So....I was thinking last night...

Kinja'd!!! "RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
12/31/2018 at 07:51 • Filed to: Daihatsu Midget II, Keicars

Kinja'd!!!2 Kinja'd!!! 14

The JDM Daihatsu Midget II:

Kinja'd!!!



A tiny utilitarian kei truck from Japan. It came in a truck variant as well as a van variant:

Kinja'd!!!



ALL van versions came with Automatic transmissions, which allowed a VERY slim second seat to be placed to the left of the driver for hauling an additional passenger in the rear cases you needed to. Truck versions with automatics often had this second passenger seat as well.

Kinja'd!!!



HOWEVER. Manual transmissions versions did NOT have this second seat as the gearshift was located there for the driver to access (of course):

Kinja'd!!!

So....in a manual version of the Midget II - as there is only ONE seat (albeit slightly off center to the right), could you argue that it’s not Right Hand Drive....because there is no “Left Hand” and you’re pretty much sitting in the center?

#JustKeiCarQuestions


DISCUSSION (14)


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 08:04

Kinja'd!!!0

Yes.


Kinja'd!!! pip bip - choose Corrour > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 08:09

Kinja'd!!!0

GIB


Kinja'd!!! ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 08:11

Kinja'd!!!1

Technically, you'd be correct. 


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
12/31/2018 at 08:11

Kinja'd!!!0

I would think it could be argued to something like an insurance company who refuses to insure it because it’s ‘R HD’?


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
12/31/2018 at 08:14

Kinja'd!!!1

The best kind of correct!


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > pip bip - choose Corrour
12/31/2018 at 08:15

Kinja'd!!!0

I know! I  one saw one painted in military flat sand camo beige with fake military stencil-painted letters / numbers, etc on it and despite it being completely wrong....it looked AWESOME. Always wanted to import a cheap one and do the same to it for no reason! :P


Kinja'd!!! pip bip - choose Corrour > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 08:25

Kinja'd!!!1

to goonet!


Kinja'd!!! Tekamul > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 08:34

Kinja'd!!!0

Nope, shifter on the left = RHD.

That being said, those look pretty awesome. Coming to US shores in 2021! But based on CA prices, they’re a little too desirable. 


Kinja'd!!! CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 08:56

Kinja'd!!!0

https://www.velocitycars.ca/vehicle/2000-Daihatsu-HIJET/16190?s=1


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Tekamul
12/31/2018 at 12:37

Kinja'd!!!0

Just because the shifter is on the left shouldn’t mean something is R HD when it has a single seat that is pretty much in the middle of the car. :(

They are cool little things!


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > pip bip - choose Corrour
12/31/2018 at 12:37

Kinja'd!!!0

I am not browsing around there for fun at the moment! I do every once and awhile...thanks for reminding me of it! :D


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
12/31/2018 at 12:40

Kinja'd!!!1

One of those little kei trucks would make a fun runaround I would imagine! There was one here awhile back with a manual transmission....a little rough, Suzuki Carry....guy was selling it for only $1500 because he couldn’t get it into reverse gear. Ad said the gear lever seemed to bind up....sounded like a linkage issue to me rather than the transmission, itself, so it could’ve been an awesome thing with an easy fix! I feel bad I didn’t jump on it! :(


Kinja'd!!! SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/31/2018 at 16:05

Kinja'd!!!1

It could definitely be argued and I would predicate such an argument if it was something I could have.


Kinja'd!!! RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media
12/31/2018 at 16:45

Kinja'd!!!0

Glad you have my back!

If I ever import one I’ll be all like “Just talk to ‘ SilentButNotReallyDeadly’ on Oppo, he agrees!” :P