Diecast giveaway/quiz. (solved)

"Berang" (berang)
05/08/2016 at 05:48 • Filed to: diecast

I won some diecast vehicles from Tyler Linner for correctly answering a really arcane question a few months ago. Now I am going to ask my own question and send the vehicles on to whoever can answer it quickly and correctly.

In the west, several makers produced cars with the unlikely combination of longitudinally mounted, three cylinder, 2-stroke engines, and front wheel drive - DKW, SAAB, Wartburg, Syrena - but did you know there was one Japanese manufacturer which adopted this oddly specific drive train layout? The car in question went into “regular” production, although the numbers produced were relatively small, and they’re a real rarity today. Hint: The company which produced it is still in business.

First person to correctly answer with the make, model, and introduction year wins a mystery assortment of diecast vehicles.

DISCUSSION (46)

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Berang
05/08/2016 at 06:14

Does the answer count if a lot of googling is involved?

Berang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/08/2016 at 06:18

I figure that’s about the only way to figure it out, unless you’re a genius nerd like me.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Berang
05/08/2016 at 06:29

1963 Suzuki Suzulight 360 Van?

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 06:29

Well, the Suzuki Jimny LJ50 was 3 cylinder 2 stroke... It was RWD with a 4WD selector though...

Otherwise you have the Suzuki Fronte Coupe whcih COULD qualify as a FWD 3 cylinder 2 stroke... It has a RR configuration, so just put the body the other way around haha

but my final answer is the Suzuki Alto, first generation, which had a FF configuration and had a 3 cylinder 2 stroke engine at some point ;)

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 06:31

My in-laws have an Alto, I actually looked into its history a few months ago... The new Alto suck ass though.

Flavien Vidal > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/08/2016 at 06:37

After a quick check it seems to have a 2 cylinder 2 stroke engine...

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 06:41

Hmm, wikipedia was on about it getting a 3 cylinder with an unconventional layout. But wikipedia remains wikipedia ofcourse, and I couldn’t really find anything to confirm nor deny it.

Flavien Vidal > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/08/2016 at 06:43

Yeah I think the answer is first gen Suzuki Alto... My in-laws have a modern one that sucks though... But it still made me look into the history of the car a while back :)

Berang > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 06:43

Very close, but not there yet. The vehicle I’m looking for has a longitudinally mounted 3-cylinder 2-stroke, and only front wheel drive.

Berang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/08/2016 at 06:45

Another hint: it’s not a kei car.

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 06:46

Apparently there is another car who used the same engine... I was joking about the Fronte earlier, but later on, the car (the SS30S) got a FF configuration and used the same engine as in the Alto, the T5B, which was 3 cylinder and 2 stroke...

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 06:48

Ohhh I skipped the longitudinally mounted part lol

Berang > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 06:49

Key to the question: longitudinally mounted, just like SAAB, DKW, et al.

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:00

Nissan buses (U690 here)? (EDIT: nah they seem to be RWD...)

Kinja'd!!!

Berang > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 07:01

getting colder... not a bus, nor a nissan.

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:04

Yeah I can only see suzuki using these engines... But the “not on kei car” bit kind of throw me off :)

Berang > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 07:07

It’s a very odd one...

MultiplaOrgasms > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:12

Mitsubishi Colt 800? They had a longitudinally mounted 800cc two-stroke three but I believe they were RWD.

Kinja'd!!!

xyzabc > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:14

http://oppositelock.kinja.com/this-forgotten…

Flavien Vidal > MultiplaOrgasms
05/08/2016 at 07:16

Yes RWD...

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:17

Ok you got me, I’m totally running out of idea and googling skills lol

Pretty sure it’s a suzuki as they were the experts in term of 3-cyl 2-stroke, but which car?? No idea...

Berang > MultiplaOrgasms
05/08/2016 at 07:22

Indeed, those were RWD, and I think relatively speaking, better sellers than the car in question.

Berang > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 07:24

Perhaps one of your car friends in Japan will know? I think you may feel silly for missing it though, or perhaps amazed when you figure it out.

MultiplaOrgasms > Flavien Vidal
05/08/2016 at 07:27

The two stroke of choice for the sideways life.

MultiplaOrgasms > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:28

Let me guess the car in question is the Suzuki Fronte 800.

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:30

haha if no ones answers I will ask tomorrow... I have a friend who probably knows...

Berang > MultiplaOrgasms
05/08/2016 at 07:30

Kinja'd!!!

Yes. That’s the one. What year did they go into production?

Flavien Vidal > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:35

Hum... interesting, I had no idea they came with a longitudinal engine... apparently they were in 1966... Well, good job MultiplaOrgasms! :)

MultiplaOrgasms > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:37

1965. Same as the Mitsu. Quite a sophisticated car for the time apart from the engine. Didn’t sell well because 1960s people simply don’t buy two strokes in anything other than trucks, motorcycles or kei jidosha.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:39

The Suzuki Fronte...?

Never mind....just got up, so only half awake - forgot it was rear-engined :P

Berang > MultiplaOrgasms
05/08/2016 at 07:42

Excellent. Do you want the mystery diecast vehicles? Or shall they pass on to the second quickest answer?

Berang > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
05/08/2016 at 07:43

Frontes have had engines pretty much everywhere at some point.

MultiplaOrgasms > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:49

of_course.gif

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:51

Damn, I saw that one too, but wikipedia said it was transversely mounted.

Note to self: Never trust wikipedia, involving matters of automotive quirkyness.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Berang
05/08/2016 at 07:52

This is true, most were RR though if memory serves, except the later ones and I think some of the vans/estates. The Suzuki Fronte SS30 and SS40 then?

Introduced in ‘79 - last year of the 2-stroke Frontes. The SS30S was the two-stroke 3-cyl, and it had FWD?

Berang > BvdV - The Dutch Engineer
05/08/2016 at 07:58

multiplaorgasms probably edited it to throw you off

Berang > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
05/08/2016 at 08:00

The first frontes were all front wheel drive, until 1967, which is why the name fronte. But the one I’m talking about is the Fronte 800, of 1965.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Berang
05/08/2016 at 08:01

I have learned a thing today :P