The Daihatsu Taft is probably going one of the vital ambitiously named autos in automotive historical past – the identify “TAFT” is an acronym for “Powerful Almighty Fourwheeldrive Transport.”
I believe a lot of you’ll agree that there are far too few autos with the phrase “almighty” of their mannequin identify, and Daihatsu set about making this proper in 1974 after they launched the primary car within the Taft mannequin collection.
Quick Information – The Daihatsu Taft
- The Daihatsu Taft was initially launched in 1974 as a easy, Jeep-inspired 4×4 with a modestly sized 1.0 liter petrol engine.
- Over the course of the Taft’s 1974 to 1984 manufacturing run Daihatsu launched an extended wheelbase mannequin to accompany the unique quick wheel base mannequin, a tray again model was provided as had been completely different engine choices.
- The Daihatsu Taft F55 is the lengthy wheelbase tray again model, fitted with the two.5 liter diesel inline-four cylinder engine fitted, and mated to a four-speed handbook transmission and a two-speed switch case.
- The Taft F55 you see right here has been lately restored inside and outside, it was imported into Florida in 2022 and it’s now being provided on the market.
Daihatsu
Daihatsu is probably one of many least well-known Japanese automakers, although it’s additionally one of many oldest. The corporate began out as Hatsudoki Seizo Co. Ltd in 1907, it was basically a business entity arm of the Engineering Division’s school at Osaka College.
That is the F55 model of the Taft, that means its the lengthy wheelbase mannequin with a tray again and a 2.5 liter diesel engine up entrance.
Hatsudoki’s early years had been devoted to the event and manufacturing of small gasoline engines for industrial use. Additionally they constructed steam engines for the Japanese Nationwide Railways, adopted later by diesel railway engines, and at last by highway autos.
Easy, reasonably priced, and light-weight three-wheeled autos entered manufacturing with Hatsudoki within the Nineteen Thirties. After WWII in 1951 the corporate was renamed Daihatsu and it’s focus remained a lot the identical, the manufacturing of small and reasonably priced autos.
Within the Sixties Toyota purchased a big share in Daihatsu, slowly growing their stake over time.
Daihatsu grew to become one of the vital profitable “Kei Automotive” marques in Japan – these are autos designed to suit neatly inside Japanese authorities restrictions on dimension, weight, and engine displacement which gave them entry to a particular low tax bracket.
Over time Daihatsu’s focus shifted from developed nations and areas to the creating world, at present they’re a serious participant in nations like Indonesia and Malaysia.
The Daihatsu Taft
The Daihatsu Taft was clearly influenced by the early American Jeep, and by the Japanese autos that had been based mostly on it – just like the Toyota Land Cruiser and Nissan Patrol.
The two.5 liter diesel is an inline-four cylinder engine producing 61 bhp and 107 lb ft of torque, with the ability despatched again by a 4-speed handbook transmission and a two-speed switch case.
The Taft has a utilitarian design with stamped metal physique panels, a ladder body metal chassis, reside axles entrance and rear on leaf springs, a minimalist inside, and a entrance mounted engine sending energy again by a handbook transmission and two-speed switch case.
The unique Taft was the F10, it was powered by a 1.0 liter gasoline engine, later variations would obtain a 1.6 liter gasoline engine, or the two.5 liter diesel which was later adopted by a 2.8 liter unit.
The mannequin household was provided below a variety of completely different names in numerous world markets, it was often known as the Blizzard, Scat, Wildcat, and Pionier relying on the place you had been on the planet.
Tipping the scales at between 2,170 and a couple of,760 lbs, the low weight and small dimensions of the Taft made it ultimate for accessing laborious to achieve areas on slim trails overgrown with flowers.
Manufacturing would run from 1974 till 1984, after which era it was changed by the Daihatsu Rugger, which was often known as the Daihatsu Rocky or the Daihatsu Fourtrak, once more relying on the place you lived.
The inside is simply as utilitarian as the outside, it has seating for 2 and it’s left hand drive.
The Daihatsu Taft F55 Proven Right here
The Taft you see here’s a 1981 F55 mannequin, the lengthy wheelbase tray again model with the two.5 liter diesel engine.
We don’t see many of those getting restored however with the rising curiosity in each traditional four-wheel drives and traditional Japanese autos, we might even see extra Tafts getting the restoration remedy.
The restoration on this one completed lately and the car was then imported into the US in March of 2022. It’s now being provided with a clear Florida title and the right software equipment.
In the event you’d prefer to learn extra about this uncommon traditional 4×4 or register to bid you may go to the itemizing right here on Convey A Trailer.
Photographs courtesy of Convey A Trailer
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