Daihatsu Compagno

Daihatsu Compagno
1965 Daihatsu Compagno Spider
Overview
Manufacturer	Daihatsu
Production	1963–1970
Designer	Vignale
Body and chassis
Class	compact
Body style	2/4-door sedan 3-door van 2-door pickup truck 2-door cabriolet
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	800 cc FC I4 (petrol) 1000 cc FE I4 ( petrol)
Transmission	4-speed manual 2-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,220 mm (87.4 in)
Length	3,800 mm (149.6 in)
Width	1,425 mm (56.1 in)
Height	1,430 mm (56.3 in)
Curb weight	765 kg (1,687 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Daihatsu Consorte

The Daihatsu Compagno is an automobile which was produced by Daihatsu in Japan from 1963 to 1970. The Compagno was designed to serve in multiple bodystyles, and was introduced prior to the acquisition of Daihatsu by Toyota in 1967. The Compagno was available as a two-door sedan, four-door sedan, two-door pickup truck, a three-door delivery van and a convertible. The first Compagno prototype was shown at the 1961 Tokyo Motor Show and had a design reminiscent of the Fiat 1800/2100. This was not a very well balanced design and the production version ended up looking quite different. The Compagno used a ladder-type chassis instead of the more modern monocoque style, with torsion bar wishbone suspension at the front and semi-elliptical leaf springs for the rear axle.

120,000 Daihatsu Compagnos were produced between 1963 and 1970. The first model introduced, in April 1963, was the Compagno Light Van light commercial vehicle (F30V). It was available in Standard or Deluxe trim. Two months later the Compagno Wagon (F30) followed, a pricier and more comfortable and passenger oriented version. This cost over twenty per cent more than the Standard Light Van, and was Daihatsu's first passenger car. In November 1963 the Japanese-designed two-door saloon appeared, called "Berlina" and with the F40 chassis code. This was available in either Standard and Deluxe trim, priced close to their Light Van and Wagon counterparts. The Deluxe had an Italianate dashboard, reflecting Vignale's input, complete with three-spoke Nardi steering wheel.

In April 1965 the Compagno Spider appeared, introducing the larger and more powerful 1000 engine. The engine displacement was initially kept below 1000cc to price the car in the lowest road tax bracket for Japanese buyers. The Spider received a twin-carb unit producing 65 PS (48 kW). One month later the larger engine was also installed in the Berlina, and a new four-door model (only with the bigger engine) was added. The four-door model sits on a 60 mm (2.4 in) longer wheelbase. 1000 Berlinas have a single carburettor and produce 65 PS (48 kW). In October 1965 the F31P Compagno Truck appeared, a small pickup truck capable of loading 500 kg (1,100 lb). The 800 cc engine gradually became installed only in the lesser variants as the 1000 cc segment gained in popularity in Japan. In November the Compagno 1000 GT appeared, a Berlina two-door with the more powerful Spider engine. In April 1967 a two-speed automatic transmission became available.