Mazda Porter

The Mazda Porter an Porter Cab wis a series o smaw trucks produced frae 1968 tae 1989, mainly sauld in the domestic Japanese mercat.

B360/B600

The predecessor o the Porter, introduced in Februar 1961, the Mazda B360 wis a pickup (KBBA33) or licht van (KBBAV) version o the R360 kei passenger caur. It haed a 356 cc OHV V-twin (BA) producin 13 hp (10 kW) an weighed 535 kg (1,179 lb). The 1962, export anerlie Mazda B600 wis seemilar tae the B360 except that it received an enlarged 577 cc version o the air-cooled V-twin. Later versions shared the P600 Carol's 586 cc engine. In September 1963 the B360 gained the 4-cylinder, 358 cc 20 hp (15 kW) OHV engine frae the Carol. It an aa received a facelift an new modelcodes (KBDA33/KBDAV), an a DeLuxe Van version wis added. Top speed went up frae 67 tae 79 km/h (49 mph). In October 1966 the B360 received anither facelift, givin it a muckle mair modren leuk.

Porter

Available aither as a pickup truck (KBDB33) or a smaw van (KBDBV), the first Porter (E360 in export markets) wis produced frae November 1968 tae Aprile 1976. The caur wis closely based on the B360 predecessor, but wi aw-new body panels.

The initial engine wis the carry-ower fower-stroke, 20 hp (15 kW) 358 cc I4 frae the B360. The engine wis changed tae the Chantez' 35 hp (26 kW) 359 cc watter-cooled, twa-stroke twa cylinder in Aprile 1973, which required some cosmetic changes (KBAA/KBAAV). In 1975 the Porter wis modified tae fit new, lairger license plates an the engine downgraded tae 32 hp (24 kW) tae match new, stricter emissions regulations.

The wheelbase wis 1,995 mm (78.5 in) wi leaf springs in the rear, wecht wis 475 kg (1,047 lb) an maximum cargo capacity wis 300 kg (661 lb) whan first introduced.

Porter Cab (1st generation)

The Porter Cab (KECA53) wis introduced in Mairch 1969. It wis a smaw, cabover pickup truck on a 1,835 mm (72.2 in) wheelbase, equipped wi a live rear axle an a 23 hp (17 kW) at 5500 rpm, 359 cc watter-cooled, twa-stroke twa cylinder. This, the CC, wis Mazda's first twa-stroke engine. Top speed wis 90 km/h (56 mph).

In 1970 new doors wur developed, wi slidin windaes wur exchanged for roll-doun items, incorporatin a quarter windae. A ventilation vent wis an aa added tae the front. Lik the Porter, the Porter Cab received the Chantez-derived AA engine in Aprile 1973, which offered 30 hp (22 kW) at 6000 rpm, five less nor in the Chantez. In Januar 1975, the Porter Cab too wis lightly modified tae fit the new lairger license plates - hitherto, kei caurs haed carried smawer license plates than regular caurs (230 mm (9.1 in) x 125 mm (4.9 in) rather than 330 x 165 mm). The Porter Cab, wi its peculiar cowlings aroond the headlights carried an instantly recognizable "surprised" appearance.

Prices

Porter Cab Standard	¥308,000	Mairch, 1969
Porter Cab DeLuxe	¥335,000	introduced Julie, 1969

Porter Cab (2nt generation)

When Kei caur regulations wur changed for 1976, due tae shrinkin sales in the category, Mazda did na think it a worthwhile expenditure tae develop a new, clean 550 cc engine. Instead, thay discontinued the Chantez passenger caur an the Porter pickup, an began buyin Mitsubishi's 2G23 engines tae equip the Porter Cab. The Porter Cab wis stretched bi 200 mm (awmaist entirely ahind the rear axle, wi the 1,835 mm (72.2 in) wheelbase remainin) an widened bi 100 mm (3.9 in). Dimensions wur nou 3,195 mm (125.8 in) x 1,395 mm (54.9 in), the 546 cc Vulcan S twa-cylinder developed 31 hp (23 kW) at 5500 rpm. The headlight bezels wur squared off, lending the caur a mair conventional appearance.

The seicont generation Porter Cab wis anerlie available in a bricht blue colour wi licht grey trim (bumpers, headlight bezels) an black interior, until the 1983 facelift efter which anerlie white wis available. The facelifted version gained the cleaner Vulcan II engine (G23B), awtho pouer ootput remained the same. Trim pieces wur nou in a daurker grey, interior broun.

In 1985 thare wis anither minor facelift, wi trim pieces nou in black an a black baund atween the headlights. The engine switched frae a timin chain tae a timin belt, an the interior changed tae gray. Air conditioning wis nou available as an option. In 1987 the Mitsubishi Minicab received Mitsubishi's new three-cylinder engine, but the Porter Cab haed tae soldier on wi the auld twa-cylinder. In Juin 1989, efter twintie years o continuous production wi nothing mair nor facelifts, the Porter Cab wis finally retired. It wis replaced bi the Autozam Scrum, a mere badge-engineered Suzuki Carry.

References

360cc: Nippon 軽自動車 Memorial 1950-1975: p97, 2007. ISBN 97-4-86144-083-0
Kazuo Ozeki, Memories of Japanese K-cars: 1951 ~ 1975: pp34–35, 85, 94-96. 2007: Mikipress. ISBN 978-4-89522-501-4