Mitsuoka Motor (光岡自動車) is a small Japanese automobile company. It is noted for building cars with unconventional styling, some of which are modern while most others are retro-styled to imitate the look of American, European and particularly British cars of the 1950s and 1960s.[1] Mitsuoka Motors is also the principal distributor of the retro-classic TD2000 roadster in Japan.
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automobile manufacturing |
| Founded | 1 February 1968 |
| Headquarters | 508-3, Kakeomachi, Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan |
Key people | Akio Mitsuoka, (Representative Director and President) |
| Products | Automobiles, Luxury vehicles |
| Revenue | ¥227,000,000 |
| ¥29,700,000,000 | |
Number of employees | 580 (As of March, 2008) |
| Website | mitsuoka-motor |
Mitsuoka is primarily a custom design coachbuilder, customizing production cars, e.g., the Nissan March, and replacing various aspects of the bodywork. It has also produced a sports car, the Orochi,[2] and has a special department for hearses.[3]
History
editMitsuoka was recognised in 1994[4] as the 10th Japanese auto manufacturer to be registered in Japan since Honda in 1963, basing its current cars on Nissans and other Japanese car manufacturers.
Mitsuoka Motor launched in the UK in 2015 under sole distribution of T W White & Sons and launched the Mitsuoka Roadster (Himiko) at the London Motor Show in 2016.[5]
The M55 is a Showa retro concept car created for Mitsuoka's 55th anniversary. The appearance of the car is intended to resemble that of cars from 1970s Japan.[6][7][8] The car has been said to resemble 1970s models of the Datsun B110,[9] the Mitsubishi Galant GTO,[9][10] the Nissan Skyline[9][10] and the Toyota Celica.[11] Although the M55 has been said to resemble the Dodge Challenger,[10] it is said to have actually been inspired by the Kenmeri Skyline.[12]
Models
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Current lineup
edit- 1993–present Viewt
- 1996–present Galue
- 2008–present Himiko/Roadster
- 2014–present Ryugi (based on the Toyota Corolla Axio and Toyota Corolla Fielder)
- 2021–present Buddy (K5 Blazer inspiration, based on the Toyota RAV4)[13]
Past vehicles
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- 1982 BUBU 50 Series[14]
- 1982 BUBU 501 (a three-wheeled microcar)
- 1985 BUBU 505-C (a Morgan 4/4 inspiration)
- 1987–1989 BUBU Classic SSK (replica of the Mercedes-Benz SSK roadster based on the Volkswagen Beetle)
- 1989–1990 BUBU 356 Speedstar[15] (a replica of the Porsche 356 Speedster)
- 1990–1993, 2000–2001 Le-Seyde (a Nissan Silvia-based coupé inspired by Zimmer)
- 1991–1993 Dore (similar to the Le-Seyde, based on the Nissan Silvia S13)
- 1994–2000 Zero1[16] (a Lotus Super Seven replica with Eunos Roadster drivetrain)
- 1996–2000 Type F (a restyled Zero1)
- 1996–2004 Ray (styling similar to the Riley Elf Mk.3, based on the Mazda Carol and later the Daihatsu Mira Gino)
- 1998–2004 Ryoga a "classically" styled sedan originally based on the Primera and later on the smaller Sunny
- 1998–2007 Mitsuoka Microcar
- 1998–2007 Microcar K-1/MC-1
- 1999–2007 MC-1T
- 1998–? Microcar K-2 (based on the design of the FMR Tg500)
- 2005–? Microcar K-3/Type F (design similar to the Zero1)
- 2006–? Microcar K-4/Type R[17] (styling reminiscent of 1950s race cars)
- 1999–2007 ME-1
- 2002–2007 ME-2 (Convoy 88)
- 1998–2007 Microcar K-1/MC-1
- 2000–2001 Yuga (a London Taxi replica based on the Nissan Cube)
- 2004–2012 Nouera (based on the Honda Accord and later the Toyota Corolla)
- 2007–2014 Orochi (based on the Honda NSX)
- 2008–2012 Galue 204 (based on the Toyota Corolla Axio)
- 2010–2012 Galue Classic (based on the Toyota Corolla Axio)
- 2010–2012 Like (based on the Mitsubishi i-MiEV)
- 2012–2022 Like-T3
- 2018–2022 Rock Star (C2 Corvette inspiration, based on the Mazda MX-5)
References
edit- ^ Hiroko Tashiro; Ian Rowley (208). "In Japan, a Car Apart from the Pack". Bloomberg Business Week website. Archived from the original on April 9, 2008. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
- ^ "Mitsuoka Orochi specs, pricing announced". Autoblog. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "Hearse Manufacturer | Mitsuoka Motor Co., Ltd". Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ Brull, Steven; Tribune, International Herald (1994-09-19). "Japan's Newest Automaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
- ^ Watanabe (1 June 2015). "Announcement, on opening the First Dealership in Europe. Launching Himiko in the UK market" (PDF). www.mitsuoka-motor.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ 昭和レトロな新型車＝創業５５年記念の「Ｍ５５」―光岡自動車. Jiji. 21 November 2024.
- ^ 70年代の“GTカー”が令和に復活!? 限定100台のミツオカ「M55ゼロエディション」ついに登場. Vague. 23 November 2024.
- ^ Mitsuoka Motor Launches Limited Run of M55 Concept Car; 100 Retro Inspired Vehicles to be Sold for ¥8.08 Million Each. The Japan News. 22 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Mitsuoka M55 Concept Turns the Honda Civic into a '70s Muscle Car. Car and Driver. 17 November 2023.
- ^ a b c The Mitsuoka M55: The Honda Civic concept car that challenges the Challenger. Slash Gear. 13 October 2024.
- ^ Mitsuoka turns Honda Civic into muscle car lookalike. New Zealand Autocar Magazine. 20 November 2023.
- ^ Mitsuoka M55 gets a limited production run. Formacar. 26 November 2024.
- ^ "Mitsuoka Buddy - a RAV4 with 80s Chevy truck looks - paultan.org". Paul Tan's Automotive News. 2020-11-03. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ "BUBU50 Series". Mitsuoka-motor.com. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ "BUBU356 Speedstar". Mitsuoka-motor.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ "Mitsuoka Zero1". Mitsuoka-motor.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
- ^ "Mitsuoka Microcar K-4". Mitsuoka Motor. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
External links
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- Mitsuoka Motors Japanese website (Japanese)
- Mitsuoka Motors UK website (English)
- Mitsuoka Motors global website (English)