Mitsubishi Minica

The Minica is a Japanese keicar model with a long history, first introduced in October, 1962 by Mitsubishi Motors as a two door sedan with a front mounted two cylinder two cycle air cooled 359 cc engine driving the rear wheels, a transverse leaf spring in front and rigid axle with leaf springs at the rear, based on the Mitsubishi 360 series of vans, wagons, and pickups. The Mitsubishi 360 pickup model continued to be produced into the early 1970s, renamed as the "Minica Pickup".

Second generation

The second generation Minica was introduced in July, 1969, with a 3 door sedan body and coil springs, front and rear, as well as an optional water cooled 28 horsepower (21 kW) engine and a sport model, the "GSS", with twin SU carburetors developing 38 horsepower (28 kW). A two door wagon body was added in December, which would remain in production until the early 1980s, the engine having grown to 546 cc. The "Minica Skipper" was introduced in May, 1971, as a two door coupe with liftable rear window and a 34 horsepower (25 kW) water cooled engine, as well as the optional 38 horsepower (28 kW) engine.

Third generation

The third generation Minica was introduced as the "Minica F4" in October, 1972 with a 360 cc overhead cam engine in the same basic configuration, but with the liftable rear window of the "Skipper", which itself continued production with the new engine as the "Minica Skipper IV". This model was the first sold by Chrysler Corporation in foreign markets as the "Mitsubishi Minica". In April, 1976 the keicar regulations were revised, and the car and wagon received a new 471 cc engine, a small increase in length, and a new name, the "Minica 5". The next year, the car and engine grew once again, creating the "Minica Ami 55". In September, 1981 the car received a facelift which again increased its size and was renamed as the "Minica Ami L", while the wagon was replaced with a three door sedan, the "Minica Econo". In March, 1983, the Minica became the first keicar to join in the turbocharging craze.