Never Seen One: 1960 Mitsubishi Go Pickup
The range of Japanese oddballs that did duty as commercial and/or light utility vehicles never ceases to amaze me, as you wouldn’t think a vehicle with just three wheels was able to perform cargo ferrying duties. Well, this 1960 Mitsubishi Go pickup is here to twist your preconceived notions on their head, and you’ll find it here on eBay with a $3,200 Buy-It-Now.
The Go could transport up to two tons of stuff in its bed, thoroughly outpacing my modest expectations. The Japanese built all manners of single cab pickups and utility bodies, which made it easier to navigate Japan’s narrow streets and far more efficient than a full-size delivery vehicle. The story of how this Go got here must be a fascinating one, but the seller doesn’t elaborate on its history.
That’s the trickiest aspect of owning a vehicle like this. The novelty factor is through the roof, and it likely could prove pretty handy in performing some light-duty transport duties. However, if a piece of switchgear breaks or you decide having mint-condition door panels is a priority, get ready to search high and low for spares overseas. While the seller says there is no rot-through on the frame, is that daylight poking through the floorboards?
The good news is someone has already done the hard work of tracking down some much needed spares. Per the seller: “Extra parts include complete rear axle and springs, exhaust manifold, additional gas tank and oil tank. Spare dash cluster, additional drive shaft, and spare tire holder.” While it’s not everything, that’s a healthy list of bits you may very well need sooner than later. Would you use this Mitsu three-wheeler as an errand runner?
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Comments
Looks like a maintenence worker’s cart you see at city parks. I can’t see this moving 400 lbs though, much less 4000
I want one more complete.
Golf course staple…
Again, wrong end of the planet. Rattz.
I would leave it stock, but I have to pose the question; what would Ed “Big Daddy” Roth do to it? Hyabusa power mebbe?
Always thought it odd that the Germans were able to build 3-wheel Kabinenrollers and Isettas using leftover cockpits and canopies and the Japanese didn’t. Maybe they threw everything they had in the war against the Allies, and didn’t have surplus parts or plants?
Anybody else hear that Jackie Chan Asian busy street scene music? One step up from a rickshaw, and I feel for the poor Asian dude that hauled a ton of something in this unit.( laughing hysterically) Never been, but Asian countries use all kinds of 3 wheelers like this. An Asian Cushman Truckster, as it were.
https://www.robertharding.com/preview/1113-71898/heavy-load-overloaded-threewheeler-china-asia/
Are you kidding? In Asia they are used to hauling a ton PLUS the whole family on a old 50cc Honda cub.
Bandai of Japan (famous for making Power Rangers toys) made a bunch of these in the early 1960s in lithographed tin. They are quite collectible today.
Fascinating. If I didn’t have to share the road with F150s (often driven by distracted drivers on cell phones) I would want one..
Seems interesting, like a Cushman Truckster or more civil my ’63 King Midget.
When I was 15 in 1967, I spent a summer in Japan. My father was working at the Mitsubishi Shipyard in Shimonoseki. I would see these “trucks” driving around all the time. I looked at the engine of one and it looked like a similar to a Triumph 650 motorcycle engine. Maybe it was a Honda instead of a Mitsubishi.
Get a JD gator instead.
Speaking of those unusual Japanese mini trucks,. I would be interested to know if any of you have seen one like mine? 1997 Mitsubishi Midget II. I’ve been searching for three years to find other owners of these to share info. Any leads would be appreciated.
Mickey
That’s a Daihatsu Midget II They are still around here in Japan in one and two passenger configurations.
Daihatsu brought them back as a nostalgia thing as the original Midget was a three wheeled truck like the one shown above.
Gerry, you are correct. I don’t know why I typed Mitsubishi. I’ve had this Daihatsu Midget II for about three years. Would love to know how many made it to USA. Are they making them again or just restoring old ones? Thanks for correcting my mistake. This (poor) pic shows it next to my F150 for reference.
Hi Mickey
I’m just found the same mini truck on Craigslist.
Maybe it can help you somehow.
Good luck.
https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ctd/d/1996-daihatsu-midget/6661816466.html
Two tons? I am afraid that I would have to see 4000 lbs in it to believe it! JMT!
Thank you Sedoy. I will contact them to see if they have any helpful advice. I appreciate your help.
Strange to see this in Left Hand Drive configuration. Maybe it was made for some export market as Japan drives Right Hand Drive.