Daihatsu Fellow Max

Daihatsu Fellow Max
1973–1975 Daihatsu Fellow Max HT Coupé (L38GL)
Overview
Manufacturer	Daihatsu
Production	1970–1976
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door saloon 4-door saloon (from 1972) 2-door coupé (from 1971)
Powertrain
Engine	356 cc 2 cylinder water-cooled
Transmission	4-speed manual floor-mounted gear change lever
Dimensions
Wheelbase	209 mm (8.2 in)
Length	2,995 mm (117.9 in)
Width	1,295 mm (51.0 in)
Height	1,290 mm (50.8 in)
Curb weight	510 kg (1,124 lb)
Chronology
Predecessor	Daihatsu Fellow
Successor	Daihatsu Max Cuore

Daihatsu Fellow Max/Max Cuore
Overview
Also called	Daihatsu Max 550 Daihatsu Cuore
Production	1976–1980
Body and chassis
Class	Kei car
Body style	2/4-door sedan 3-door van
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive
Platform	L40, L45 platforms
Powertrain
Engine	547 cc AB10/30 I2 (petrol)
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,090 mm (82.3 in)
Length	3,120–3,165 mm (122.8–124.6 in)
Width	1,305–1,395 mm (51.4–54.9 in)
Height	1,320 mm (52.0 in)
Curb weight	535–565 kg (1,179–1,246 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Daihatsu Cuore

The Daihatsu Fellow Max is a small Japanese automobile in the Kei car class. Originally introduced as the Daihatsu Fellow, the name was partially retained for the Max Cuore (1977) and then again for the 2000 Daihatsu Max.

On 9 November 1966, Daihatsu introduced the Fellow, also known as Daihatsu 360 in export markets. Originally only available in DeLuxe and Super DeLuxe equipment levels, a Standard version joined in February 1967. Also available with a wagon body (Fellow Van), as a mini-pickup truck and as a panel van from June 1967, the L37 was conventionally built with a front-mounted engine and rear wheel drive. It used a 23 PS iteration of the 356 cc, water-cooled two-cylinder two-stroke "ZM" engine already seen in the Hijet and a four-speed manual transmission. The self-lubricating ("Oil-Matic") little engine weighed only 58 kg (128 lb). The Fellow was the first Japanese car to be equipped with rectangular headlights.

As a result of Honda's 31 hp N360 being introduced early in 1967, a Kei-car horsepower war broke out. Daihatsu's response, the Fellow SS, was presented at the 1967 Tokyo Motor Show in October but did not go on sale until June the next year. A LeMans-style sportscar prototype, the "P-5" with the SS engine was shown alongside. The 32 PS "SS" could do the 400 meter sprint in 21.2 seconds.

The Fellow also received a slight facelift in October 1967, with a new dashboard and steering wheel most noticeable. Another minor change came in January 1969, with a fixed driver's side headrest and seatbelts installed because of new safety regulations. In July, along with what was literally a facelift (the front bumper was now mounted higher), the lesser engine's output increased to 26 PS and a comparatively luxurious "Custom" version was added at the top of the lineup. The size of the taillights also increased somewhat. An electric version called the Daihatsu Fellow Van EV went on sale in September 1969.

In April 1970, the front-wheel drive L38 Daihatsu Fellow Max was introduced to replace the rear-wheel drive Fellow. Originally only available as a two-door sedan and three-door van (L38V), a sporty hardtop coupé with a lower roofline and a somewhat baroque front-end treatment was added in August 1971 (L38GL). SL and GXL Hardtops received standard front disc brakes. In October 1972 a four-door version (L38F) appeared; it was the only four-door Kei car at the time of its introduction. Dimensions were 2,995 x 1,295 mm as dictated by the Kei car regulations, although the wheelbase was stretched by 100 mm to 2,090 mm. The engine was a 360 cc two-cylinder two-stroke ("ZM4"), offering 33 PS (24 kW) at the time of introduction. In July 1970 the SS version appeared, featuring a twin-carb, 40 PS (SAE) version of the ZM engine (ZM5) - a specific output of over 112 PS per litre. Top speed was 120 km/h, compared to 115 km/h (75 and 71 mph) for the lesser versions. In October 1972, for the '73 model year, engine outputs dropped somewhat, to 31 and 37 PS respectively to lower fuel consumption and meet new, more stringent emissions standards. These engines were called ZM12 and ZM13 respectively.