It’s fascinating to discover the bigger JDM cars, but there are many, many kei cars, vans and trucks around that also want a little attention (usually just 300-600cc’s worth). Trouble is, old cars are not often seen and old keis are rarer still – and I happen to like my CCs to be on the classic side. You know, like it says in the site’s name. Fortunately, I got lucky and found this wee veteran.
Thing is, I have a lot of ancient kei truck pics from Thailand. Daihatsu Hijets, mostly. I need to string these into a post someday. These are used as short-distance taxis in certain parts of Bangkok. Some were 40+ years old and still merrily darting about the streets.
That is certainly not the case in Japan. JDM kei cars rarely make it past their 10th birthday, while kei trucks seem to die off at age 20, if they’re lucky. They don’t all actually die – some get shipped off to other countries (or “to a farm upstate”?), but they do disappear. This Acty is well past its 30th birthday, so it’s a really uncommon sight around here.
Pre-1982 facelift Acty pickup and van
Just a quick Acty refresher, for the sake of context: Honda launched the model in 1977 to replace their previous generation kei trucks, which had become obsolete due to the 1975 revision of the legal parameters regarding these vehicles: dimension and weight limits were increased and the maximum engine size went from 360cc to 550cc. The Acty pickup was joined by a 5-door van in late 1979, got a facelift in 1982 and 4WD capability in 1983 before being replaced by a new generation in early 1988. So there.
The Acty gracing your screen at the moment is a 4WD model with a 5-speed manual. Its 550cc OHC twin, situated amidships, is thus a more powerful one – they went nuts and added 0.9 hp to the standard 27.6 hp engine, if you can believe that. Those 350kg of cargo can therefore climb every mountain and field every stream, provided said stream is shallow enough for the 12-inch wheels to wade through. By the way, the sticker that sort of looks like a flower is there to signify that the owner is over 70. You see these a lot – Japan’s ageing and folks here live longer than almost anywhere on Earth. I’m just not sure why people following you need to know that you’re a pensioner. Reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Marge gets a “Baby on board” sign, saying “Now people will stop intentionally ramming into our car!”
As per previous episodes of my continuing exploration of JDM CCs, the interior is so clean you could use it as a bento box. In a 30-year-old pickup truck. The mind doth truly boggle. And for a tiny ‘80s economy truck such as this, the dash seems to have everything that a bigger truck would – HVAC, radio, cigarette lighter. What more could you expect to get?
It’s the same on the outside, cleanliness-wise. Tiny traces of rust on the tailgate, but other than that, this pickup is in great condition for its age. Odds are, the same thing could be said about the guy driving it. He just needs to watch his tailgate and he’ll be fine. Just like all of us, really. That’s the secret to a long life: don’t overdo anything, watch your tailgate, keep clean and stay Acty.
Related post:
CC Outtake: Honda 4WD Acty pickup (2nd generation), by DMan
I would love to have one of these little trucks to play with.
Doesn’t the other sticker on the tailgate indicate the driver is learning how to drive? As a senior?
Better late than never…
Some 10-year-old kei trucks find their way to a farm–in the US. About 10-15 years ago, there was a sizable market for used kei trucks as non-road-legal farm runabouts before the side-by-side UTV market really took over (just as fast as a kei truck, but more comfortable and easier to drive off-road).
I saw this Suzuki Carry this summer on Block Island (Rhode Island). Perfect vehicle for a small (10 sq. mi.) island, so I understand its appeal. Looks like it belongs to a local business, though oddly it has Vermont license plates… Vermont being 200 mi. plus a ferry ride away. Maybe Vermont has more lenient registration for these types of vehicles than does Rhode Island, I have no idea.
Hmm.
No lace seat-tops or headrest stalk-n’-seat modesty trousers: is this in fact Japan, which, from what you’ve shown thus far, seems to require DandruffSpreaders and NeckKnickers for registration? Come, you can confess this is in truth a ThaiTiddler.
I LOVE the OldfartIdentifier (the German version likely fills the tailgate plus a neighbor in the next lane, a reason they weren’t sold there) sticker. Truly, I do.
Admit how often you – well, me – has reared up upon The Mystery Lane Wanderer on a Sunday drive, who has decided 40 mph is the outrageous maximum on this 70+ road? And who thence amongst you stonethowers has not sworn and cursed and possibly offered single digit expressive acts of the hand when able to pass, only to then notice an Immensely Aged sitting somewhere down amongst the boards of the floor?
Thing is, as I’ve got a great deal too older myself, it turns out that my aged father has also – something to do with maths, I understand – and is now one such, and since he never did much exceed that speed when younger anyway and has outlived anything I can hope to ever acheive, our, my, behaviours aren’t going to alter his, are they?
So, Flowers For The Old, Flowers For The Old, I say.
Not in f*cking peak hour, ofcourse.
there’s a u.s. importer of these old mini-trucks in new jersey. they are road legal in most states. you’d be surprised how well they work off-road especially with a mild lift and beefier tires.
https://youtu.be/IEr0u-V4GyY?t=796
Interesting that the Shopping Center is labeled so, in English. Underestimating the estimation of visitors?
Those seat belt receivers are not far from the ones in my Element, the buttons are shrouded now but I wonder if they’d fit each other.
Perfect modest practical transport, kept nicely. The safety glasses suggest an owner still engaged in practical matters.
For those of us who are easily amused, perhaps you could explain Japanese license methods of discouraging the use of older vehicles. I understand that licensing becomes intentionally more difficult once vehicle reaches 5 years of age. Been good for Russia & Anzak, though.
I’ve had a look online and it seems nightmarish and punitively expensive. If I ever have the occasion to witness it or do it myself, I’ll be sure to write up a little something…
Used Kei trucks are still common in the US, and are often advertised as an alternative to UTVs since they have a full cab with heat and AC and can be registered for the road in most areas under the 25 year rule. While not great for long trips the average drop side bodied 4×4 Acty, HiJet or Sambar is easily capable of hauling a couple of hay bales out to the pfar pasture or running down to the hardware or feed store for supplies. The low bed is actually easier to load then modern pickups so they make practical utility trucks. Apparently ATV tires will fit if you need more traction and also ATV sized snow plows for clearing the driveway.
For extra weirdness, Duncan Imports in Virginia still has several HiJet fire engines for sale,