Mitsubishi Mizushima
Encyclopedia
The Mitsubishi Mizushima is the first of a series of three wheeled
cargo carrier
s made in Japan
by Mitsubishi
between 1946 and 1962. It was a mechanically simple and rugged vehicle, with a 400 kg
carrying capacity, and was equipped with a folding canvas covering and a windshield to protect the occupants. Along with the Silver Pigeon
scooter
it represented the company's first contributions to the Japanese post-war
personal transport boom.
Later models would be introduced offering greater load-bearing abilities and a wider variety of bodystyles. The 1948–50 TM3D model was built with a hardtop passenger cabin in response to customer demands, while the Mizushima's successor, the TM18 Mitsubishi Go pickup introduced in 1955, could carry up to two ton
s in its cargo bed. The 1959 Mitsubishi Leo, heavily influenced by the Mizushima, was a transition between the company's first post-war
vehicles and the Mitsubishi Minica
, which represented the company's future in the 1960s. The Leo used a 309 cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine, the ME20, producing 12.5 hp at 4,500 rpm. Payload was 300 kg (661.4 lb), top speed 65 kilometre per hour
Almost four decades later, Olivier Boulay
would borrow heavily from the Leo for styling cues for his first prototypes
when he became Mitsubishi Motors' design chief in 2001.
During the Mizushima's life approximately 90,000 were produced, before it was replaced by the Mitsubishi Minicab
in 1962.
Three wheeler
A three wheeler is a vehicle with three wheels, either "human or people-powered vehicles" or motorized vehicles in the form of a motorcycle, All terrain vehicle or automobile. Other names for three-wheelers include Trikes, Tricars and Cyclecars...
cargo carrier
Pickup truck
A pickup truck is a light motor vehicle with an open-top rear cargo area .-Definition:...
s made in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
by Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi
The Mitsubishi Group , Mitsubishi Group of Companies, or Mitsubishi Companies is a Japanese multinational conglomerate company that consists of a range of autonomous businesses which share the Mitsubishi brand, trademark and legacy...
between 1946 and 1962. It was a mechanically simple and rugged vehicle, with a 400 kg
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
carrying capacity, and was equipped with a folding canvas covering and a windshield to protect the occupants. Along with the Silver Pigeon
Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon
The Mitsubishi Silver Pigeon is a series of scooters made in Japan by Mitsubishi between 1946 and 1963. The first was the C-10, based on a scooter imported from the United States by Koujiro Maruyama, which began production at the Nagoya Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries...
scooter
Scooter (motorcycle)
A scooter is a motorcycle with step-through frame and a platform for the operator's feet. Elements of scooter design have been present in some of the earliest motorcycles, and motorcycles identifiable as scooters have been made from 1914 or earlier...
it represented the company's first contributions to the Japanese post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
personal transport boom.
Evolutions
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s in its cargo bed. The 1959 Mitsubishi Leo, heavily influenced by the Mizushima, was a transition between the company's first post-war
Post-war
A post-war period or postwar period is the interval immediately following the ending of a war and enduring as long as war does not resume. A post-war period can become an interwar period or interbellum when a war between the same parties resumes at a later date...
vehicles and the Mitsubishi Minica
Mitsubishi Minica
-Minica Sedan:The first Minica was first introduced in October 1962 as a two-door sedan based on the Mitsubishi 360 light truck, sharing its front-mounted ME21 359 cc twin-cylinder air-cooled engine driving the rear wheels, transverse leaf springs in front and beam axle/leaf springs at the...
, which represented the company's future in the 1960s. The Leo used a 309 cc air-cooled single-cylinder engine, the ME20, producing 12.5 hp at 4,500 rpm. Payload was 300 kg (661.4 lb), top speed 65 kilometre per hour
Almost four decades later, Olivier Boulay
Olivier Boulay
Olivier Boulay is an automobile designer. Starting from 2009, he is the head of Daimler's Advanced Design Centre in Beijing, China....
would borrow heavily from the Leo for styling cues for his first prototypes
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
when he became Mitsubishi Motors' design chief in 2001.
During the Mizushima's life approximately 90,000 were produced, before it was replaced by the Mitsubishi Minicab
Mitsubishi Minicab
The Mitsubishi Minicab is a kei truck and microvan built and sold in Japan by Mitsubishi Motors since 1966.-First generation:The Minicab cab-over pickup truck was launched in 1966 to replace the 360, which by this time had adopted the same model name as the Minica sedan...
in 1962.