The Toyota Publica is a thing

"Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch" (bman76) 07/15/2016 at 04:09 • Filed to: toyota publica

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A surprisingly good looking thing. I was not aware.

Front engine, rear wheel drive. Powered by an air cooled flat twin through a four-speed manual or a two-speed auto.

Apparently they built several body style variants, including an adorable pickup.

Additionally, it provided the basis for the Sports 800.

The final generation got the K-series I4. With a couple mods it makes for a pretty neat little car.

I’d drive the 58hp doors off this thing.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I want them both.

kanadanmajava1 > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 05:19

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That yellow one looks really nice. Slightly expensive not not terribly.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > kanadanmajava1 07/15/2016 at 05:32

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I know right?! At $7500 it’d be perfect.

kanadanmajava1 > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 05:56

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It seems to be nearly immaculate. The lack of the original front seat is probably the worst thing that I can see.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 09:08

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I’ve known of the Publica, but not of those later iterations....very nice!

Mitsibishi Minica 360cc 2-stroke kei pickup is most adorable pickup though. :P

smobgirl > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 09:36

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I have never wanted a pickup so badly in my life.

gmctavish needs more space > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 10:00

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I’ve also never heard of this, but I love it. Lots of interesting things going on design-wise, and an air-cooled flat twin is a healthy amount of weird. The Sports 800 always reminds me how much I hope Toyota sells the S-FR in Canada...

Berang > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 13:04

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These were originally going to be front wheel drive, but Toyota had issues getting the drive axles to work reliably. They had been copying Citroen 2cv tech, which wasn’t the most advanced thing by the late 1950s. So they made it rear wheel drive and didn’t try for FF again until the late 70s.

The Publica eventually became the Starlet. Which fortunately were imported to the U.S.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > smobgirl 07/15/2016 at 14:59

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Yeah, it’s pretty great.

Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch > gmctavish needs more space 07/15/2016 at 15:02

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They really should sell it in North America. I like the styling more than the FRS/BRZ.

gmctavish needs more space > Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch 07/15/2016 at 16:02

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So do I, it's more interesting and more cohesive. And I assume it would be cheaper