Read the full story at Auto Wire
Most people have seen at least a few Japanese Kei cars in their time, even if they don't realize it, even though they are rarely imported. The Scion xB will be the closest a car made for the American market has come to these small, low-powered, and cheap models that are more common in Japan. But even in the land of the rising sun, the Honda Vamos is one of the rarest and most unknown Kei trucks out there.
See low culture in Japan.
Unlike many other Keis, the Vamos was designed for open-air use, like the Jeeps of old. While buyers have fabric roofs and doors for these cars, Honda has designed all the transmissions and scales to be water and dust resistant.
Another simple interior was also created for hard use, so it's not easy to see how this little thing could be viewed as a weekend toy or a desert getaway. Buyers had the option of getting this Honda with two or four seats.
While the spare wheel was mounted on a slightly raked front nose, combined with round headlights, inviting open comparisons with the Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus, the Honda Vamos did not have a rear engine. Instead, this car has a 354cc engine located mid-ship in the chassis.
Most people could not understand what Vamos was about. Like other exotic cars that seemed to be a confused jumble of market segments, this was not a truck, a cruiser, a jeep, or an economy car. Maybe that's why Japanese consumers didn't take it lightly.
Despite what the British boy mistakenly says in the featured video, “Vamos” is Spanish for “let's go.” This wouldn't be the last time a Japanese automaker used a Spanish word for a model name, and the Mitsubishi Pajero is a prime example of one. Still, some found this revelation unbelievably strange, but they may have simply marveled at the monster's strange nature.
It is said that only 2,500 of these strange drugs were ever made. In other words, they failed to really connect with society. Some say this is due to the lack of four wheels, which clashes with the rugged, or rather lean, image of the runabout. If Honda sent power to all four wheels, maybe more people would go with a lightweight, small, manageable, and affordable vehicle to get out into the wilderness during weekend playtime.
Production ended from 1970 to 1973 and the egg was sold fresh outside of Japan. It is said that Honda decided that since they are a Kei car, outsiders will not be interested in that way. The automaker was probably right. Today, there is a small cult following the Vamos in North America and elsewhere, but many are still unaware of its existence.
Images via WasabiCars/YouTube
Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook.
Source link
