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(from Mazda Press
Release) The Mazda R360 Coupe.
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. The automotive industry was in full swing,
brought to fruition by such factors as the first All Japan Motor
Show in 1954 (later to become the Tokyo Motor Show), the national
car concept put forward by the Ministry of International Trade and
Industry (MITI-currently the Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry) in 1955, trade liberalization and other measures that
stimulated the economy. That said, the cars of the period even the
mini cars for the masses were expensive and hard to come by.
However, people still dreamed of having their own car and Mazda’s
R360 coupe was born from this desire, breaking the mold of the mini
car of that period.
A hugely successful debut
In the development of
the R360, Mazda used new technology and thoroughly raised its
manufacturing efficiency. In so doing, it managed to introduce
models with very low sticker prices--300,000 yen for the manual
transmission version and 320,000 yen for the first car in the
country equipped with a torque converter. By May 20, 1960, just
prior to the R360's launch, Mazda had already received orders for as
many as 4,500 units. The car's popularity increased even further
after the launch, and by August Mazda was selling in excess of 2,000
units per month. In December of that year the company saw
record-breaking sales of 4,090 units. The aggregate production
figure for 1960 amounted to 23,417 units, giving Mazda a 64.8%
production share of the mini car market. In helping to fulfill
people's dreams of owning a car, the R360 coupe played a leading
role in the development of Japan's motorization.
Advances that opened a new chapter
in Mazda's history
The attraction of the
R360 coupe was not price alone. It was the first domestically
produced car to use a torque converter, together with a host of
other cutting-edge technologies Mazda had developed. The R360 was
also the first mini passenger car to be equipped with a four-stroke
engine, realizing better durability and fuel economy than its
two-stroke counterpart. The engine also used a substantial amount of
magnesium alloy. Combined with a light monocoque body, light alloy
hood and other weight-saving measures, this made the R360 the
lightest car produced in Japan at only 380 kg, with concomitant
gains in fuel economy and driving performance. The car had a
four-wheel independent suspension system employing torsion rubber
for a nimble and comfortable ride. The stylish and functional coupe
form enclosing the 2+2 cabin also led the field in Japan's car
design. A car so advanced it completely broke with convention, the
R360 heralded the future of Mazda's passenger cars.
