Mitsubishi 500

First of the Family Cars

In the late 1950s, the Japanese government circulated a directive among motor vehicle manufacturers encouraging the production of a mass marketable "family car." Mitsubishi Motors accepting the challenge went on to design and produce the economical Mitsubishi 500. The design concept behind the development of the Mitsubishi 500 was that of an efficient family car that could seat 4 as well as being very affordable to the average targeted household. The Mitsubishi 500 was one of the first passenger vehicles in Japan to be designed applying aerodynamic principles having been tested extensively in a wind tunnel (In 1928 Mitsubishi built Japan's first wind tunnel testing facility at the Nagoya Aircraft Manufacturing Works). For fuel efficiency, an air cooled, 493cc, two-cylinder engine with an output of 21ps was adopted. In 1961, the Mitsubishi 500 Super Deluxe was introduced featuring a more powerful 594cc engine which produced a maximum output of 25ps.

Mitsubishi Motors' debut in the world of international motorsport was in 1962 at the Macau Grand Prix where the Mitsubishi 500 left its mark by winning its class. All three of the Mitsubishi 500s entered finished the event while one went on to take the Production Car Category, Class A honors as well as setting a new course record.