On this day in 1958: The first car with an all-Japanese automatic gearbox, The 'Frogeye' Sprite is born, and Ford's Edsel crisis
One day, a GI used Okamura's shop to repair his scooter, which had a hydraulic torque converter. This inspired the engineers there, and so by 1951 they had designed and built their own - splendidly named the No Clutch OK Drive.
With this succeeding in heavy machinery, Okamura decided to move into cars - and so it came to wow us at the fourth Tokyo motor show with a tiny coupé and estate. 'Box aside, inspiration came from theConventional suspension was fitted, though: the 2CV's ultra-soft linked set-up was deemed not robust enough - a decision we criticised. The drive wasn't very lively, with output of just 17bhp.
The Mikasas were to cost about £485, when the manual 2CV was £398 here. Some 500 were built by 1960, but not profitably, so in 1960 Okamura made"a courageous withdrawal" from car making. It's a reminder that innovation doesn't guarantee prosperity and nor does seeming to be the hottest start-up in an era of opportunity. Small British company Healey’s 1000 roadster impressed BMC so greatly that the two formed a joint venture. This having gained sales success, they set about designing a smaller, affordable car, with some help from MG.
The Sprite – popularly known as the Frogeye, due to its ‘cute’ styling – used uncomplex chassis and body construction and many proven BMC parts, including Austin A35 suspension, Morris Minor steering, and A-series manual ’box and 948cc four-pot engine. Twin carbs gave that 43bhp at 5000rpm and 0-60mph in 22sec. At £678, it undercut all rivals, and today it’s a beloved British icon.
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