Honda Vamos
Encyclopedia
The Honda Vamos was a Mini SUV
leisure vehicle originally produced by Japanese automaker Honda
from 1970 to 1973, and reintroduced again as a trim level of the Honda Acty
microvan
starting in 1999. Its name, "Vamos", is Spanish
for "let's go".
. The Vamos used a 354 cc 2-cylinder, mid mounted, air-cooled, overhead camshaft gasoline engine shared with the Honda TN360
, N360
, and the Z
360. The Vamos was a competitor at the time to the Suzuki Jimny
and the Daihatsu Fellow buggy. According to the article for this vehicle at Japanese Wikipedia, only 2,500 were sold. Honda had hoped the popularity of the Honda Dax minibike with its off-road image would be associated with the Vamos. Because of the installation of the spare tire on the front of the vehicle and the sound from the air-cooled engine, it had a Volkswagen Type 2
reputation but because of the open cabin design, it wasn't very popular due to a lack of four-wheel drive.
The Vamos was available with an optional and removable rear seat, whereas the Vamos was known as the Vamos 2 or the Vamos 4, for its ability of passenger capacity. It was also available with lap only seat belts for all passengers. The convertible top was easily and quickly removed as needed. Due to the open cab configuration, all instrumentation and switches were both water- and dust proof. It used a MacPherson strut front suspension and a DeDion tube with half leaf springs in the back.
s with 659 cc straight-3
SOHC E07Z gasoline engines and are upper trim level versions of the Honda Acty
van. Four wheel drive is optional, using Honda's Full Time 4WD system that utilizes a viscous coupling. The engine is also available with a turbocharger
with the maximum horsepower being limited to 65PS.
The Vamos is marketed more for personal use whereas the Acty van and truck are geared more towards commercial and industrial uses, and as delivery vehicles. Some of the luxury items found on the Vamos are not available on the Acty. The Vamos competes with the Suzuki Every van, the Subaru Sambar
van and the Daihatsu Atrai van in Japan.
Various trim packages and unique options have been offered on the Vamos and Vamos Hobio, with almost yearly cosmetic changes to items like grilles, taillights and color combinations. The interior seats are configurable into multiple positions to maximize its load-carrying and passenger accommodation. A package was also offered to accommodate dogs starting January 31, 2008, for a limited time.
Aftermarket appearance kits are available in Japan.
Mini SUV
Mini SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length under . This class should not be confused with compact SUV, which refers to slightly larger vehicles, from ....
leisure vehicle originally produced by Japanese automaker Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
from 1970 to 1973, and reintroduced again as a trim level of the Honda Acty
Honda Acty
- External links :*****...
microvan
Microvan
A microvan is a van that fits into Japanese kei car classification or similar. In certain regions, these models are inexpensive and widely used for small business because of tax and insurance benefits; for example, in Japan they are exempted from a certification that there is adequate parking...
starting in 1999. Its name, "Vamos", is Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
for "let's go".
1970-1973
Available as a kei truck, it was based on the Honda TN360Honda TN360
The TN360 and its successors in the long running TN series is a pickup truck from Honda, which replaced the T360 in November, 1967.The TN360 uses an air-cooled two-cylinder 354 cc engine with a single overhead camshaft...
. The Vamos used a 354 cc 2-cylinder, mid mounted, air-cooled, overhead camshaft gasoline engine shared with the Honda TN360
Honda TN360
The TN360 and its successors in the long running TN series is a pickup truck from Honda, which replaced the T360 in November, 1967.The TN360 uses an air-cooled two-cylinder 354 cc engine with a single overhead camshaft...
, N360
Honda N360
The Honda N360 is a kei car, designed and built by Honda and produced from March 1967 through 1970, while its larger N600 brother lasted three more years. After a January 1970 facelift, the N360 became the NIII360 and continued in production until 1972...
, and the Z
Honda Z
Honda Z is the name of a two-door hatchback microcar automobile made by the Honda Motor Company, first from 1970 until 1974 and again between 1998 and 2003....
360. The Vamos was a competitor at the time to the Suzuki Jimny
Suzuki Jimny
The Suzuki Jimny is a line of SUVs from Suzuki. The line started in 1968 and is still running.-History:The history of Suzuki four-wheel-drive cars dates to 1968. Suzuki bought former Japanese automaker Hope Motor Company which had introduced fifteen small off-road vehicles called the HopeStar...
and the Daihatsu Fellow buggy. According to the article for this vehicle at Japanese Wikipedia, only 2,500 were sold. Honda had hoped the popularity of the Honda Dax minibike with its off-road image would be associated with the Vamos. Because of the installation of the spare tire on the front of the vehicle and the sound from the air-cooled engine, it had a Volkswagen Type 2
Volkswagen Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
reputation but because of the open cabin design, it wasn't very popular due to a lack of four-wheel drive.
The Vamos was available with an optional and removable rear seat, whereas the Vamos was known as the Vamos 2 or the Vamos 4, for its ability of passenger capacity. It was also available with lap only seat belts for all passengers. The convertible top was easily and quickly removed as needed. Due to the open cab configuration, all instrumentation and switches were both water- and dust proof. It used a MacPherson strut front suspension and a DeDion tube with half leaf springs in the back.
Vamos & Vamos Hobio
The Honda Vamos name was reintroduced in 1999, and was joined by its twin, the Honda Vamos Hobio in 2003. Both are microvanMicrovan
A microvan is a van that fits into Japanese kei car classification or similar. In certain regions, these models are inexpensive and widely used for small business because of tax and insurance benefits; for example, in Japan they are exempted from a certification that there is adequate parking...
s with 659 cc straight-3
Straight-3
A straight-three engine, also known as inline-three engine, or a triple, is a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine with three cylinders arranged in a straight line or plane, side by side....
SOHC E07Z gasoline engines and are upper trim level versions of the Honda Acty
Honda Acty
- External links :*****...
van. Four wheel drive is optional, using Honda's Full Time 4WD system that utilizes a viscous coupling. The engine is also available with a turbocharger
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
with the maximum horsepower being limited to 65PS.
The Vamos is marketed more for personal use whereas the Acty van and truck are geared more towards commercial and industrial uses, and as delivery vehicles. Some of the luxury items found on the Vamos are not available on the Acty. The Vamos competes with the Suzuki Every van, the Subaru Sambar
Subaru Sambar
The Subaru Sambar is an automobile built by automaker Subaru for the Japanese market. It is Japan's first Keitora , shorthand for "kei class truck" and is still in production. The Sambar is available in both microvan and Kei truck to fulfill the Kei car guidelines...
van and the Daihatsu Atrai van in Japan.
Various trim packages and unique options have been offered on the Vamos and Vamos Hobio, with almost yearly cosmetic changes to items like grilles, taillights and color combinations. The interior seats are configurable into multiple positions to maximize its load-carrying and passenger accommodation. A package was also offered to accommodate dogs starting January 31, 2008, for a limited time.
Aftermarket appearance kits are available in Japan.