Practically Classics Forum

Lots of similar small trucks have come along since. In the UK these days, the Suzuki Super Carry/Bedford Rascal is probably the most commonplace but Daihatsu did a similar one and Subaru sold millions of the things including their Sumo, which was available with 4 wheel drive and a choice of engines from the 380 right up to the 1200cc IL3 from the Justy. We (Subaru's UK importers - International Motors, with whom I did my mech & prod eng. secondment back in the oatcakes) use to find that 2nd gear synchros failed at around 15000 miles but very few of the (mostly farmers and foresters) owners ever bothered with the warranty replacement parts, instead accepting that double declutching was the norm with those.

I too was taken with the exhaust arrangement on the Honda, but where did those beautifully formed pipes actually come from? The manifold appears to be a hockey stick type like the Triumph Dolomite one, with a single flange right at the back of the head, in which case; why the four branches further back? Most odd.

Its easier to explain if i post up the drawing.

Strange, that line illustration shows a four branch manifold, which explains the pipework, but the manifold on the engine as shown in the photo has only one outlet and is a hockey stick one, so only one of those pipes can actually be connected through, the remaining three must just be for show, or catching low-flying insects. Maybe the stock manifold is the only one available and the multi-pipe system the only mid section? Also looking at the silencer on the truck, it only has the one inlet.

Meh, who cares? It's all pure art.

JPB wrote:Strange, that line illustration shows a four branch manifold, which explains the pipework, but the manifold on the engine as shown in the photo has only one outlet and is a hockey stick one, so only one of those pipes can actually be connected through, the remaining three must just be for show, or catching low-flying insects. Maybe the stock manifold is the only one available and the multi-pipe system the only mid section? Also looking at the silencer on the truck, it only has the one inlet.

Meh, who cares? It's all pure art.

I will get better pictures. The manifold is as per the drawing. The mid section may have been modified and the silencer is unlikely to be standard. Remember, these were never even sold in the UK so parts are not available. Back in the 60's and 70's Honda had a parts distribution warehouse in Nottingham. Honda bought a few of these trucks over to work as mules in the warehouse hauling parts around the warehouse. This is how this truck made it to the UK.

Want one.

There's probably quite a long queue now!

Looking at the exhaust again, I can see just beyond the flange that as you say, it is in fact like the one in the sketch. My initial thought was that, apart from the unequal lengths of those primaries it's been a brilliant bit of design, then it struck me that that imbalance is the reason for the rather intricate shape of the next part of the system. It's absolutely brilliant. Mad as a whole crate of cats but brilliant all the same.
I would imagine that it sounds like a cross between a four cylinder bike engine and several chainsaws running in sync. Love the truck even more now I see just how completely hatstand its design is. Or "without compromise" to be polite.

I'm thinking some highly inappropriate thoughts about a 3 cylinder, 799cc Mercedes TurboDiesel of the 63bhp/138N/M variety. Hmm, if only one of those Hondas could be found sans engine, gearbox & diff but otherwise all good. OK, stopping now.