Little Red Thing: 1969 Cony 360 Wide Pickup
Have you ever wanted a pickup you can drive around in your backyard? This sad-faced little pickup was built by Aichi Machine Industry Co. They built things like fighter-bombers and aircraft carriers during the war. After the war, they decided to build something smaller, much smaller. Their line of little vehicles survived into the 1970s. This is a mid-engine pickup with a 360 CC air-cooled twin engine with about 18 HP. It’s listed on craigslist here in Sacramento, California for $2,000. Most of the Conys that were imported were right-hand drive but this is a rare left-hand drive truck. It was running when parked so it will need the usual mechanical attention to revive it. There are no apparent signs of rust.
There are no signs of luxury or even much room in the cab, but it does have room for two. The steering wheel appears to have lost its plastic coating. The engine is under the middle of the truck so there’s no hump in the middle. This would be a scary place at the top speed of 50 mph.
The fold down sides could be very handy. You won’t haul much in this truck or haul it very far. It could be fun around town and it would be easy to park. What do you think this little truck could be used for.
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Comments
Was there a “Cony Narrow” as well? I know there was a Cony “Guppy” (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/1962_Cony_Guppy.jpg/1280px-1962_Cony_Guppy.jpg)….
Assuming it needs nothing more than brakes and a tune-up, you’d still have to make friends with your nearest Cony dealer, which might be difficult!
The Cony Guppy is one of my favourite oddities that came out of Japan. The attached photo flatters to deceive. The Guppy had a mid-mounted engine, and the feet of the occupants actually extended almost out to the front wheels, forming an organic crumple zone!
I like the organic crumple zone line Adam! Also giving new meaning to the term suicide doors.
“…………. What do you think this little truck could be used for?”
Lawn ornament?
Is this related to the Subaru?
They’d are not related. There were several “360” vehicles because 360 CC and smaller fell into a lower tax rate. Nissan was the parent company when this was built.
The little guy sold real fast. The ad was already taken down.
These look like the kids ride cars at play land and other amusement parks especially tires and hubcaps
I had a Subaru 360 van, and have since then wished I’d had a Cony. That Subaru was the only vehicle I know of whose chassis was not up to handling 17hp, not by a long shot, thanks mostly to the misbegotten front suspension. That used trailing arms, sorta like VW’s, only these were single arms with the kingpin at the back end … which meant that when the vehicle leaned in a corner its outer wheel – you know, the one with all the weight on it – went into a state of negative caster, making the wheel just try hard to fold under. This would also make the body flex enough to make the rear-hinged door fly open. GREAT fun on those hard right turns! So we did not do any hard turns at all.
A few years ago there was a Little Cars show here in L.A. County, and both a Cony and a Subaru pickup were on display. Everything about the Cony was obviously superior, from its opposed-twin OHV engine to its overall fit and finish and vastly superior suspension setup.
Probably just as well this is long gone. I would have a very hard time justifying this on the home front; might even have to move into the bed!
It’s wonderful, probably orginially White, I hope someone gives it a good home.
I’m thinking … a nice planter on a golf course or out front a wrecking yard.
I would love one as a parts runner /advertising. A couple of my friends have them and Colman imported them for a while , so there are actually home grown brands of the Japanese import