and better usage options for the same masses, albeit more expensive. When the Datsun Sunny Cab, which was launched in 1969, appeared on the market in 1972 with a water-cooled 1.2-liter engine, Toyota responded by building the Publica commercial vehicle engine 2U of the same type with 36 HP in the MiniAce. The transmission ratio of the differential gear with increased torque now enabled a top speed of 110 km / h, according to the manufacturer. This should ensure that the MiniAce continued to be successful, but it did not succeed; Nevertheless, Toyota did not want to make any major investments in the now technically backward model. In 1967 Toyota had entered into a cooperation with Daihatsu and therefore wanted to leave this segment to the allied company.

In addition, it was clear that from 1976 stricter emissions regulations would apply, which the air-cooled engine could only have met with great effort. A successor should therefore be larger and more modern so that it can also be offered for further export. In the home market, customers used the slightly larger Toyota LiteAce model for the commercial variants anyway, and so their further development was preferred. Since the MiniAce could still sell well in other Asian markets, it was produced until December 1975 until the end of the new emissions regulations. From 1976 the TownAce - a model based on the LiteAce - was presented as a successor.

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  Publica Pick Up

Web links

• Toyota Mini Ace at Gazoo.com (Japanese)