Next article is coming in July 2008!
The Familia, which debuted as a genuine family car in 1963, underwent its first full redesign in 1967, when it was given a modern oval body shape.
On hearing the word "Bongo" many people, even those unfamiliar with Mazda, will immediately bring to mind a box-style vehicle. The Bongo-the first cab-over one box van with the engine located under the floor, which became synonymous with the one-box car-was launched 41 years ago.
Mazda, which launched its first passenger car, the R360 coupe, on the market in 1960, introduced the Carol in 1962 and Familia (Mazda323) in 1964, and steadily developed models from this base thereafter.
Mazda sold its first bus in February 1960. It was a 13-seat minibus based on the D1500, Mazda's cab-over semi style compact truck that was sold to the Japan Defence Agency.
The Mazda 110S - the world's first volume production sports car powered by a rotary engine - was unveiled to the public at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 1963. When the president of Mazda, Tsuneji Matsuda, drove the prototype at the show venue it was a surprise to everyone.
The celebrated Familia was designed to cater to family outings. It began life as a modern van and went on to transform the image of commercial vehicles.
The proportion of three-wheeled trucks that contributed to Japan's recovery after the war peaked at 72 percent of overall truck production in 1953.
Following the huge success of the R360 coupe, on February 23, 1962, Mazda brought out a completely new minicar named after the carol (a joyful song). This was the Carol 360, a car that Mazda developed alongside the prototype Mazda 700 that was unveiled at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show.
Mazda launched its first passenger car, the R360 coupe, throughout Japan on May 28, 1960. The launch coincided with a period of improved income levels and changing lifestyles, and the beginning of the boom in demand for car ownership in Japan.
Mazda's history as an automaker began in 1931 with the unveiling of a 3-wheel truck known as the Mazda-Go DA Type. The company was aiming for class-leading performance and maximum loading capacity, domestic production of various parts including the engine, and the setting up of a consistent volume production system. The engine was built in-house and had a transmission with a reverse gear,a rear differential and other components patented by Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. (predecessor of Mazda Motor Corporation). The introduction of Mazda-Go was a pivotal moment in the history of Japan's 3-wheel truck market.