| Honda T360 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Honda |
| Also called | Honda T500 |
| Production | June 1963 – November 1967 |
| Assembly | Saitama Factory (later Wako Plant),Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Kei truck |
| Body style | 2-doorpickup truck 2-doorvan |
| Related | Honda S360 Honda S600 Honda L700 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 356 ccAK250EI4 531 ccAK280E I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speedmanual transmission |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,000 mm (78.7 in) |
| Length | 2,990 mm (117.7 in) |
| Width | 1,295 mm (51.0 in) |
| Height | 1,525 mm (60.0 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Honda TN360 |
TheHonda T360 is apickup truck fromHonda. Introduced in June 1963, it was Honda's first productionautomobile, beating theS500 Sports by four months.[1] There was also a larger-engined version called theT500, mainly sold in export.
The T360 used a 356 cc AK250E seriesDOHCinline-four engine also found in theHonda S360 roadster prototype, with which it also shared the chassis. The mid-mounted unit propelled the truck to a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), and was accessed by lifting up the bench seat inside the cabin.[2] The engine generated 30 PS (22 kW) at 8,500 rpm, reflecting Honda'smotorcycle heritage. A total of 108,920 T360s were produced from 1963 through August 1967, all painted in "May Blue".[3] It has a wraparound, clamshell-style bonnet which leaves the headlights in place when opened.
The similar but somewhat largerT500 used a 38 PS (28 kW) 531 cc version of the engine, excluding it from theKei car class. The T500, first shown in September 1964, was mainly intended for export markets. Its engine delivered high in the rev range (maximum power arrived at 7,500 rpm, with redline at 9,000 rpm) and was a slightly downtuned version of the one found in theHonda S500 sports car.[1] Top speed was 105 km/h (65 mph). A total of 10,226 T500s were built from 1964 through November 1967, and were all painted "Moss Green". Aside from the different color and engine, the T500 was 20 cm longer (all behind the rear axle), as its overall length was not dictated by the Kei regulations.[2] Another minor distinction was the fittings for license plates larger than those of a Kei car, as well as a higher 400 kg (882 lb) load capacity.[1]
The T360 was produced as a conventionalrear-wheel drive pickup truck, a flatbed (the T360F), a flatbed with folding sides (the T360H), and as a covered van (the T360V). There was also a version of the T360 called the "Snow Crawler", equipped with tracked propulsion units at the rear. Due to its expense, the Snow Crawler remained a rarity in spite of its usefulness in certain parts of northern Japan. The T500 came either with a conventional pickup body (T500), or with the folding side flatbed, this time with the "F" suffix; called the T500F.[3]
