Motor Car History
 Veteran - Vintage - Classic - Modern
Motor car history
Understanding the Automobile
Toggle Navigation
  • Home
  • Makes and models
  • Motor car History
  • Innovations
  • Trivia
  • Help Guide
  • links
  • You are here:  
  • Motor Car
  • Make and Model
  • D
  • Daihatsu
  • Daihatsu Bee (1951-1954)

 Daihatsu Bee

1951-1954
Daihatsu Bee 3 wheel car
Overview
Manufacturer Daihatsu
Body and chassis
Class Microcar
Body style 2-door coupé
Layout Rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine 540 cc H2 (petrol)

 

The Daihatsu Bee is a three-wheeled microcar produced by the Japanese manufactuer Daihatsu from 1951.

Overview

Although Daihatsu had been producing motorized tricycles for carrying freight since 1930, and had also produced a small car for military use in 1937, the Bee was the first passenger car the company built for sale to the general public.

Daihatsu Bee side view

The car was marketed from October 1951, shortly before the company changed its name from 'Hatsudoki Seizo Co' to Daihatsu.

Photographs show the car with a two-door fibreglass body, though other sources state that it had a four-door body instead and as a result was popular as a taxi.

Daihatsu Bee history

Power was provided by a rear-mounted 540 cc OHV air-cooled two-cylinder four-stroke engine. It was the first car in Japan with a horizontally opposed engine. The car was adapted from one of Daihatsu's three-wheeled delivery trucks. It sold very poorly, production was highly labor-intensive and ceased after only approximately 300 units were built.

1951 Daihatsu Bee rear view

 Daihatsu Bee rear view

Daihatsu
Return
Daihatsu Applause (1989–2000) 2 / 54 Daihatsu Boon (2004-)
Send
Print

Related

motor car on you tube

Categories
Daihatsu
Japanese Vehicles from 1950s | Vehicles launched in 1951 | Micro car | 3 wheel cars

Daihatsu models

  • Daihatsu Charade
  • Daihatsu Hijet
  • Daihatsu Mira

Read more in this section

Daihatsu Hijet 1st gen (1960-1966)
Daihatsu Hijet 1st gen (1960-1966)
Read more...
Daihatsu Opti (1992-1998)
Daihatsu Opti (1992-1998)
Read more...
Daihatsu Mira Cuore 6th gen (2002-2006)
Daihatsu Mira Cuore 6th gen (2002-2006)
Read more...

  • You are here:  
  • Motor Car
  • Make and Model
  • D
  • Daihatsu

Back to Top

© 2021 Motor Car History

X

Right Click

No right click